Home Industrial Fire Protection Areas of application Filter

Industrial fire protection for filter systems

Stop ignition sources, prevent filter fires – before sparks turn into a fire

Where combustible dusts and other flammable residues from production processes are collected, there is a risk of fire. Sparks and embers can enter filter systems via extraction ducts and trigger fires there. However, sources of fire can also arise within the filter system itself – even when production has already come to a halt.

With the GreCon PROTECTOR FILTER, we protect filter systems against a range of fire hazards. Our modular fire protection system combines intelligent spark detection, automatic spark suppression and early fire detection into a coordinated protection concept. In this way, we reduce fire risks, protect your systems and help to prevent costly production downtime.

  • Detect and automatically extinguish ignition sources before they reach the filter
  • Detect emerging filter fires at an early stage, both during operation and when the system is shut down
  • Tailor protective measures to the specific plant and production process

Risks and challenges

Why filter systems are particularly at risk of fire

Industrial filtration systems frequently involve a combination of combustible dusts, oxygen and potential ignition sources. Production processes in which large quantities of combustible particles are generated – for example, in the engineered wood, paper, food or metal industries – are particularly at risk.

The fire risk is not limited to the material that has been separated. Dust deposits in piping, filter hoppers and on filter media can also lead to ignition. Furthermore, the filter media themselves can contribute to the fire load. Under certain conditions, explosive dust-air mixtures can also form.

Effective fire protection must therefore take various dangers into account.

Fires in filter media during operation

If a fire breaks out in the filter media, it is often not immediately visible from the outside. The continuous flow of air can dilute or carry away the initial signs of fire. Without suitable monitoring, valuable time for an early response is therefore lost.

Smouldering fires and spontaneous combustion when stationary

Even when production is not taking place, there is a danger of fire. Under certain conditions, dust deposits and accumulations of material can heat up spontaneously and trigger an ignition. Smouldering fires are particularly dangerous, as they can go undetected for a long time inside the filter system and spread gradually.

Sparks and embers from the production process

During mechanical processing, friction, foreign objects or high process temperatures can give rise to sparks and glowing particles. The air flow carries these via the extraction ducts towards the filter. If they come into contact with flammable deposits or filter media there, a fire may develop.

GreCon PROTECTOR FILTER: Industrial fire protection that intervenes at an early stage

A reliable fire protection concept for filter systems begins before the filter and also takes into account potential sources of fire within the system.

GreCon PROTECTOR FILTER combines intelligent detection, centralised signal processing and automatic protective measures to achieve this. The components work together as a coordinated system: they detect dangers, process the signals and initiate the appropriate responses.

This enables different protection areas to be safeguarded – from the raw gas pipeline through the interior of the filter to the clean gas side. Both during production and when the plant is shut down.

Detecting ignition sources and signs of fire at an early stage

The SCOUT detectors monitor the critical areas of the filtration process.

In the raw gas pipeline, spark detectors detect sparks and embers before they reach the filter system. Additional detectors on the clean gas side can indicate emerging fires on the filter media during operation.

Temperature detectors can be inserted inside the filter for early fire detection during shutdowns. They monitor critical temperature trends, even when there is no air flow.

Process signals. Control protective measures locally.

GreCon MISSION CONTROL consolidates the information from the connected detectors, monitors the fire protection system and coordinates the specified protective measures.

The GreCon RANGER handles decentralised signal processing directly in the vicinity of the detection and suppression components. It processes signals on-site and controls the necessary responses within milliseconds. This shortens signal paths and reduces the amount of cabling required.

Together, MISSION CONTROL and RANGER form an intelligent, distributed system architecture that can be flexibly adapted to different plant structures.

Extinguish ignition sources. Limit the spread of fire.

HUNTER extinguishing components respond to detected ignition sources. In the raw gas pipeline, they can automatically extinguish sparks and embers before they reach the filter.

If critical conditions are detected within the filter system, GreCon PROTECTOR FILTER can trigger further protective measures. These include, for example, disabling fans, closing flaps or activating a filter extinguishing system.

The measures implemented depend on the system and the agreed protection concept.

