rFPT
remote Fire Prevention Thermolabel
FPA
Fire Prevention Alarm
FPC
Fire Prevention Concentrator
vFPT
visual Fire Prevention Thermolabel
How to prevent electrical fires and failures caused by loose connections in electrical panels?
Electrical fires every year become a cause of terrible consequences for all kind of facilities. Industrial disasters result in huge financial losses with damages done by the fire and production downtime. In the worst cases, fire costs the lives of people. Around 12,000 fires a year are caused by damaged, faulty or misused electrical appliances. Faulty electrics cover a variety of potential fire hazards including loose connections, damaged electrics and improper use causing overheating.
60% of privately owned businesses never recover if they suffer from a major fire!
This would have a huge impact on any business no matter how cash-rich or well-known they were.
Hazards of loose connections
Contact connections (especially connections made on-site) in MV and LV are always the most problematic points of the electrical network due to possible loosening. It can be caused by improper tightening torque during assembly process or constant vibrations over time and temperature fluctuation. Heating at high current and cooling at low current causes expansion and contraction of contact and may lead to contact loosing. Even if an insufficiently tightened connection can still provide acceptable level of mechanical reliability of the connection, it worsens electrical and thermal reliability.
We can consider this process as sequence of these steps:
- As soon as the connection is loosened, its own resistance increases. This happens due to loosen fit of contact surfaces (Bolt / Busbar, Cable lug / Busbar etc.). This resistance causes the contact to heat up.
- Heating due to increased resistance contribute to the oxidation process (which happens faster at higher temperatures)
- Oxidation covers the contact with an oxide film, and its resistance is much higher than for the base metal.
- The resulting thermal runaway leads to complete failure of connection. As a result, such contact burns out or leads to an electric fire in the compartment.
Regularly checking contact connections is complex due to their large number, the constant operation under voltage and often the lack of access for the inspection. The most popular method – scheduled infrared thermography inspections has several significant disadvantages:
- monitoring is carried out only at the time of inspection
- load at the time of inspection should be at least 60% to detect overheating
- risk for personnel because the inspection should be done near to live electrical equipment
- it is not possible to get done in closed enclosures
Overheat detection is a highly effective way of monitoring loose connection.
On this base FIPRES works!
FIPRES is a new and unique technology that allows the detection of dangerous points long before there is a risk of fire. In 30% of cases, the cause of a fire is a malfunction associated with the wiring.
Faults may be due to:
• Poor connection
• Improperly selection of circuit breakers and switches
• Old wiring
• Overloads
Normal temperature of connection points is in range 20-70° C. In case of any abnormal process (e.g. overload with loose connection) within the electrical panel the temperature of connection will start to increase. Overheating higher 130 ° C may trigger thermal runaway which can lead to fire, flashover, or explosions in electrical panel.
Early detection of abnormal temperature rises will prevent electrical failures and fire. It also will help to save equipment and cables from using at overheated conditions and prolongate its lifespan.
FIPRES WORKS AT THE EARLIEST STAGE OF THE ISSUE. HENCE PREVENTING FIRES AND DAMAGE ASSOCIATED WITH IT.
Technical comparison with thermal imaging control
+ Works around the clock
+ Allow to check equipment in locked (explosion-proof) enclosures
+ Checks all spots at the same time
+ Does not depend on the human factor
+ Suitable to all types of wires and contacts
+ Supports IEC 61850 standard
+ Accurately detects a potentially dangerous place
– couldn’t be used on open area
• Works only at the time of inspection
• Doesn’t allow to check equipment in locked enclosures
• The load at the time of inspection should be at least 60% to see weak points
• Depends on the human factor
