1. ADVANCED RISK MITIGATION SOLUTIONS
Nuclear
ADVANCED RISK MITIGATION SOLUTIONS

2. Characteristics of Nuclear Infrastructure
Large fuel loads
High density of material and equipment
Toxic, flammable and/or corrosive gases and liquids
Critical control/shut down components and equipment
Accessibility restrictions
Can be slow to evacuate
High ceilings
Compartmentalization
Hot areas
High density of obstructions
Neighboring support structures in close proximity

3. Fire Risks
Fire Risks
Electrical and/or mechanical equipment faults and failures
Hot surfaces
Process upset
Overheating due to excessive friction or equipment malfunction or overloading
Human error – Facility personnel and outside vendors or contractors
Bad housekeeping
safety considerations and expectations remain top priority.
DOE facilities are comprised of a multitude of processes and environments containing components and sub-components, each with distinct physical characteristics presenting unique challenges from a fire prevention perspective. High-energy densities, temperatures, electric voltages and high inertia electromechanical devices all have the potential to create fires. 3 3 3 3

4. Consequences of Fire Consequences can be devastating
Life safety of personnel
Fire induced circuit faults preventing safe shutdown
Disruption of service
Health and welfare of local communities
Lost revenue
Long-term implications on the environment
As our reliance on nuclear power generation grows, safety considerations and expectations remain top priority. The effects of a small fire event at a reactor can disrupt the supply of electricity to many thousands of customers and loss of feed-in tariffs to the operator. The consequences of a serious fire that causes core damage can affect the health and welfare of millions, perhaps generations of citizens and the environment. Clearly the stakes are very high. Nothing defines 'mission-critical' like nuclear

5. Essentials of Fire Protection Strategy
Fire protection strategy is an essential element of risk mitigation taking into account factors that include:
Local codes and standards
Economic loss from loss of function or records
Economic loss from value of equipment
Safe shutdown
Process upset effecting reliability of data
Regulatory impact
Impact to reputation
Life and welfare of building occupants
Life and welfare of public
Environmental implication 5

6. Role of Fire Detection
Automatic fire detection systems play an essential role in the overall fire protection strategy:
First line of defense against fire (thermal) / smoke (non-thermal) threats
Early intervention by personnel to mitigate potential incidents
Potentially mitigates need for fire department response
Initiation of sequential systems or procedures
Remove automatic detection systems from the equation and you’ve broken the sequence
dominos in the sequence represent the chain of events of an actual ‘event’…such as faulty wiring represents a domino, smoldering insulation represents the next until it reaches ‘early detection’ notification. 6

7. Mitigating Fire Risks Early Detection & Control
Detection in the early stages of fire development minimize consequential damage as containment becomes increasingly more difficult the deeper seeded fires become
Understanding the stages of fire development and burning regime provides insight as to various protection measures that can be deployed to mitigate or reduce the severity of a postulated fire.
Fire progression is generally comprised of four stages, as illustrated - the Incipient, Smoldering, Flame and high heat stages. In typical fires, as fires grow in size, the energy release rate increases to peak value. Quite frequently the incipient stage could be the progression of equipment or component degradation, which, in some cases could occur over the course of days before the outbreak of a thermal event, after which time the fire growth has the potential to rapidly increase.
Fighting fires becomes significantly more difficult as energy release rates increase and fires become deep seeded. Detection in the early stages of progression, ideally in the incipient stage, provides the best opportunity to take action and mitigate the consequences.
Generally speaking, quite often many components, materials, systems and sub-systems will exhibit some degree of incipient behavior. As such, automatic smoke detection is a crucial element of any fire risk mitigation or active fire fighting strategy. 7 7 7

8. Detection Challenges
Challenges for conventional fire detection technologies
Airflow
Dilution
Stratification
Barriers
Temperature
Interference
Integrity
Ambient smoke
Contamination
Accessibility
The choice of conventional smoke detection technologies have limitations with respect to application within nuclear power plants.
Conventional threat detection comes with its own challenges, including air movement from drafts, air conditioning interfering with normal smoke dispersion, obstructions, and smoke from small fires that lacks sufficient thermal energy to reach conventional detectors located on high ceilings.
Each of these factors present enormous challenges rendering many detection technologies ineffective or problematic for it’s given sensitivity or performance objectives.

