Fire Protection at a 280 MW Solar Plant

[PSchwarz]

I understand that this question is going to be wide open to interpretation, but any sort of direction I can get would be very helpful.

My company is currently working on the design-build of a 280 MW solar power plant. We've gotten to the point in the project where we need to start thinking about fire protection.

For a quick rundown, the plant basically consists of a 2-square mile large "solar field" consisting of parabolic mirrors that direct light to a line at the focal point. Running down the length of the focal point of the mirror is a 4" line of oil-based heat transfer fluid. This heat transfer fluid is heated by the sun and then taken to the core of the plant to produce steam for steam turbine generators.

In terms of fire protection for the heart of the plant, it's pretty straightforward for your standard industrial utility equipment per IBC/NFPA (boilers, cooling towers, etc.). The real question here is about the solar field...

I'm trying to determine if anyone has any sort of experience that could at least possibly relate to this application. Will we need hydrant monitors? Foam? Sprinkler systems at each mirror?

Like I said, I know this is a very broad question, but any help in the right direction would be greatly appreciated.

If you have any questions, post them and I will reply ASAP (assuming it is during the workday )

If you want some clarification about the project, check out the video that has been published:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=W4yoy5FFO34

 

[cdafd]

take it is going to be in a wide open space???

you would first ask the ahj what protection they want

do you have a msds for the fluid?? you can post

not sure what you are trying to achive?? if the solar catches on fire protect it??
or just provide some fire hydrants and access for the fire dept???

what is your goal in life as far as fire protection?? or protection of the solar panel??

 

[stookeyfpe]

I see some serious issues with the heat transfer fluids. I also agree with CDA. But I sense some serious capital dollars being spent on this project.

I have no idea of the capabilities of the emergency responders. Off the top of my head, I see application of 150 GPM hose stream nozzles onto very sensitive and expensive metal plates causing more problems that can trash equipment.

NFPA has no guidance. The International Fire Code has no guidance.

You need a fire protection engineer. Not taking away from your understanding of heat transfer and thermo (as well as all the courses we respectively had to pass) your asking an internet based web board for guidance that the US DOE has not even considered. In the words of Wikipedia - its solar so its safe - never considered the fire protection ramifications.

Seek a registered professional fire protection engineer and have some one with your level of engineering fluency in his/her respective discipline perform a quantitative risk assessment. I see some serious issues with the HT fluid and the assumed remoteness of the site. I can't solve it unless you pay a retainer and I got a big learning curve. You should build that into your fire protection cost estimates.

Taking abstracts from other codes helps - but it is not an absolute analysis and sets you (and your client) up for a potential failure. I reiterate some very expensive equipment that requires some high O&M costs to be productive needs to be evaluated in this assessment.

Whatever you learn, let us know.

 

[LCREP]

Take a look at FM Data Sheets they are free now.

http://www.fmglobal.com/FMGlobalRegistration/Downloads.aspx

Take a look at Heat Transfer By Organic and Synthetic Fluids 7-99, that will give you at least things to consider.

Also do what Stookey said as far as a PE that knows what the heck they are doing and have experience in this area, this is a tough fire exposure.

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Fire Sprinklers Save Firefighters’ Lives Too!

 

[DavidCR]

Talking about the mirror field, that´s a good question (jeje).

Ideas that come to my mind...
Maybe there would not be a fire extinguishing equipment requirement.
Maybe you have to think on safe distances/walls from the risky equipment of the plant, a good definition of the NEC risk areas by an expert, special kind of cable insulation, firestopping devices where needed. For cables on field, on ducts, fire barrires to prevent the burned length of cables.

Thinking of the mirror electronic equipment on the field, maybe a NFPA 72 detection system would be non practical to protect the mirror equiptment, but you could include some heat/smoke detectors that are supervised by the plant control system.

On extinguishing systems, see firetrace.com