1. Fire Risk In Power Facilities

2. Introduction Fires in Power Plants or Distribution Facilities have occurred World Wide Many have resulted in Plant Shutdowns or have been inoperative for a long period of time Many of these fires have started as a small fire and turned into a major incident Most Fires can be prevented What we are presenting and demonstrating to you today is tool that will manage and prevent a major disaster occurring in your facility.

3. The fire risk driver Why Fire Protection? Fires have resulted in Plant shutdowns Fires result due to cables, transformers, fuels etc. Fire has occurred due to electrical problems, short circuits or over heating caused by overloading Some major Fires include: Philippines Power Plant US$29 million dollar claim (1996)– Fire occurred in a hot air duct of coal mill and propagated to cable tunnel. The fire spread along the cable tunnel to the cable spreading room destroying all cables and the control room – it resulted in two generating units shut down for 4 months and 10 months. Australia New Power Station – (1999) Motor Control Cabinet caught fire resulting in smoke damage to the entire multi-floor site and prevented this new site from starting production.

4. The fire risk driver Some major Fires include: La Spezia, Italy, a coal ‑ fired station with four tandem 600 MW units A flashover in the cable ‑ terminating chamber of a medium ‑ voltage circuit breaker caused the cables to catch fire. The cables were p.v.c. insulated, and fire propagated throughout the electrical annexe causing complete disruption of the electrical auxiliary, equipment, including the computer and control room. The cost to repair the damage was $5.6 million and there were nine months of delay before generation recommenced. Brown's Ferry - USA nuclear station A search was being made, with a candle, for air leaks in polystyrene filled cable ducts. An air leak caused the candle flame to he drawn into the duct setting fire to the polystyrene and hence the cable. Propagation followed resulting in the loss of the automatic reactor control and necessitating a manual trip of the reactor. The station was shut down completely (1975) and considerable delay was involved before it returned to service.

5. The fire risk driver Some major Fires include cont. Methil, Scotland - a slurry burning 2 x 30 MW station An oil leak from a turbine ‑ gauge board caught fire, which spread to cables and caused a propagating p.v.c. fire. The complete station was lost for nine months. and the cost was GBP 0.75 million worth of damage and GBP 1 million loss of revenue. –4 August 1989 - USD 37 million:

6. –What is a Risk? –An event with a NEGATIVE IMPACT on life or business –of “sufficient” probability and magnitude! –Which type of risks are of concern to Power Facilities? –fuel cost & exchange rate changes  Financial Risks –fires & machinery breakdowns  Operational Risks –earthquakes & typhoons  Natural Hazards Why Risk Management and Risk Engineering?

7. What is Risk Management? –The informed decision regarding: –Risk Avoidance –Risk Reduction –Risk Transfer For all types of risk of concern to life or business!

8. Why Risk Management and Risk Engineering? Is Risk Reduction possible? –Yes: Risk Engineering –Is Risk Transfer possible? –Yes: Insurance The Key is for you to maintain Business Continuity. Limiting Loss caused by Fire is Imperitive to this.

9. Why Risk Management and Risk Engineering? –What type of large losses? – Operational Risks  fires & machinery breakdowns boilers & furnaces lubrication oil systems gas & steam turbine-generators transformers, switchgear, cables & control rooms coal pulverizers – Natural Hazards  earthquakes & typhoons transmission lines power plants substations

10. Why Risk Management and Risk Engineering? –What is Risk Engineering? –Prevention: –Actions to ensure a risk does not result in an incident –“Prevent the cause of an incident” –Control: –Actions to ensure an incident does not result in a loss –“Control the impact of an incident”

11. The fire risk driver

12. Fires in Switch Facilities Fires in Electrical Facilities can be prevented if there is enough time to respond and prevent failure occurring Most Fires in electrical facilities can have a long period of time of overheating or electrical arcing before visible smoke or fire occurs.

15. Explosion in Electrical Switchgear Explosion in low voltage switchgear at cogeneration plant. Electrical switchgear, MCC and generator sync & control panels affected by soot and ionic contamination. Equipment supplied by Siemens and brand-new.

19. Example of Fire Affected Equipment which cannot be Recovered

20. Example of Fire Affected Equipment which can be Recovered