Fire Detection in Open-Type Hydrogenerators

The tests made by the Aluminum Company of Canada Ltd. to determine the optimum automatic fire-detection system for the open ventilation-type generators at its Chute-à-Caron plant are described. Several detection systems were studied, resulting in smoke detection and fixed-temperature detection systems being tested. The test results indicated that a fixed-temperature detection system was most suitable for this application and probably for most other types of vertically mounted air-cooled generators.