About Flame Detection Technology
Find the right flame detector to help keep your people and facilities safe.
Find the right flame detector to help keep your people and facilities safe.
Flames emit electromagnetic radiation in the infrared (IR), visible light and ultraviolet (UV) wavelengths depending on the fuel source. Because some flames are invisible to the human eye, today’s flame detectors utilize optical technologies to detect flames. Optical flame-sensing technologies have been developed utilizing UV, UV/IR and multi-spectrum infrared to detect flames of differing fuel sources. These flame detection products rely on line-of-sight detection of the radiation emitted in the spectral bands to determine if a flame is real.
Consider whether the potential flame you are looking to detect will be hydrocarbon based or non-organic. With hydrocarbon flames, a combination of natural gases and oxygen produce carbon dioxide and water. This type of fire creates a UV signal reading at 0.2 microns and IR signal reading at 2.7 microns and 4.5 microns. Hydrogen flames only produce water molecules and therefore we do not see the same CO2 peak that a hydrocarbon flame is known to produce. Choosing a flame detector that's tuned to your fuel type and radiation intensity will provide more accurate flame detection.
Environmental conditions like sunlight, lightning, hot objects like heat exchangers and other non-flame sources can cause false alarms. It's critical that a flame detector is able to distinguish between an actual fire and a false radiation source to prevent disruptive and costly false alarms.
Flame detection technologies effectively recognize a flame at different distances. It's important to utilize a flame detector that can operate within your required detection range. To improve the odds of successful flame detection, flame detectors are often placed so that their detection coverages overlap.
Optical flame detectors also have a “field of view”, similar to the lens on a camera. Taking the field of view range into account will help you determine how many flame detectors are needed to cover an installation or a specific area within the installation.
UV/IR flame detectors combine a UV optical sensor (0.18 – 0.26 μm range) with an IR sensor (2.5 – 3.0 μm range) designed to detect water vapor from hydrogen and hydrocarbon combustion. The combined UV/IR flame detector mitigates the drawbacks of a straight UV detector so it can be used outdoors, but with a slightly slower response time. Detection range may be reduced by heavy smoke.
MSIR multi-spectrum hydrogen and hydrocarbon flame detectors zero-in on infrared spectral regions between 2.0 – 5.0 μm to detect water and carbon dioxide emissions. The hot water band is particularly useful for detecting hydrogen fires, the flames of which are practically imperceptible in the visible light range. This type of flame detector has a long range and high immunity to smoke and false alarms.
MSIR multi-spectrum hydrocarbon flame detectors use the infrared spectral region of 4.0 – 5.0 μm to detect carbon dioxide emissions produced by hydrocarbon fires, but with no sensitivity to water vapor. This type of flame detector can detect fuel and gas fires at long ranges and has a high immunity to false alarms, but cannot recognize hydrogen fires.
Additional flame detector technologies that depend on line-of-sight radiation include:
Know why the Optical Flame Detectors are the favorite solutions in high risk industries.
There's no such thing as "too safe" when operating storage tank farms, especially when these tank farms are located near urban areas. Next generation Rosemount 975 Flame Detectors help detect fires in tank farms to keep your operation running smoothly and safely. A full fire prevention solution helps ensure more uptime, extended asset life and minimized operating costs. Avoid devastating results of personnel injuries and equipment damage.
Oil wells have the potential to create flammable vapors and gases, increasing the risk of fire or explosions which can occur without warning. Next generation Rosemount 975 Flame Detectors provide continuous flame detection even in extreme temperatures and harsh winds to keep personnel and equipment safe.
Various hazards are associated with loading and unloading flammable and toxic products, including accidental release and potential of ignition. Next generation Rosemount 975 Flame Detectors continuously provide ultra-fast flame detection response speeds - as low as 20 ms – to help protect personnel and equipment
Due to the constant high stress on compressor machinery and potential for fires, compressor stations require continuous flame monitoring. Next generation Rosemount 975 Flame Detectors detect fires with ultra-fast response speeds as low as 20 milliseconds.
Aircraft hangars come with unique challenges as highly combustible aviation fuel leaks can occur. Next generation Rosemount 975 Flame Detectors help protect personnel and costly equipment, by detecting fuel and gas fires at long distances and over wide areas. Flame detectors are installed at the structure's corner and at ground level to help ensure the detectors' field of view covers any area where fire may occur.
Food and beverage processing and storage facilities present unique safety risks. Next generation Rosemount 975 Flame Detectors protect personnel and equipment, detecting fires with a high immunity to false alarms. With a durable stainless steel body and heated optics to eliminate condensation and icing, operating temperatures range from -76 °F to +185 °F (-60 °C to +85 °C) and cover areas up to 300 ft. (90 m).
Fire is a constant possibility at waste management sites as many types of waste are readily combustible. Next generation Rosemount 975 Flame Detectors continuously monitor and quickly detect fires, while protecting personnel and equipment. Rosemount 975 Flame Detectors detect fires at long distances and over wide areas with a high immunity to false alarms and ultra-fast response speeds - as low as 20 milliseconds. Flame detectors are strategically installed in multiple locations, ensuring the detectors' field of view covers any area where a fire may occur.
Know why the Optical Flame Detectors are the favorite solutions in high risk industries.
There's no such thing as "too safe" when operating storage tank farms, especially when these tank farms are located near urban areas. Next generation Rosemount 975 Flame Detectors help detect fires in tank farms to keep your operation running smoothly and safely. A full fire prevention solution helps ensure more uptime, extended asset life and minimized operating costs. Avoid devastating results of personnel injuries and equipment damage.
Oil wells have the potential to create flammable vapors and gases, increasing the risk of fire or explosions which can occur without warning. Next generation Rosemount 975 Flame Detectors provide continuous flame detection even in extreme temperatures and harsh winds to keep personnel and equipment safe.
Various hazards are associated with loading and unloading flammable and toxic products, including accidental release and potential of ignition. Next generation Rosemount 975 Flame Detectors continuously provide ultra-fast flame detection response speeds - as low as 20 ms – to help protect personnel and equipment
Due to the constant high stress on compressor machinery and potential for fires, compressor stations require continuous flame monitoring. Next generation Rosemount 975 Flame Detectors detect fires with ultra-fast response speeds as low as 20 milliseconds.
Aircraft hangars come with unique challenges as highly combustible aviation fuel leaks can occur. Next generation Rosemount 975 Flame Detectors help protect personnel and costly equipment, by detecting fuel and gas fires at long distances and over wide areas. Flame detectors are installed at the structure's corner and at ground level to help ensure the detectors' field of view covers any area where fire may occur.
Food and beverage processing and storage facilities present unique safety risks. Next generation Rosemount 975 Flame Detectors protect personnel and equipment, detecting fires with a high immunity to false alarms. With a durable stainless steel body and heated optics to eliminate condensation and icing, operating temperatures range from -76 °F to +185 °F (-60 °C to +85 °C) and cover areas up to 300 ft. (90 m).
Fire is a constant possibility at waste management sites as many types of waste are readily combustible. Next generation Rosemount 975 Flame Detectors continuously monitor and quickly detect fires, while protecting personnel and equipment. Rosemount 975 Flame Detectors detect fires at long distances and over wide areas with a high immunity to false alarms and ultra-fast response speeds - as low as 20 milliseconds. Flame detectors are strategically installed in multiple locations, ensuring the detectors' field of view covers any area where a fire may occur.
