MEMBER NEWS: Choose Suppression Solutions for Offshore Wind Turbines

September 3, 2021
MEMBER NEWS: Choose Suppression Solutions for Offshore Wind Turbines

The threat of fire is an ever-present part of modern wind farm operations. As such, installing a fire suppression system in your wind turbines can create a safer environment and help mitigate negative cost impacts that results from an event of fire.

Depending the size of the nacelle, the type of environment where your installation is in, among other factors, several options are available for you to choose for your turbines. Below you will find a short description of some of the options:

Water Mist Systems

Water mist systems force water at a high pressure through nozzles thus creating an extremely fine mist of droplets under 1000 µm in size. This water mist suppresses fire by reducing heat, displacing oxygen, and controlling the fuel source by wetting and cooling the surrounding fuel surfaces.

The water mist system can be fully integrated into the nacelle, using a compact pump unit which gives it a weight reduction and allows for installation in smaller spaces.

CO2 Systems

Carbon Dioxide (CO2) systems work by flooding the room with CO2 gas that supresses fire by displacing the ambient oxygen level. CO2 is a colourless, odourless, and electrically non-conductive gas that leaves no residue behind. This means that any sensitive equipment that is in the protected space will not be damaged by the CO2. As offshore wind turbine nacelles are airtight in order to prevent corrosion, CO2 becomes a viable option for fire suppression.

However, due to the dangers of CO2 to humans, extra precautions such as additional life safety devices, training, and safety protocols are needed when choosing CO2 as fire suppression. These precautions could consist of personnel training about the system, installing pre-discharge alarms, and setting a pneumatic time delay.

Clean Agent

Like CO2 systems, clean agent systems make use of inert gas or chemicals that are stored in a container that will be discharged when a fire is detected. Clean agents suppress fire by eliminating either the heat element or the oxygen elements of the fire. The most common agents are Inergen, FM-200 and Novec 1230.

These systems are all non-toxic, and do not reduce the oxygen level to an unsafe level. Additionally, only very little space is required for the cylinders containing the clean agent. As per its name, no clean-up is required as no residue is left after the discharge of the clean agents.

Aerosols

Aerosol firefighting systems employ a combination of air/inert gases with solid microparticles that suppress fire. The primary extinguishing mechanism of aerosol systems involves chemically interfering with the free radicals in the fire zone – it simply interrupts the chain reaction of fuel, oxygen, and heat in a fire.

Aerosol solutions may be suitable for a wind turbine nacelle because it is lightweight; most aerosol solutions are “stand-alone” as they do not need pipework or pressurised cylinders to work.

Semco Maritime Ltd. are happy to help you choose a system according to your needs and requirements. Which firefighting system is most suitable for you depends on a variety of factors, such as the specific set of standards that your wind farm needs to comply with, the type environment and much more. Our in-house specialist are here to talk about any potential firefighting solutions.

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Get in touch

AREG is the original energy transition organisation, working on behalf of members to empower the energy supply chain and champion its expertise. Please get in touch if you have any questions or would like to find out more about membership.

AREG has played an important role in the growth of Scotland’s renewable energy sector, engaging the supply chain and developing the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre. However, we are only at the very beginning of the transition that AREG was established to both lead and support so there are still opportunities for companies to get into the constantly evolving renewables supply chain. We look forward to continuing our work together as renewables builds on its place as Scotland’s main source of power, and as we seek to deliver real change in the crucial areas of heat and transport.

Scottish Renewables

Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce has worked closely with AREG since its formation. The recent progress in the developments of offshore wind projects by Equinor and Vattenfall are as a result of the work of the group over many years. The north-east is known as the oil and gas capital of Europe. At the Chamber, we believe the region must evolve its position to being recognised as the energy capital. Whilst hydrocarbons will continue to be essential in driving our economy for years to come, the generation of renewable resources will play an increasingly important role in providing cost-effective power, innovative development and economic growth.

Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce

The enthusiasm and dedication of the early group that would become AREG was fundamental in us choosing to launch All-Energy in Aberdeen. The first tiny show was held in 2001, and AREG’s Chairman at the time, Jeremy Cresswell, played such an active role that I often describe him in terms such as All-Energy’s ‘midwife’. All-Energy is now the UK’s largest renewable and low carbon energy exhibition and conference in terms of number of attendees, space booked, and number of exhibiting companies. As AREG became firmly established, their presence and support for the event grew spectacularly over the years. We thank them most sincerely for their invaluable input.

All-Energy

Vattenfall has forged a strong working relationship with AREG through the development of the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre. AREG has worked tirelessly on behalf of the North East and it can take enormous credit for the growth of sustainable energy in the region and the path it has cleared for the region to capture further investment.

Vattenfall

Aberdeen City and Shire is emerging as a key location for renewables by successfully transferring its world-class oil and gas expertise into the sector and AREG has done much to advance this through a broad range of initiatives. It has acted as a catalyst in driving further investment in the local economy by engaging with companies, Government, public bodies and existing projects and we have been pleased to support their efforts. Scottish Enterprise will continue to engage with AREG as we increase Scotland’s use of renewable energy.

Scottish Enterprise