Navigating wind turbine fire threats

As the world continues to shift towards sustainable energy solutions, wind turbines play a crucial role in harnessing the power of the wind to generate clean electricity. However, like any technological innovation, wind turbines come with challenges, one of the most critical being the risk of fires. We will explore effective mitigation strategies to ensure the safety and longevity of these renewable energy giants.

Understanding the risks

Mechanical failures: Wind turbines are intricate machines with numerous moving parts. Mechanical failures, such as gearbox malfunctions or issues with the pitch system, can generate excessive heat, leading to a fire.

Electrical failures: The complex electrical systems within wind turbines are susceptible to malfunctions, short circuits, or overloads. These issues can trigger electrical fires, posing a significant threat to the turbine and its surroundings.

Lightning strikes: Wind turbines, towering high above the landscape, are prone to lightning strikes. A direct hit or even a nearby strike can cause electrical surges, leading to fires within the turbine.

Material vulnerabilities: Turbine components are often exposed to harsh environmental conditions, including extreme temperatures and weather events. Over time, wear and tear on materials can compromise their integrity, increasing the likelihood of fires.

Mitigation strategies

Advanced monitoring systems: Implementing state-of-the-art monitoring systems that continuously assess the health of a wind turbine can detect early signs of mechanical or electrical issues. Regular maintenance based on these findings can prevent potential fire hazards.

Fire suppression systems: Equipping wind turbines with fire suppression systems such as automatic fire detection and suppression systems that provide fire detection and suppression in a single self-contained package.

For fire detection, either point type or aspirated can be used in pre-determined locations and monitored back in the operations building to ensure any emergencies are immediately responded to.

For suppression solutions, the use of local gaseous systems that provide both fire detection and suppression to protect the high risks identified, including electrical and communication cabinets, brake and bearing systems, generators, cabling runs, etc.  These systems only use a pressure switch that can be monitored remotely.

Lightning protection systems: Installing lightning protection systems, including grounding systems and surge protection, can help divert the electrical energy from lightning strikes away from critical components, reducing the risk of fires and protecting this equipment from being potentially destroyed.

Material upgrades and inspections: Regular inspections and proactive material upgrades can enhance the durability of turbine components. Utilising fire resistant materials and coatings can add an extra layer of protection against potential fire hazards.

Emergency response plans: Developing comprehensive plans that include evacuation procedures, communication strategies and coordination with local emergency services is essential. Being prepared to act swiftly can minimise the impact of a fire incident.

While wind turbines offer a sustainable and eco friendly energy solution, it is crucial to acknowledge and address the potential fire risks associated with their operation. Through a combination of advanced monitoring, preventative maintenance and strategic planning, the renewable energy industry can continue to harness the power of wind while ensuring the safety and longevity of these towering giants on our landscape. Contact Australia's leading provider of fire protection systems to learn more about safeguarding renewable energy infrastructure.

Also read: Wind farm fire protection.

Lightning protection boosts safety for resources companies

The Challenge

Lightning strikes are far more common than many realise and with the changes in the global climate and changing weather patterns, they are well and truly on the increase. Australia is at particular risk because, according to a joint NASA and National Space Development Agency of Japan study, approximately 70 percent of lightning occurs on land in the tropics, where the majority of thunderstorms occur.

Two of Australia's most prominent resources companies, Coogee Chemicals, which manufactures a range of chemicals at its plant in Kwinana Beach, north of Rockingham, and oil and gas exploration and production company, Apache Energy, which has processing facilities on Varanus Island, approached Delta Fire as they need to boost fire protection at their Western Australian facilities. Their floating roof storage tanks required protection against being ignited by a direct or nearby lightning strike. About a third of all tank fires are believed to have been started by a lightning strike which makes a lightning protection system a necessity.

The Solution

Delta Fire supplied both Coogee Chemicals and Apache Energy with RGA (Retractable Grounding Assembly) grounding/earthing equipment for lightning protection.

The RGA equipment is designed and manufactured in the USA for the protection of above-ground storage tanks containing flammable or combustible liquids and has proven its reliability and effectiveness with more than 3,000 successfully operating installations around the world. It is a retractable conductor wound onto a spring-loaded reel - which is mounted directly on the tank wall or a suitably positioned mounting bracket - that is designed to electrically bond the floating roof and shell on floating roof storage tanks.

