EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF POWER CABLE IN A FIRE ENCLOSURE

Abstract

Burning characteristics of power cable is one of the important parameters for the fire hazard assessment. Considering the development of new technologies, the demand of the energy is continuously increasing and so for the transmission of these energies power cables are required. In recent past there are some incident in industrial as well as residential area where cable becomes one of the major concern because of its combustible nature. Once cable gets ignited, it becomes source of fire itself. An experimental setup is prepared in Fire research laboratory to study the burning characteristics of cables and means to reduce its flammability. Experiments are performed for two value of heat flux, with and without application of fire retardant paint. Cable is tied between bus bar and current is supplied to it. After some time, an external source is used to heat the cable through raditaive heat flux and allowed to burn. Time value for ignition of cable and for the complete burning of cable is noted, temperature profile at different layer of cable, incident heat flux and mass burning rate of fuel are measured under different coating thickness. These values will help to get to know about burning characteristics of the cable and failure time of the cable.