Outperforming all other flame detector technologies that rely on UV and/or IR energy to detect a flame, Draeger’s patented Flame 5000 detector
Application
Two silane storage areas in a large semiconductor manufacturer were monitored for leaks; silane being a highly pyrophoric gas – (a gas that ignites spontaneously in air at or below 54 °C (129 °F) within 5 minutes of coming into contact with air). With these properties it is critical that silane gas leaks be monitored with both gas and flame detection equipment. (Draeger electrochemical sensors are able to measure silane with a detection limit of 5 ppb).
In these two storage areas, an existing flame detection system utilized UV detection, using a total of 60 UV flame detectors. Under these conditions with the existing UV flame detection system, the semiconductor manufacturer had a false alarm once every 18 months. These false alarms triggered the fire suppression system, which deluged the storage area with foam, then shutting down the manufacturing process. Every false alarm resulted in a total expense, reflecting clean up and lost production, of over $100,000.
Looking for a way to eliminate false alarms, the semiconductor manufacturer had been considering UV/IR flame detectors, and eventually decided to introduce the Flame 5000 in 2014, installing 1 Flame 5000, testing it for 6 months.
Results
The following year in February 2015, the semiconductor manufacturer purchased 36 more Flame 5000 detectors, replacing the existing 60 UV Flame detectors. In the next four years, as of August 1, 2019, they did not have a single false alarm; over 1200 detector-months of operation without no false alarms!
- The Flame 5000’s wide angled view – 90° Horizontal x 65° Vertical – achieved equal or improved coverage over UV flame detectors resulting in a 40% reduction in the number of detectors.
- While the former UV units required a two-piece set, separate fire transmitter and rack mounted controller, the Flame 5000 is a single stand-alone detector with all outputs onboard, resulting in an easy installation, requiring less space and reduced maintenance.
- The Flame 5000 can provide video ouput in addition to flame detection, and the system’s integral video output was used to validate actual coverage during commissioning, whereas before there was no way to validate coverage.
- The Flame 5000’s onboard micro-SD can capture video 8 seconds before, through 8 seconds after an alarm goes off. The micro-SD can be taken out for forensic analysis – identifying the specific area of fire origin (no way to provide this with previous system).
- Final positioning & startup was provided by a team comprised of the client, ETA and Draeger completed in 6 hours.
- Routine validation tests can be performed using a Draeger portable flame tester.
- The prior UV units system experienced errors where the deluge systems was set off during routine maintenance; since the Flame 5000 does not alarm off reflected light, false positives became much less of a concern now, and additional Flame 5000’s have since been added to the plant.
Draeger Flame 5000