We mobilized the firefighting turbine by mounting it onto a compact tracked vehicle: the TAF firefighting robot! The main advantage of the firefighting robot is that it prevents putting the fire crew in danger during its operation. The extinguishing turbine can be put into position by remote control.
Firefighting systems in electrical substations and transformer fires
Fields of Application
Thanks to the use of water mist and its remote control, the firefighting robot is a safe extinguishing option for transformer fires and operations in substations.
When transformers or substations catch fire, extinguishing them is always a very delicate and challenging task. As water conducts electricity, water is not a suitable extinguishing agent and is sometimes even prohibited. If, for example, a full jet of water hits live parts, the voltage could flash over and injure or even kill the firefighter.
The use of other extinguishing options such as carbon dioxide or metal fire powder is not without risk. Therefore, people have begun to look for further alternatives and recognize that water mist is very well suited for this purpose.
Water mist consists of many small individual droplets that are not connected, which means they do not conduct electricity. The use of water mist in burning transformers or substations is therefore mostly harmless.
EmiControls firefighting turbines are equipped with a nozzle ring that atomizes water into fine aerosols. This water aerosol is distributed by means of a propeller and reaches distances of over 50 meters when atomized and 75 meters with a full jet.
Advantages of using extinguishing turbines on substations and transformers:
- Water mist does not conduct electricity.
- The firefighting robot is remotely controlled (the firefighter can be positioned up to 300 meters away), so no one needs to be sent to the danger zone.
- Water mist can be used when extinguishing oil fires.
- The cooling effect of water mist is very high and can therefore also be used, for example, for cooling down transformers (before a fire breaks out).
- The water mist can even reach hidden areas of the fire well.
- You can work without foam and thus protect the environment.
These solutions are suitable for use in substations and transformers
Most Suitable Solution
The Firefighting Robot in Substations
Video
Another advantage of the water mist is that it can also be used when extinguishing oil. This is an important factor, especially in transformer fires, as they are filled with large quantities of oil. The temperature must not rise too high and must be cooled in time. Leakage of the oil would pose a considerable threat to the emergency services, the neighborhood, and the environment.
Furthermore, the risk of boiling delay (fat explosion) is reduced by the use of a smaller amount of water.
Case Study: Water mist turbines for transformer protection in China
Video
Fires in substations can lead to power outages and major property damage. As the transformers are filled with large quantities of oil, they need to be extinguished quickly and efficiently. Since water mist technology is an excellent extinguishing agent in this field, more and more countries and companies are looking at this innovative technology as a solution.
China is now turning to water mist to prevent fires in substations and numerous extinguishing turbines from EmiControls have been protecting electric power plants in China since 2020.
More pictures of the firefighting turbines in substations
