Experts in fire protection

TraFoProtect
Fire protection solution for oil-cooled transformers

SPECIAL SOLUTION
TRAFOPROTECT
 Risk transformer fire
Power transformers are indispensable components of the electrical power supply system. They convert
alternating voltage at different voltage levels and are used in power generation, transmission or distribution
in power plants, industrial plants and substations. Large amounts of heat are generated during operation;
for this reason, power transformers are usually designed as oil-cooled transformers and located outdoors.

An essential part of oil-cooled transformers is the tank,

mostly filled with mineral oil and containing the trans-
former core and coils. To prevent short-circuits, the
coil wires are coated with an insulating material. In
addition, a floor pan is installed below the tank in
case it is damaged and leaks.

The cooling oil used in the transformer is flammable

at high temperatures and presents a considerable fire
hazard due to the large quantity used. A defective or
aged insulation of the coil wires or a high electrical
surge, e.g. as a result of lightning strike, may cause
overheating in the transformer and lead to the ignition
of the oil. If this situation is compounded by damage
to the transformer tank or the oil-carrying lines, spray
fires and the ignition of puddles of oil outside the
transformer often occur as well. A transformer fire with a high release of heat
may also present a considerable hazard for the
Spray fire is fed by oil emitted under pressure from ambient infrastructure and may even bring it to
a leak on the transformer. Puddles of fire may result a halt. Though the Buchholz relay (transformer
in the floor pan, if oil, which has escaped from the protection switch) installed as a rule switches off
transformer tank, collects there and ignites. the transformer in case of overheating, it is not
Without timely and suitable countermeasures, it is able to prevent a fire from breaking out. For this
not only the transformer which will be destroyed reason, we strongly recommend installing a fixed
as a result of overheating. fire-fighting system.

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The solution – TraFoProtect A protection plan for transformers, which consider-
Conventional deluge systems have been proven to ably reduces the extinguishing water consumption
combat transformer fires effectively. On the other compared to conventional deluge systems without
hand, they consume comparatively large quantities being vulnerable to wind exposure in outdoor areas,
of extinguishing water and therefore require a is therefore extremely desirable, especially for retro-
correspondingly complex and extensive dimensioning fitting.
of the system. This leads to increased costs. In addi-
tion, discharged water may be contaminated by leak- Therefore Minimax offers an appropriate solution:
ing transformer oil and would need to be collected TraFoProtect.
for later processing. To this end, the floor pan must
be dimensioned sufficiently large to ensure that it
can collect not only the oil, but also any incident
extinguishing water.

Transformer fire at a nonprotected site

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 Structure and function
In structure and function TraFoProtect is similar to a classical deluge system. The system consists of the
extinguishing zone, the water supply and the fire detection and extinguishing control system.

Extinguishing zone If the system is activated, the extinguishing water

In the extinguishing zone, Type A TraFoProtect nozzles is evenly sprayed by all nozzles installed in the
will be installed at several levels and adjusted in line extinguishing zone. Since the spray patterns and
with the transformer requiring protection. If the the arrangement of the TraFoProtect nozzles are
floor pan of the transformer is not protected by optimally adapted to the geometry of the transformers,
a considerably smaller consumption of water is
required than in conventional deluge systems.

If the TraFoProtect is triggered early, for example by

means of the Buchholz protective relay, the transformer
is cooled from the outside to prevent further over-
heating. If a fire breaks out, causing damage to the
transformer tank, spray fires and puddle fires are
extinguished effectively with TraFoProtect, in addition
approved devices, such as gravel beds or ignition-proof to cooling the transformer. In doing so, the primary
covers, additional Type C TraFoProtect nozzles can aim is to suppress the fire and to prevent a spreading
be installed in the floor area. of the fire to the infrastructure in the vicinity of the
transformer.

Type A TraFoProtect nozzles are the most commonly used extinguishing nozzles in TraFoProtect
systems. They generate an even, full-cone spray pattern. Using different nozzle inserts, 90° or 120°
spray angles can be realised and the extinguishing water throughput can be varied per nozzle, to
ensure optimal adjustment to the geometry of the transformer requiring protection.

