Analysis of the possibility of the use of automatic fire extinguishing systems for live electrical equipment at energy facilities

Introduction. The article considers the possibility of solving the problem of using automatic fire extinguishing systems to extinguish electrical equipment under voltage in rooms with no people. Examples of fires at energy facilities in recent years are considered, as well as statistics of fires at transformers in the Russian Federation in the period from 2016 to 2021. The analysis of normative legal acts of the Russian Federation and foreign analogs is carried out. As a result of the analysis, the problem of using automatic fire extinguishing installations at energy facilities has been identified. Targets and goals. The purpose of the study is to analyze the possibility of using automatic fire extinguishing systems for live electrical equipment at energy facilities. During the study, the following tasks were set: - analysis of regulatory legal acts of the Russian Federation and international standards in the field of extinguishing Class E fires; - analysis of fire statistics at transformer substations in the Russian Federation in the period from 2016 to 2021; - development of the concept of a test bench to determine the leakage current through the jet of fire extinguishing agent from automatic fire extinguishing installations when extinguishing electrical equipment under voltage. Methods. When conducting a study on the use of automatic fire extinguishing installations for live electrical equipment at energy facilities, the analysis method was used. Results and its discussion. As a result of the study, the problem of rationing and the use of automatic fire extinguishing installations for electrical equipment under voltage in rooms with no people was identified. The concept of a test bench for determining the leakage current through a jet of fire extinguishing agent from automatic fire extinguishing installations when extinguishing live electrical equipment is proposed. Conclusions. During the study, it was revealed that international standards and norms in the Russian Federation diverge in the field of application of automatic fire extinguishing installations for live electrical equipment at power facilities, therefore, further research and development of the proposed test stand is necessary to determine the leakage current through the jet of fire extinguishing agent from automatic fire extinguishing installations, which will allow to explore the possibility of using various types of automatic fire extinguishing installations, with different types of fire extinguishing agents to eliminate fires in electrical equipment under voltage. Keywords: automatic fire extinguishing installations, fire electrical equipment, fire protection, transformer, test bench.