ypes of Fire Detectors

Generally fires are preceded by generation of heat (rise of temperature) and

generation of smoke. Hence heat, smoke and flame detection systems must be
used to alert personnel, shutdown equipment and activate automatic fire
extinguishing system.

In process plants, sudden release of hydrocarbon / self igniting fluids may

develop rapidly into a fire. In such cases it is imperative that fire is detected right
at inception. Fire detectors are the devices which effectively carry out this task.

Following are the types of fire detectors – depending on their specific

properties and their specific field of application.
1. Detection by persons (with manual call points)

2. Optical fire detectors

 Infrared (IR) fire detectors

 Ultraviolet (UV) fire detector
 UV / IR fire detector
Detection by persons
Manual call points popularly known as MCP is of the break-glass, auto release
type.

The complete housing of manual call points installed outdoors is constructed in

accordance with requirements for the classified hazardous areas, be corrosion-
resistant and fully weather-proofed. For identification, they are coloured red to
DIN Standard RAL 3000 or equivalent.

To actuate the MCP, glass has to be broken when there is any emergency.

Basically, there are two types of MCPs are being used :

1. Digital MCPs
2. Analog MCPs
Digital MCPs :
The MCP is having microswitch of NO contact which is in normal conditions
pressed by the break glass thus closing the contact. When glass is broken the
microswitch gets released and changes its contact from closed position to open
position and gives an Alarm condition.

Analog MCPs :
This type of MCP is having the resistors. Breaking of the glass results in the
operation of micro switch which forces the contact changeover. Lower value
resistance is coming in the line, which increases the current that can be used
for the alarm. Analogue MCPs are used where monitoring of the input device is
required for checking the availability of the functional device.

Optical type fire detectors

There are three types of Optical fire detectors :

Infrared type fire detectors

All objects with a temperature greater than absolute zero emit IR radiation. Most
IR sensors are broad band detectors (i.e. they respond to wide range of
wavelengths). Consequently, they require an optical filter to narrow the
response to the wavelength of interest. The carbon dioxide in the earth’s
atmosphere absorbs virtually all the solar radiation in 4.2 to 4.5 micron range.
Consequently a high intensity of 4.2 to 4.5 micron radiation at ground level can
only be from hot body or carbonaceous fire. For this reason fire detection based
upon response to this range only is solar blind. Discrimination between hot
bodies and fires is achieved by monitoring the characteristic flame flicker
frequency of 1–10 Hz.

These are used where fast detection of a hydrocarbon fire, or of other

flammable products with a high hydrocarbon content, is of prime importance.
These detectors are based on the flame-flicker principle, i.e. the detector
responds to the flickering of most hydrocarbon fires. They are not suitable for
the detection of smouldering fires.

IR detectors are practically not affected by smoke or oil vapors, do not respond
to arc welding as ionizing radiation (e.g. non destructive testing – X-Ray) and
are less affected by dirt on the lens than UV detectors. However they do not
respond to non carbon flames such as hydrogen and hydrogen sulphide. The
most promising type of IR detector is the single wavelength, solar blind detector,
responding to radiation in the 4.3 to 4.5 micron range.

The most common wavelength of interest is 4.35 micron, the carbon dioxide
emission band, because burning carbonaceous material produces large
amounts of carbon dioxide.

NOTE: IR type fire detectors have an upper ambient temperature limit of 70 °C.

Area of Detection : Cone of sight

Advantages :
1. Sensitivity not impaired (as UV) by less contamination and smoke absorption
of radiation.

2. Not affected by welding, X-rays.

Limitations :
1. Spurious trips due to heat shimmer, vibrating machinery, flare reflections.

UV type fire detectors

An Ultra violet (UV) radiation detector contains a sensing element (solid state
or gas filled tube) which is responding to a band of radiation with a wavelength
shorter than 2800 m-10 (Angstrom). The sensor consists of a multiplying detector
(usually Geiger Muller type ionization tube) mounted inside a metal casing with
a quartz lens.
Amplifying and monitoring circuits may be incorporated within the detector
head, or located separately in a remote controller.

When ultra violet radiation falls on the lens, the tube becomes conducting
thereby activating the alarm control circuits. The effect of transient signals such
as lightning can be eliminated by an integrated circuit.

UV radiation is strongly absorbed by smoke and to some extent by various

vapors. UV detectors are highly susceptible to optical obscuration of the lens
(e.g. dirt, salt, oil mist).

They can pick up electric arc welding radiation at long distances even by
reflection; they also respond to ionizing radiation (e.g. non destructive testing)
and reflected radiation from open flames (e.g. reflection on the sea surface of
flares).

The most commonly used UV detector is provided with lens checking device
(manually or automatically activated), which produces a fault signal when a
certain threshold of obscuration has been reached. The detector sensitivity at
this point is, however, unacceptably reduced for many fire protection
applications.

The typical UV detector is as shown is Fig.

Ultraviolet light type detectors are also extremely fast in detecting fire but they
should not be applied in dusty environments or in an environment with airborne
oil droplets or where fires are expected to produce heavy smoke which may foul
the lens. UV detectors are normally used, for example, for fire detection under
the hood of gas turbines.

NOTE:

1) UV detectors are subject to interference from welding activities, X-rays used

in non-destructive testing and lightning.

2) These detectors have an upper ambient temperature limit of 150 °C.

Area of Detection : Cone of sight

Advantages :
1. Not affected by sunlight, or adverse weather

2. Detectors can be self testing

Limitations :
1. Spurious trips due to lightning, X-rays, welding and flares.

2. Dust, salt etc. on lens can hinder detection

3. Smoke absorbs UV light

UV / IR type fire detectors
These detectors are used in applications where the use of either Ultra Violet
(UV) or Infra Red (IR) detectors alone can result in false alarms.

When used alone the UV detector can respond to the sources of UV radiation
besides flame, such as lightning, X-ray or arc welding. Likewise and IR detector
can respond to various photo objects such as flickering, or chopped radiation
from electric heaters or exhaust manifolds. These detectors should have an
automatic self test facility.

These detectors are used for fire detection in the following applications :

 Oil & Gas Plants

 Gasoline transport loading terminals
 Offshore drilling & production platform
 Tank farms
 Refineries
 Butane & Propane loading & storage
 Pipeline compressor stations
 Gas gathering facilities
 Turbine enclosures
 Aircraft hangers
 Paint spray booths
 Petrochemical plants
Area of Detection : Cone of sight
Advantage :
Reduced spurious alarms.

Disadvantage :
Not detecting some fires.