Type C TraFoProtect nozzles can be installed optionally in TraFoProtect systems in the level
floor area under the transformer to specifically burning puddles in the floor pan. The fan-shaped
spray pattern with a spray angle of 180° is typical for this type of nozzle.

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 5
6

1
3

Fire detection
1 Deluge valve set 3 control panel 5 Fire detectors

Alarm buzzer with

2 strobe light 4 TraFoProtect nozzles 6 Buchholz relay

Water supply If these options are not available, the TraFoProtect

TraFoProtect offers many different options to keep is fed by means of a storage tank with automatic
the cost of the water supply low. Due to the low water make-up and a pump system, structured
consumption of water resulting from the use of the similarly to a conventional deluge system, however
TraFoProtect system, the installation can be fed in in a smaller dimension due to the reduced water
many cases directly from a local service water net- consumption.
work. Alternatively, TraFoProtect can often use the
already existing water supply of a conventional Additional safety is provided by the fire brigade
sprinkler or hydrant system or can be connected supply, which allows for the supply of extinguishing
to the public drinking water system subject to water even in the event of a power failure at the
appropriate safety devices. pumps of the main water supply.

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 Structure and function

Compatible fire detection and control technology At the same time audible and visual alarms are trig-
The TraFoProtect activates the extinguishing system gered and forwarded to a permanently manned station
by means of tried and tested Minimax fire detection to alarm, for example, the fire brigade.
and extinguishing control technology. This ensures
optimal compatibility of electrical and mechanical In general, oil-cooled transformers are equipped
system components. This prevents unnecessary with a Buchholz relay. This device detects the for-
coordination efforts and interface problems between mation of gas in the oil chamber of the transformer
various trades. in the event of overheating and then initiates the
shut-down of the transformer. The Buchholz relay
Fire detection is usually done by means of UniVario can also be connected to the fire detection and
flame and heat detectors that emit a signal to the fire extinguishing control panel to ensure that the
detection and extinguishing control panel in the event TraFoProtect is triggered as early as possible.
of a fire. The panel then activates the deluge valve.

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Lower extinguishing water consumption
TraFoProtect is an optimised deluge system, which consumes considerably less water than conventional
deluge systems.

This means that the system and the floor pan to

collect the extinguishing water can be designed
in a rather small dimension; this is a considerable
advantage especially for retrofitting. Moreover, the
operator of a plant can significantly reduce costs
after the fire, because there is less extinguishing
water contaminated with transformer oil to be
disposed of professionally and recycled. In this
way TraFoProtect also contributes to environmental
protection.

The suitability of TraFoProtect for controlling and

suppressing fires on oil-cooled transformers has
been proven in numerous fire and extinguishing
tests conducted on realistic model constructions.
Since it is to be assumed that the transformers will
be installed in outdoor areas, the rel-
S
evant wind exposures were simulat-
GE

ed and taken into account in the

PRÜF

protection plan. The effectiveness

T•

of TraFoProtect is proven also for

outdoor use.

The components and design parameters as well

as system efficiency are UL listed.

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Benefits at a glance

 Prevents
 extended business interruptions in
the wake of uncontrolled transformer fires

 UL
 listed and successful DMT GmbH & Co. KG
performance test; proven efficiency also under
wind exposure

 Considerably
lower extinguishing watercon-
sumption than in conventional deluge systems
Transformer protection with a conventional
deluge system
 Low cost for water supply; in many cases it
is possible to connect the system to the local
service water supply

 The
 floor pan to collect extinguishing water
can be designed in smaller dimensions than
in the case of conventional deluge systems.

 Ideal
 for retrofitting

Lessextinguishing water contaminated with

AL30e/10.18/d/WK · Printed in Germany · Subject to technical modifications


oil means less recycling costs – a contribution

to environmental protection
Transformer protection with TraFoProtect

Photos Editor:
Cover photo: © Nuon, Hemweg Minimax GmbH
Page 3: © Freiwillige Feuerwehr Bröckingen
Page 7: © Statkraft, Knapsack II Industriestrasse 10/12
23840 Bad Oldesloe
Germany
+49 4531 803-0
power@minimax.de
www.minimax.com