8/12/2019 DCFPC - Coal Plant Fire Warning System

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APPLICATION STORY

Huge quantities of coal are storedin bunkers, silos, hoppers and open airstockpiles, but coal is a combustiblematerial, making it susceptible to a varietyof ignition scenarios. One of the mostfrequent and most dangerous causes ofcoal fires is spontaneous combustion. This can occur in any location where coalis stored or transported. Coal can startoxidizing with the oxygen in the air. Thiscauses a rise in temperature. At first thecoal's temperature climbs just above theambient temperature, but if left uncheckedit can rise to above 400 degrees Celsius,causing the coal to bursts into flame.

During the pre-combustion oxidization

process the coal can also produce largeamounts of methane and carbon monoxidegases. The toxic and explosive gases can

further complicate the efforts of firefightersto extinguish these coal fires. It is thereforeof utmost importance that these fires aredetected in an early stage, so an actual firecan be prevented. That is why many coalstorage plants are enhanced with thermalimaging cameras. Unlike smoke detectors,which require the production of smoke tofunction, an early warning system basedon thermal imaging technology can detectthe rise in temperature long before thecoal ignites. Based on this early warningmeasures can be taken to halt the risein temperature, preventing the actualcombustion and the devastating coal firethat would follow.

One of the companies that have realized thepotential of thermal imaging technologyfor fire prevention in coal storage plants is

Thermal imaging cameras prevent fires atKorean coal power plantTo avoid the risk of spontaneous combustion in the coal conveyor system at the DangjinCoal Fired Power Complex (DCFPC) in South Korea the owner of the plant, the KoreaEast-West Power Company (EWP), has installed a fire warning system based on thermalimaging cameras. By detecting a rise in temperature long before it rises to the point wherethe coal reaches combustion the thermal imaging cameras help ensure the plant safetyand continuity of power production.

the Korea East-West Power Company (EWP).It operates five power plants, including theDangjin Coal Fired Power Complex (DCFPC). The DCFPC has total power generationcapacity of 4,000 Mega Watts from eightcoal-fired units.

Risky coal transport To transport the coal to the boilers aconveyor belt system of several kilometers

in length is used. During the transportthe chance of spontaneous combustion iseven higher than in storage facilities where

This thermal image shows the temperature alarm

going off during one of the tests performed by the EWP personnel.

FLIR A310 thermal imaging camerasare mounted in protective housingsabove the coal transport belts.

8/12/2019 DCFPC - Coal Plant Fire Warning System

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APPLICATION STORY

For more information about thermal imagingcameras or about this application,please contact:

FLIR Commercial Systems B.V.Charles Petitweg 214847 NW Breda - NetherlandsPhone : +31 (0) 765 79 41 94Fax : +31 (0) 765 79 41 99e-mail : flir@flir.comwww.flir.com

the coal lies still. When the bituminouscoal ignites the fire would not only bedangerous for the plants personnel andlikely destroy part of the conveyor system,it would also cause power generation tocome to a complete stop. This scenariois not acceptable, says Kim Young Minmanager at DCFPC. That is why we installeda number of FLIR thermal imaging cameras.

The Environment Facility Team of the DCFPCchose to build their early fire warning systemaround the FLIR A310 thermal imagingcamera. Before we installed the FLIR A310thermal imaging cameras we tested themextensively to make sure this system wouldwork and we were very happy with theresults, explains Kim Young Min. The FLIRA310 thermal imaging camera can detectthe slightest rise in temperature and it willnot only automatically alert personnel, it willalso trigger the automatic sprinkler system. This way the fire prevention system canautomatically prevent or extinguish coalfires, enhancing plant safety and ensuringthe continuity of the power production.

Automatic temperature alarmOne FLIR A310 thermal imaging camera is

installed at the storage end, checking thecoal as it enters the conveyor system. As the

coal is transported to the boilers at a speedof four meters per second several additionalFLIR A310 thermal imaging cameras checkthe temperature along the way. If at anypoint the temperature of the coal risesabove a previously determined parameteran alarm goes off.

All in all seven FLIR A310 thermal imagingcameras are included in the early warningsystem. All of these cameras are connectedto a TCP/IP network using a standardEthernet cable. Through the network thethermal data from the FLIR A310 thermalimaging cameras are shared with a

programmable logic controller (PLC), whichwill immediately stop the conveyor belt andactivate the sprinkler system if a FLIR A310thermal imaging cameras temperaturealarm is triggered.

FLIR A310 thermal imaging camera The FLIR A310 thermal imaging cameracontains an uncooled microbolometerdetector that produces thermal imageswith a resolution of 320x240 pixels at athermal sensitivity of 50 mK (0.05 C). Itcontains built-in analysis functions thatprovide spot temperature measurementand area temperatures and an automaticalarm function.

We chose the FLIR A310 thermal imagingcamera not just for the camera quality,but also because of the easy integrationwith our existing PLC, explains KimYoung Min. We wanted functionalitieslike remote control through the TCP/IPnetwork, seamless integration with the PLCand we also wanted to monitor the livethermal footage in the Control Room usinganalog composite video. The FLIR A310thermal imaging camera satisfies all theserequirements at a highly competitive price.

Seamless integrationDue to the TCP/IP connectivity of theFLIR A310 thermal imaging cameras theyare seamlessly integrated in the system.If a temperature alarm is triggered thePLC relays the information to the restof the network, employees are alertedthrough sound and flash alarms andcertain responsible individuals receive anindividual user notice through email or FTP. The thermal footage is recorded to be usedfor later analysis or as evidence.

The software solution, which is based onthe FLIR IR Monitor software and the FLIR

Software Development Kit (SDK), alsoallows temperature graph analysis andtemperature trend analysis. The automatictemperature alarm can be based on severalparameters, including spot temperaturesand the minimum, maximum, average andrelative temperatures in defined areas.

Protect your assets The Environment Facility Team of theDCFPC has verified the high performance,reliability and applicability of the FLIR A310thermal imaging camera based fire warningsystem by testing the temperature alarmextensively We are certain that the thermalimaging camera based fire prevention andextinguishment system will protect ourassets and further improve our operatingefficiency, concludes Kim Young Min.

Tests by EWP employees have clearly shown that the ther-mal imaging early re warning system is very effective in preventing coal res.

The footage and thermal data from the seven FLIR A310thermal imaging cameras is sent to the PLC and to thecontrol room.

The PLC immediately stops the conveyor belt and activa-tes the sprinkler system when the temperature alarm istriggered.

The FLIR A310 thermal imaging cameras are mountedover the conveyor belt in waterproof protectivehousings.

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