After 6 years of research, domestic scientists have mastered the design and manufacture of fire protection and firefighting systems for coal-fired thermal power plants.

Fire prevention and firefighting always a top priority

Recently, at the Ministry of Industry and Trade a project acceptance ceremony was held for the topic: “Research, design, manufacture, and assembly of fire protection and firefighting systems for coal-fired thermal power plants with unit capacity up to about 600 MW” led by the National Research Institute of Mechanical Engineering.

The acceptance ceremony for the project: “Research, design, manufacture, and assembly of fire protection and firefighting systems for coal-fired thermal power plants with unit capacity up to about 600 MW”

This project is one of 12 tasks under the science and technology project “Research, design, manufacture and commissioning of a number of auxiliary equipment systems for thermal power plants running on coal with unit capacity up to about 600 MW”.

Engineer Nguyen Van Minh, project leader, stated that among the 11 auxiliary equipment items of thermal power plants designed and manufactured domestically under Decision 1791/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister, the fire protection and firefighting system is one such item.

The project aims to achieve the following specific objectives: Master the design, manufacturing process, assembly process, installation and operation procedures for fire protection and firefighting systems for coal-fired thermal power plants with unit capacity up to about 600 MW, ensuring a mastery ratio of no less than 40% for the first project, no less than 60% for the second project, and no less than 80% from the third project onward.

Manufacture and assemble one fire protection and firefighting system installed and operated at a coal-fired thermal power plant with unit capacity up to 600 MW, ensuring that the value ratio of equipment manufactured by domestic mechanical enterprises is no less than 50% for the first and second projects, and no less than 70% from the third project onward.

At the same time, improve the scientific, technical, technological, managerial, consultancy, and operational capabilities of the domestic scientific and technical workforce.

“Fire protection and firefighting systems are particularly important for coal-fired thermal power plants, where equipment is arranged at a very high density and spread over a large area. In addition, thermal power plants have many devices that generate high heat sources, high pressure, and flammable materials. Therefore, fire prevention and firefighting are always a top priority” - Engineer Nguyen Van Minh emphasized.

Given its critical importance, the fire protection and firefighting system must always be ready to operate in all situations. The equipment in the system must strictly comply with Vietnamese fire protection standards as well as international standards...

Therefore, mastering the technologies for this system is extremely important, ensuring the ability to make quick, accurate, and flexible decisions in possible fire and explosion incidents, maximizing the protection of facilities and human life after a fire occurs.

Efforts to master the technology

According to Engineer Nguyen Van Minh, currently, fire protection and firefighting systems for coal-fired thermal power plants in Vietnam are mainly handled by foreign parties, leading to a lack of initiative in design, manufacturing, installation, and operation. Domestic companies have conducted research but in a fragmented and uncoordinated manner, without a complete set of research, calculation, design, manufacturing, and assembly documentation.

Song Hau 1 Thermal Power Plant

Therefore, this project was established to fulfill the objectives of Decision 1791/QD-TTg, enhance research quality, and move toward full mastery of fire protection and firefighting systems—from design, manufacturing, operation, to maintenance—for coal-fired thermal power plants currently under construction or planned in Vietnam.

To date, after 6 years of research, the project has fully completed the quantity, types, and quality of scientific and technological products as registered. Among these, Type I scientific and technological products include: One fire protection and firefighting system for the Song Hau 1 coal-fired thermal power plant with a unit capacity of 600 MW, meeting the requirements, standards, and fire protection regulations of the investor.

Type II scientific and technological products include: A set of calculation and design documents for the fire protection and firefighting system for a coal-fired thermal power plant with a unit capacity of 600 MW; a set of technological process documents for manufacturing and assembling the fire protection and firefighting system; a set of installation procedure documents for the fire protection and firefighting system; a set of testing, inspection, operation, and maintenance procedure documents for the fire protection and firefighting system...

“These products meet the requirements set by the investor, Vietnam's fire protection design standards, and are highly feasible” - Engineer Nguyen Van Minh emphasized.

The fire protection and firefighting system has been test-run and accepted for all areas of the Song Hau 1 Thermal Power Plant, and has been assessed by the general contractor LILAMA as well as the investor PVN as achieving good results. After acceptance, the system was put into operation and has contributed to ensuring labor safety and production for the Song Hau 1 Thermal Power Plant to date.

According to the assessment of the project acceptance council, despite the very large volume of research, synthesis, and analysis, and the incomplete domestic documentation and studies that caused difficulties in gathering materials, the research team and the project-leading agency have strived to complete 100% of the science and technology contract with high quality, integrity, and high practical applicability.

The research results of the project can be applied and transferred to units carrying out the localization of auxiliary equipment systems for domestic thermal power plants.

The National Research Institute of Mechanical Engineering (NARIME) along with its coordinating agency, BCA - Thang Long One Member Limited Liability Company, has proactively developed a set of documents on research, design, manufacture, equipment supply, installation, and operation of fire protection and firefighting systems for coal-fired thermal power plants without dependence on foreign partners. The research and calculations can be applied to similar-capacity thermal power plants.

Source: Industry and Trade Newspaper