Fire detection sensor in sugar cane bagasse store

[SA07]

Hi
I work for a power plant using coal/bagasse as fuel. I have been requested to install fire detection sensors in our bagasse store following 4 fire outbreaks at various intervals in the past 13 yrs at different places. The fire was caused after maintenance teams did some welding work and left the site. They took all precautions, spray water where they worked. But at night, there was the fire outbreak. At times, they said they did only preparation work (no welding, grinding) but still there was fire outbreak. We suspect sometimes they smoke and cigarette butt caused a fire.
The dimension of the bagasse store is 30mx60mx height 20 m. It consists of 9 conveyor belts which carry bagasse. We have sprinklers on each conveyor belts.
After we have identified an appropriate fire detection sensor for the store bagasse, we will install them on the boiler, bagasse tower, Dump Capacitor Room as the power plant consists of several sections where the bagasse conveyors operate towards/from the bagasse store.
The sugar cane crop lasts for 6 months. The other 6 months the bagasse plant does not operate. There was more fire during the off crop season. During the crop season, when the bagasse plant is operating there is lot of bagasse dust in the air and also high humidity.
We already have a fire alarm panel in our control room, with smoke detectors, break glass, heat detectors and sounders for various parts of our power plant.
The longest distance between our control room and the bagasse store is approx. 400 m.
Plz see attached a picture inside the bagasse store.
Thks to advise us the type of fire detection sensor we can use. It is in Mauritius. Ambient temp is 25-30 deg c.

 

[Compositepro]

Spontaneous combustion in piles of moist organic material are not unusual. I have seen rolls of hay catch fire a number of times. I suggest a thermal imaging camera, or similar, should be able to detect hot spots before the fire starts. Covering the begasse with plastic film to exclude oxygen may help.

 

[jraef]

There are companies that specialize in this; I suggest not trying to invent something on your own, experience is extremely valuable and experimentation can be very expensive.

Here is the company I see being used in almost 100% of the installations similar to yours that I have come across. Most of mine have been sawdust and rice hulls, but the concept is the same.

https://www.fagus-grecon.com/en/

" We are all here on earth to help others; what on earth the others are here for I don't know." -- W. H. Auden

 

[SA07]

We have enquired about infrared camera and flame detector.
Quote received:
Infrared camera Flir A310: 10980 USD, Thermovision (module where all IR cameras are connected) : 4004 USD can accept only 4 cameras. We need to install 2 in the bagasse store.
Flame detector: Emerson 40/40I- 1-11-AC : 1792 USD
Has someone installed these devices? Are there other type of fire detection sensors which we can use for the bagasse store?

 

[prc]

Jraef,what is the principle of arc detection used by them? Not clear from the link.