Fires involving electrical cables are one of the main hazards in Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs). Cables are complex assemblies including several polymeric parts (insulation, bedding, sheath) constituting fuel sources. This study provides an in-depth characterization of the fire behavior of two halogen-free flame retardant cables used in NPPs using the cone calorimeter. The influence of two key parameters, namely the external heat flux and the spacing between cables, on the cable fire characteristics is especially investigated. The prominent role of the outer sheath material on the ignition and the burning at early times was highlighted. A parameter of utmost importance called transition heat flux, was identified and depends on the composition and the structure of the cable. Below this heat flux, the decomposition is limited and concerns only the sheath. Above it, fire hazard is greatly enhanced because most often non-flame retarded insulation part contributes to heat release. The influence of spacing appears complex, and depends on the considered fire property.
Summary
Electrical cabinet fire is one of the main fire hazards in nuclear power plants. As part of the OECD PRISME‐2 programme, four fire tests were carried out to investigate the fire spread from an open‐doors electrical cabinet to overhead cable trays and adjacent cabinets in a confined and mechanically ventilated facility. These tests, named CFS‐5 to CFS‐7 and CORE‐6, used same both cabinet (fire source) and three overhead cable trays. The trays were filled with a halogenated flame‐retardant cable‐type for CFS‐5 and one halogen‐free for the three other tests. Moreover, fire dampers were used for CFS‐7 test while CORE‐6 test implemented two additional cabinets adjacent to the fire source. Measurements such as flame and gas temperature, gas concentration, mass loss rate, and heat release rate were performed for investigating the fire spread. Cabinet fire spread to the cable trays for CFS‐5 and CFS‐6 tests. Three fast and short cable tray fires were shown for CFS‐5, while a slow and long cable tray fire was highlighted for CFS‐6. In contrast, the fire dampers shutdown for CFS‐7 test prevented ignition of the overhead cables. Furthermore, for CORE‐6 test, cabinet fire spread to the adjacent cabinets, but the upper cables were not ignited.
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