GreCon PROTECTOR system concept with detection, control and extinguishing
Before the filter, within the filter, after the filter: the PROTECTOR components safeguard every protection area of a filter system.

Filter protection tailored to your process

Filter systems vary in terms of their design, size, air flow and the materials used. The fire risks vary accordingly. An effective protection concept must take these specific characteristics into account.

With GreCon PROTECTOR FILTER, we combine the appropriate detection, control and protection components to create a system tailored to your plant. The modular architecture enables flexible solutions for both new and existing filter systems.

1

Analysing risks

We inspect materials, possible ignition sources and the plant layout. In doing so, we take into account fire risks both during operation and when the plant is shut down.

2

Combining protective measures

We tailor spark detection, automatic spark suppression and other protective measures to your plant. This results in a comprehensive fire safety concept.

3

Integrate and support

We integrate GreCon PROTECTOR FILTERs into your plant and expand the system as required. Regular servicing and maintenance help to ensure long-term operational reliability.

Experience you can rely on

For over 50 years, we have been developing solutions for preventive industrial fire protection. Our systems protect production lines across a wide range of industries and under demanding operating conditions.

This expertise is incorporated into every new protection concept. With GreCon PROTECTOR, we combine decades of experience with an intelligent, modular system architecture – for reliable fire protection tailored to the requirements of your production process.

200.000+
protected production lines worldwide
75.000
tailor-made protection plans
50+
Years of experience in industrial fire protection
Milliseconds
from spark detection to extinguishing

Filter protection in practice

Detector on pipe

Siegfried Jacob Metallwerke

Filter protection at high process temperatures

High temperatures are generated during the melting processes at Siegfried Jacob Metallwerke. Sparks can be carried by the exhaust air flow into downstream filter systems, where they can trigger fires. …

Case Study
Several chutes fitted with GreCon detectors

Kröger Druck

Stopping sparks before they reach the filter

During the further processing of printed materials, sparks can be generated by shives or friction. These are carried towards the filter system along with the extracted material. …

 

Case Study

Fire protection for filter systems: Frequently asked questions

Yes. GreCon PROTECTOR FILTER has a modular design and can be adapted to different plant configurations.

The detectors, extinguishing components and control functions required depend on the existing filter, the process conditions and the existing safety equipment.

Even after a system has been disabled, dust deposits or filter media may experience an ignition.

Temperature sensors inside the filter enable the monitoring of critical temperature trends, regardless of the current air flow. If dangers are detected, GreCon PROTECTOR FILTER can trigger alarms and activate automatic protective measures.

One option is spark detection on the clean air side. If the filter media are intact, no sparks should occur there. If sparks are nevertheless detected, this may indicate a fire in the filter media.

GreCon PROTECTOR FILTER processes the relevant signals and triggers the designated protective measures.

An upstream spark arrestor reduces the risk of detected ignition sources entering the filter system. However, fires can also break out inside the filter, for example due to the spontaneous combustion of deposits.

For this reason, additional monitoring of the interior of the filter and the clean gas side may be advisable. GreCon PROTECTOR FILTER enables these protective functions to be combined within a coordinated system.

The GreCon PROTECTOR FILTER detects sparks and embers as early as the raw gas pipeline. The SCOUT detectors report detected ignition sources to MISSION CONTROL, which automatically activates the corresponding HUNTER extinguishing components.

This enables ignition sources to be extinguished before they reach the filter system.

Sparks and embers are produced, for example, by mechanical processing, friction, foreign objects or thermal processes. They are carried towards the filter by the airflow from the extraction system. There, they can ignite flammable materials.

Filtration systems remove dust and particles from industrial production processes. If these materials are combustible, they can be ignited by sparks, embers or other ignition sources. Deposits and combustible filter media also contribute to the fire load.

Under certain conditions, explosive dust-air mixtures may also form.

Silo and filter plant at an industrial site
Combustible dust, oxygen, ignition sources: filter systems often contain all the elements that contribute to fires.

Protect your filtration system before a fire brings production to a halt.

Find the right fire safety solution with GreCon PROTECTOR FILTER. Talk to our experts about the risks in your production process and the appropriate protective measures.