9. Protecting Nuclear Infrastructure
Early Warning Threat Deterrent Technologies
VESDA ®
Air Sampling Smoke Detection
VESDA ECO™
Air Sampling Gas Detection
OSID™
Open-Area Smoke Imaging Detection 9

10. VESDA Air Sampling Smoke Detection
Air-Sampling Detection System (ASD)
is a system which draws air from an area, via a pipe network, back to a central detector which continuously monitors for traces of smoke
Given the challenging environmental characteristics of the applications within most DOE facilities, no other detection principle has proven as effective as Air Sampling Detection type systems.
Air-sampling technology consists of a piping or tubing distribution network that runs from a centralized detector to the area(s) to be protected. An aspiration fan in the detector housing continuously draws air from the protected area back to the detector through air sampling ports, piping, or tubing. At the detector, the air is analyzed for fire products. 10 10 10

11. VESDA ASD Key Benefits Absolute Sensitivities Active vs. passive
Predictable
Cumulative
Wide sensitivity
Monitors entire fire progression
Multiple alarm thresholds
Low maintenance
Comprehensive analytics
VESDA provides “active” fire detection, eliminates uncertainties and can be modelled and validated using proven mathematical and Computation Fluid Dynamics (CFD) calculations.
Exceptionally well suited for providing localized detection within equipment cabinets or compartments with addressability to the individual cabinet or compartment.
Fixed Absolute Sensitivity without compromises. No drift compensation, no adjustment algorithms.
Programmable alarm thresholds across a wide sensitivity range permitting staged response
Compatible with any Fire Alarm Control Panel
Cumulative detection with exceptional performance in highly diluted environments
Centralized Maintenance
Reduced CapEx and OpEx
Effective across a wide spectrum of operating environments
Comprehensive analytics
Open area imaging technologies overcome installation, price and performance barriers
Toxic, flammable and corrosive gas detection integration overcomes installation, price and performance barriers 11

12. How VESDA Works Sensitivity Absolute Smoke Measurement Device
High stability fixed calibration
Alarm thresholds between and 6.4% obs/ft
Optical light-scattering detection principle
Solid state laser light source
Reliability
High tolerance and rejection of nuisance alarms caused by dust, steam and insects, etc.
High-stability optics
Integrity
Active monitoring of all critical detector functions
Flow, optics and calibration
Optics automatically cleaned
Sensitivity
Highest sensitivity by design
Absolute smoke measurement
Advanced signal- processing algorithm
Absolute fixed calibration smoke measurement is offered along a sensitivity range of % obs/ft ( % obs/m).  Four programmable alarm thresholds may be set between the detectors sensitivity range permitting staged response to developing conditions. 
The detection principle employed permits high tolerance and rejection of nuisance alarms.  Integrity of the system is accomplished via a patented clean air wash on the optics preventing sensitivity degradation as a result of optical contamination. This assures absolute sensitivity without need of further calibration or drift compensation techniques.  All critical detector functions are monitored such as flow, optics, and calibration.  Comprehensive data logging is provided storing up to 18,000 events in non-volatile memory which may be accessed for real-time or historical viewing. 12

14. Wide Selection of Models Meets Needs of All Applications
VESDA Detector Models
Wide Selection of Models Meets Needs of All Applications
VLF-250
VLF-500
VLC-500
VLC-505
High sensitivity small area, single pipe
High sensitivity medium area, single pipe
VLP
VLS
VFT
Industrial VLI
High sensitivity large area, pipe
High sensitivity large area, 4 pipe, addressable
High sensitivity micro-bore, 15 pipe, addressable
High sensitivity large area, 4 pipe, Harsh Environments

15. Coverage and Sampling Techniques
Area detection (UL268 primary detection)
Concealed space detection
Site requirements and conditions determine the best sampling method. Local codes and standards may have a bearing on the selection of sampling methods used. The position and spacing of sampling holes is dependent upon the pipe network design and the performance objectives. 15

16. Coverage and Sampling Techniques
Return air grille sampling
In-duct sampling (UL268A duct detection)
Site requirements and conditions determine the best sampling method. Local codes and standards may have a bearing on the selection of sampling methods used. The position and spacing of sampling holes is dependent upon the pipe network design and the performance objectives. 16

17. Coverage and Sampling Techniques
In-Cabinet
Places detection within areas of greatest risk
Fully or partially enclosed cabinets create smoke barriers
Electrical components housed in cabinets exhibit incipient behavior during degradation
Degradation may occur over extended periods
High sensitivity detection provides earliest response
Directs personnel to source
Site requirements and conditions determine the best sampling method. Local codes and standards may have a bearing on the selection of sampling methods used. The position and spacing of sampling holes is dependent upon the pipe network design and the performance objectives. 17

18. Coverage and Sampling Techniques
In-Cabinet Detection using VESDA VFT-15
Single detector protects as many as 15 individual cabinets
Addressability to the individual cabinet
VFT-15 provides the best localization of fire originating within cabinets while in the incipient stage, before a thermal event.
Addressability to the individual cabinet eliminates additional investigation by the responders to identify the affected cabinet. The operator response procedure directs the cabinet to be investigated upon alarm from the ASD system.
VESDA VFT-15 18 18

