Sensing Safety for Power Plants
01 August 2008
Sensors, beam detectors and call points supplied by Hochiki Europe are protecting completed sections of the new Hellisheidi Geothermal Power Plant that is currently being constructed south of Mount Hengill in Iceland for Orkuveita Reykjavikur [Reykjavik Energy]. Construction of the plant is a joint enterprise between Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and German company, Balcke-Durr, and the fire detection and alarm system was installed by Icelandic fire safety specialist, Ark Security.
The project called for 350 Hochiki ESP – Enhanced System Protocol – analogue addressable sensors, 95 call points and 49 beam detectors. Hochiki has also supplied a number of analogue addressable modules – 219 relay controllers. These allow multiple inputs and outputs at one physical address, which maximises functionality and minimises the number of modules. The Hochiki analogue addressable devices are integrated with ten two-loop Kentec Electronics’ Syncro fire control panels that are also interfaced to the plant’s high-sensitivity smoke detection system.
According to Ark Security’s Kjartan Scheving, the Hochiki sensors were chosen because of their unique ability to react to a wider range of inputs than is possible with the less sophisticated sensors on the market. He says: “The ‘flat response’ technology that Hochiki developed all but eliminates the risk of false alarms. Additionally, the sensitivity of each analogue addressable device is set to match the prevailing conditions in the plant using the Syncro panel’s intuitive Loop Explorer configuration software.” He continues: “They are also automatically re-calibrated every 24 hours to compensate for any environmental contamination in the plant, ensuring that they continue to operate reliably at the specified sensitivity.”
When complete in 2009, the Hellisheidi Geothermal Power Plant will generate 300 megawatts of electricity and 400 megawatts of thermal energy. This latest order from Iceland for Hochiki technology follows the successful completion of a number of major school projects that were also undertaken by Ark Security. Commenting on the Hellisheidi order Kjartan Scheving, Managing Director of Ark Security, says: “Naturally, a power plant is a high-hazard environment where fire safety is absolutely critical, so fast and reliable fire detection is essential.” He continues: “We chose Hochiki over its competitors because we have never had a single instance where the reliability or performance of the company’s products has been in any doubt.”
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