Floating roof storage tanks are widely used in the oil and gas, petrochemical, and chemical industries to store large volumes of flammable and combustible liquids. The rim seal, the area between the floating roof and the tank wall, is where vapors accumulate and where the risk of fire is highest. Detecting a fire here is not straightforward. The floating roof rises and falls with the liquid level, and standard detection cables cannot accommodate this movement without losing their electrical connection to the fire alarm control panel.
Linear Heat Detection Cable as the Solution
Linear Heat Detection Cable (LHDC) installed along the rim seal provides continuous heat detection across the entire perimeter of the tank. Unlike point detectors, LHDC monitors every point along its length and triggers an alarm when heat exceeds a defined threshold at any location.
To solve the movement problem, an Automatic Cable Reeler is installed at the top of the tank. It provides the electrical connection between the LHDC on the floating roof and the fire alarm control panel in the safe area. As the roof level falls, the reeler uncoils cable. As the level rises, it winds the cable back. This continuous adjustment ensures the electrical connection is maintained at all times without putting stress on the cable. To comply with IECEx and ATEX requirements for hazardous areas, a Zener barrier and an end of line terminator must be used.
Cedetaş Engineering as Your Solution Partner
Choosing the right solution requires more than product selection. It requires understanding the facility’s topology, existing protocols, and redundancy needs. Cedetaş Engineering & Technology, authorized distributor of Patol fire detection solutions in Türkiye, provides solution consultancy from system design through commissioning.
