16 Safety
REDEFINING SAFETY WITH THE LATEST IN OPTICAL FLAME DETECTION
Compared to only 10 years ago, recent advances in optical multi-spectrum infrared fl ame sensing technologies are now enhancing their features and capabilities. The result is improved accuracy, range, reliability, and effi ciency that can help protect people, processes, and plants from fl ames and fi res, as well as avoiding accidental false alarms (Figure 1).
Optical Flame Monitoring Basics
The most common optical fl ame detectors are combination ultraviolet/infrared (UV/IR) and multi-spectrum infrared (MSIR) types. These detectors measure radiant energy in multiple spectral energy wavelengths and utilize signal processing algorithms to analyze radiant energy levels, ratio-metric relationships of the signal levels, and modulation or fl icker rate of the IR energy. These algorithms are designed to enable fast and reliable fl ame detection while rejecting non-fi re energy sources (false fi re alarms) at the same time.
All optical fl ame detectors have a limited fi eld of view as a function of fi re size or radiant heat output and rely on a line- of-sight transmission of radiant energy from the source to the detector. It is important to always select the proper detector to match the radiant emissions expected from the fl ames to be detected. Since fl ammable fuels often emit unique spectral signatures, not all detectors are capable of detecting all fuels.
The Detection Challenges
As effective as conventional (MSIR, UV, IR, UV/IR) fl ame detectors have been, they have had limitations when it comes to range, accuracy, installation, maintenance and false alarm immunity. This has been especially true in terms of false alarm immunity in facilities full of stainless-steel objects and other sources of refl ective light, such as those typically found in petrochemical refi neries, storage facilities, and distribution depots. Users also have reported problems with optical sensors in cold climates, heavy rain, and humid environments.
Verifi able fuel compatibility (third party tested) has been another limitation for some users, as well as the effective range or distance of reliable optical sensor fl ame detection. In large oil/gas production fi elds and chemical plant refi neries, for example, range is an important issue because extended range accuracy requires fewer optical fl ame detectors to do the same job at a more economical cost. Monitoring the same area with fewer detectors also simplifi es installation and start-up commissioning and day-to- day alarm monitoring. Maintenance is easier too, which reduces technician fi eld time and the long-term cost of ownership.
The Future Optical Solution Is Here Now
Flame and fi re detection are important process and plant safety objectives that help save lives. For this reason, the MSA optical fl ame detector product engineering team has focused its latest efforts on the continuous improvement of enhanced detector
PIN OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2023
Figure 1: Petrochemical Plant FL5000 MSIR Detector Photo Montage
accuracy and false alarm immunity to help prevent industrial fi res. The result is the new MSA General Monitors®
FL5000 Multi-
Spectrum Flame Detector, which is a rugged, intelligent multi- spectrum infrared (MSIR) fl ame detector. It employs infrared (IR) detectors and an advanced fl ame detection algorithm leveraging the intelligence of three sophisticated artifi cial neural networks (ANN) for signal processing that detects real fl ame and fi re hazards.
Accuracy & False Alarm Immunity
The fi rst thing users will appreciate about the new FL5000 Detector is its enhanced accuracy and false alarm immunity. With its intelligence, the FL5000 can distinguish between real fl ames and sources of false alarms common in petrochemical and other industrial plants, such as those caused by lightning, sunlight refl ection, arc-welding, hot objects and other sources of radiation.
Next, the FL5000 Flame Detector’s distance range has been extended now up to 310 feet (95 meters) for n-Heptane fuel sources, while maintaining accuracy and reliability in seeing
actual fl ames before they become full fi re events. This instrument offers a wide fi eld of view (FOV) too: 30° at 310 feet (95 m), 60° at 210 feet (64 m) or 90° at 110 feet (34 m) (Figure 2).
Plus, the performance of the FL5000 Detector has been Factory Mutual (FM) verifi ed for 22 of the most common, popular fuel types in use by the petrochemical and other process industries, including: n-Heptane, gasoline, methanol, methane, butane, propane, ethane, ethanol, crude oil, ethylene glycol, isopropanol, diesel, JP4, JP5, JP8, jet fuel A, marina fuel, kerosene, xylene, MEK, wood, and cardboard.
Bluetooth® Technology
The FL5000 Detector is the industry’s fi rst optical fl ame detector with Bluetooth technology for use in initial confi guration set- up and diagnostics activity via a mobile device. This proven technology has been pioneered by MSA Safety in the roll out of its ULTIMA®
X5000 & General Monitors® S5000 Gas Detector Series, which will help eliminate much of the learning curve in plants
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