19. Open Area Smoke Imaging Detection (OSID)
Open-area Smoke Imaging Detection (OSID) is new innovation in projected beam smoke detection
OSID provides a low-cost, reliable and easy-to-install solution that overcomes typical beam detection issues such as nuisance alarms and alignment difficulties.
Dual-wavelength light frequencies
Digital imaging vs. photodiodes
A unique method for aligning
Smarter algorithms 19

20. OSID Immune to dust, steam, insects, objects and structural movement
Operates in all ambient lighting conditions
Easy to align – sets up in minutes
Beam distances up to 492 ft.
Long range, 90 degree, 45 degree coverage options
Building shifts up to 4 degrees!
Multiple emitters to one imager – avoids obstructions
Compatible with any fire alarm control panel 20

21. Aspirating Gas Detection
ASD-based Gas Detection. A new approach to environmental monitoring
VESDA ECO overcomes the fundamental limitations of fixed-point gas detectors to ensure early and reliable gas detection so an appropriate preventative or emergency response can be taken.
Cost-effectively adds gas and environment air quality detection capabilities to existing or new ASD systems.
Unobtrusive
Simple expansion to monitor multiple gases
Centralized
Integrates 21

22. VESDA ECO Factory calibrated sensors
Available Gases
Factory calibrated sensors
Plug and play replaceable sensor cartridges
Single or dual sensors
Class 1 Div 2 22

23. Solutions for all Environmentsz
Solutions for all Environments
Where accessibility is an issue
Where Very Early Warning is the objective
Where the environment is hostile
Where toxic, flammable or corrosive gasses threaten safety
Where nuisance alarms cannot be tolerated.
For proven performance
In large open spaces 23

24. Application Solutions
Nuclear Applications
Application Solutions
Particle Accelerators
VESDA sampling points can be installed in strategic locations throughout the tunnel providing Very Early Warning Fire Detection. Remotely mounted detector provides central location for testing and is out of harms way.
Control Building
VESDA sampling points are typically installed at the ceiling and inside or above equipment cabinets. Sampling points can also be located in the ceiling void, floor void and at the return air grille of Air Handling Unit(s) to monitor the entire environment for smoke.
Diesel Generator Building
VESDA sampling points can be installed at the ceiling and within electrical equipment cabinets. Addition of VESDA ECO gas detection on sampling pipe network provides monitoring for unsafe levels of NOS.
Battery Room
VESDA sampling points can be installed at the ceiling. Addition of VESDA ECO gas detection on sampling pipe network provides monitoring for Hydrogen accumulation. 24

25. Application Solutions
Nuclear Applications
Application Solutions
Cable Spreading Room
Xtralis VESDA sampling points are typically installed above cable trays or along the ceiling. The VESDA detectors can be installed at a central service point for easy access.
Electrical Equipment Cabinets
Xtralis VESDA sampling points are typically installed inside of or directly above electrical equipment cabinets. Use of VESDA VFT-15 addressable sampling system can pinpoint to the individual equipment cabinet potentially reducing time to investigate affected cabinet thus maximizing PRAs.
Fuel Building
Xtralis Open-Area Smoke Imaging Detection (OSID) can be installed to monitor the entire environment for smoke. VESDA sampling ports can be installed above spent fuel pool and inside or above electrical equipment cabinets.
Hot Machine Shop
Xtralis Open-Area Smoke Imaging Detection (OSID) can be installed to monitor the entire environment for smoke. 25

26. Hot Cells Challenging Environment
Characteristics of Hot Cells present a unique challenge for conventional fire detection technologies.
VESDA, a suitable solution
No electronics in the piping network
Detector externally located outside cell
Easily accommodates detection of gases
Secondary Containment Boundary
Engineered for suitability
Stainless steel pipe network
Detector mounted in protective housing outside cell
Detector exhausted back into cell
Bag out filter 26

27. Accessible
Test Point
On ASD detectors serving the ceiling, above ceiling and below the raised floor (if present), most remote sampling port (end vent) can be configured as a test point for accessible testing of suction pressure and smoke transport time.
The test point is constructed using a vented end cap
Provide adhesive label identifying system parameters to facilitate routine inspection
Remote Test point 27

28. DOE Infrastructure Application Experience Argonne National Laboratory
            
Argonne National Laboratory
Brookhaven National Laboratory
Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory
Idaho National Laboratory
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Los Alamos National Laboratory
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Sandia National Laboratories
SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory
Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility 28

29. Questions?