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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAppendix_X_-_Fire_Prevention_and_Emergency_Response_Plan.pdf Fire Prevention and Control Plan For the Black Oak Wind Farm Prepared by: Ms. Marguerite Wells, Project Manager, Black Oak Wind Farm LLC March 2013 1 This Fire Prevention and Control Plan is provided in compliance with the Town of Enfield Local Law #1 of 2009, the Wind Energy Facilities Local Law. Effective fire prevention and control is effected by a combination of appropriate technology, regular maintenance to prevent problems from occurring, and also regular training and communication of local and project personnel in the event of a fire. This plan examines all three areas to show how Black Oak Wind Farm LLC will maintain a safe environment for workers, neighbors, and visitors to the proposed Black Oak Wind Farm (Project). Appropriate Technology Modern wind turbines are highly engineered machines, in which many advances have been made in the past decade. They are continuously monitored remotely, so that any time there is a malfunction in the turbine’s operation, it is detected nearly instantaneously by the SCADA system and relayed to various monitoring facilities. Most faults cause the turbine to shut down automatically, and it needs to be restarted by a technician once the cause of fault is remedied. This is a first level of defense against fire. Most of the fires in wind turbines to date have happened in older machines with much less sophisticated control and prevention strategies employed. The primary cause of fires in wind turbines is lightning strikes, and the turbine chosen for this Project, the REpower MM100, comes standard with LPL1 lightning protection, the highest level of lightning protection available today. This helps to minimize likelihood of fire in the turbine to begin with, since the lightning strike is diverted to ground through a network of ground cables throughout the turbine, including down the length of each blade, down the tower, and on the nacelle body itself. There is also a series of surge protection devices inside the nacelle to prevent overvoltage from sparking electrical failures that could lead to fire. Another fire control feature is that the MM100 has substantially less hydraulic fluid than most other turbines today. With only approximately 15 gallons of hydraulic oil in the nacelle, the fuel supply for any fire is limited, and the design of the nacelle prevents any oil leak from dripping downwards inside the turbine, as all floors are also containment devices. The turbine towers are made entirely of steel, with internal ladders made of steel and aluminum. There are three floors at the joints between tower sections, preventing any burning material from falling down inside the tower. The only non-metallic item inside the towers are the electric cables running from top to bottom, which are sheathed in fire-retardant materials. The possibility of fire spreading within the structure is highly unlikely. REpower turbines come standard with two fire extinguishers in the nacelle, and one in the base of the tower. The Project is also considering purchasing an additional fire protection system from Firetrace International, LLC, which provides fire control devices in individual turbine components such as the electrical cabinets and converters. 2 Maintenance In addition to equipment which discourages fire in the first place, a rigorous maintenance program will be employed to prevent problems before they occur. This is consistent with current industry standards of maintenance known as CMS, Condition-based Monitoring Systems. In the nacelle, there is continuous monitoring equipment which ensures temperatures do not rise beyond normal operating temperatures. Over-temp alarms cause the shut-down of the turbine, which can be effected with or without electricity inside the turbine. Regular maintenance and inspections on all turbine components is standard practice. The transformer at the base of each turbine is a self-contained unit which is extremely unlikely to combust. Regular inspection of transformer function and oil quality is part of standard maintenance protocols. The substation will also undergo regular inspections by maintenance personnel. All maintenance vehicles will have ABC fire extinguishers on board, and the ABC and CO2 fire extinguishers inside the turbines themselves will also receive regular inspection. The ground around turbines and ground-based support structures will be maintained in low vegetation to minimize flammable material. Refuse will be kept to a minimum for the same reason. Training of Personnel The Project’s designated Safety Coordinator will be the main point of contact for local emergency response personnel and safety plans. Black Oak Wind Farm staff and local responders will work together on trainings to prepare for wind farm-related emergencies. These will include all the possible accident scenarios with wind turbines, including blade loss, tower collapse, natural disasters, injury to wind farm personnel, and fire in the nacelle, or in the ground-level support structures such as transformers and the substation. MSDS sheets for all relevant materials will be available in construction trailers during construction and the Project Manager’s office and maintenance vehicles during operation. In addition, MSDS will be provided to the Enfield Fire Department and other emergency service providers. In addition, all Project vehicles will be equipped with firefighting equipment (fire extinguishers and shovels), as well as communications equipment for contacting the appropriate emergency response teams. Any occurrence of a fire safety incident on the wind farm premises will trigger notification of the Enfield Fire Department. A fire in the nacelle cannot be fought, and will be allowed to burn itself out or will self-extinguish with on-board fire suppression systems. Ground crews will stand by to prevent any spread of fire to vegetation on the ground. Fire in the substation or a transformer will be fought by local fire crews, and not by company personnel. All components of the Project will be installed on land leased for the purpose from local residents. The leases allow for access to all turbines and other equipment by maintenance and emergency personnel at any time. 3 A more detailed Emergency Response Plan will be developed prior to the commencement of construction in collaboration with the Enfield Fire Department. This plan will also be incorporated into the Employee Safety Manual provided to all maintenance personnel on the Project.