The RGA equipment provides the lowest impedance connection between the roof and the shell of a floating roof tank, particularly when the roof is high, by creating the shortest possible path between the two. This connection is maintained by keeping constant tension on the wide tinned-copper-braided cable so it is, unlike conventional fixed-length bypass conductors, always as short as possible regardless of the position of the floating roof.

The Outcome

For both the Coogee Chemicals and the Apache Energy projects, the equipment was installed by the resources companies' own personnel. Coogee Chemicals protection called for two RGA-75 systems, while the Apache Energy project required seven.

The RGA solution can be installed in both new-build or retro-fitted to existing tanks and requires little regular testing, inspection or maintenance other than visual inspection of all moving parts, the removal of dirt and debris, lubrication of the bearings, and the tightening of all mechanical fixings. The ATEX certified equipment is CE Ex II 2 G T4 certified, signifying the RGA's compliance with the requirements of Directive 94/9/EC involving potentially explosive atmospheres.

Coogee Chemicals

Coogee Chemical is a diversified chemicals manufacturer specialising in bulk liquid storage with dedicated logistics networks for a range of dangerous and non-dangerous goods. Delta Fire supplied RGA’s for lightning protection.

Wheatstone WA

The Wheatstone project is on the Pilbara coast of Western Australia. Delta Fire supplied RGA’s for lightening protection.

BP Australia

Delta Fire supplied RGA’s for BP for lightening protection.

Why LEC lightning-strike solutions are a saviour for petrochemical sites

Smart technology has changed the way lightning strikes are repelled on petrochemical sites - and that is great news for the safety of workers and businesses.

Devastating lightning storms are becoming more common and more damaging, with storage tanks on petrochemical sites being right in the firing line. The upshot is that workers on these important sites are potentially facing greater dangers from lightning, while downtime from the impact of fires when the plants are hit can be costly. In an effort to mitigate such risks, site operators are adapting their response to major storms.

Traditionally, lightning rods and what is commonly known as early streamer emission (ESE) technology have been used for lightning protection. In effect, they ‘collect' a lightning strike, inviting it on to a site that owners are trying to protect.

Such devices are now being superseded by Charge Transfer Technology that actually deters the strike from hitting a site in the first place, avoiding any risks altogether.

World-class technology

American company Lightning Eliminators & Consultants (LEC) is a leading player in the lightning-strike avoidance space. Its lightning eliminators have proven successful for many years in lightning-prone areas, protecting storage tanks in the petrochemical sector, as well as telecommunications and power generation industries around the world. Delta Fire is the Australian and New Zealand distributor of LEC's solutions.

The systems rely on grounding and earthing plus surge suppression to create an ‘isolation zone' that inhibits direct strikes to a protected site and minimises the effects of any strikes nearby. Grounding is critical for personal safety, sustainability and uninterrupted operations, while the surge-protection is a safeguard against lightning that can damage or destroy sensitive electronics and IT equipment.

Significantly, LEC's custom-engineered Dissipation Array Systems have already been installed on thousands of sites internationally, maintaining a success rate of more than 99 per cent.

Helping Australia

The lightning-strike avoidance technology has important implications for Australia, given that the Northern Territory is one of the most lightning-prone areas on earth, while other areas of the nation are also increasingly experiencing major lightning storms.

Petrochemical sites are among those turning to the smart solutions. Given that a single strike of lightning releases up to 500 million volts and generates a temperature of about 27,000ºC - three times hotter than the surface of the sun - it is obvious that petrochemical sites need to protect storage tanks from the potentially catastrophic (and expensive) consequences of lightning.

Experienced fire-protection specialists can advise site managers on the most appropriate lightning-avoidance solutions and guide them through the design, procurement and commissioning process. Companies should not entrust such an important business safeguard to anyone other than experts.

With the right ongoing and sustainable solutions, petrochemical companies can safeguard their facilities from lightning strikes and avoid the potential loss of millions of dollars from fire events.

Delta Fire specialises in the fire protection of high-risk, high-hazard environments such as petrochemical and industrial sites. Visit www.deltafire.com.au for more details.