Extension Frame Chamber Layout for Fire-Safe Cable Penetrations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cable and pipe transition systems face challenges in maintaining fire integrity and insulation without derating the capacity of power cables, especially when additional insulation is not allowed due to pollution concerns.
Innovation Solution
The use of extension frames with strategically placed intumescent material strips and chambers to manage heat transfer, ensuring fire protection without additional insulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If additional insulation is added on the cables to achieve fire protection, then fire integrity and insulation criteria are improved, but cable capacity is derated
Solution Approach 1:
The transition system is divided into multiple chambers (first chamber, second chamber, third chamber) separated by fire protection elements. Each chamber serves a specific function: the first chamber receives cables, the second chamber contains intumescent material for fire protection, and the third chamber provides additional sealing. This segmentation allows fire protection without adding insulation directly to cables, thus maintaining cable capacity while achieving fire integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
Intumescent material is introduced as an intermediary substance between the cables and the external environment. This material remains stable at normal temperatures but expands when exposed to fire, providing thermal insulation dynamically. The intermediary approach protects cables from heat transfer without requiring permanent insulation that would derate cable capacity.
2Temperature
If additional insulation is added on the cables to achieve fire protection, then temperature insulation is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses parameter changes of the intumescent material based on temperature conditions. At normal operating temperatures, the material remains compact and does not interfere with cable installation or increase system complexity. When exposed to fire temperatures, the material undergoes volumetric expansion, automatically providing thermal insulation. This parameter-based response achieves temperature insulation without requiring complex active control systems or permanent structural modifications.
3Reliability
If intumescent material is used for fire protection, then fire insulation is improved, but heat transfer to the non-fire side increases without proper chamber design
Solution Approach 1:
The transition is divided into multiple chambers with the intumescent material placed in a dedicated second chamber between the first chamber (cable entry) and third chamber (sealing chamber). This segmentation creates thermal zones that progressively resist heat transfer. The chamber structure ensures that expanding intumescent material effectively blocks heat pathways to the non-fire side while maintaining organizational simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The fire protection system uses a nested chamber structure where the first chamber (cable receiving), second chamber (intumescent material), and third chamber (sealing) are nested sequentially. This nesting arrangement allows the intumescent material to be positioned optimally within the transition structure, maximizing its fire insulation effectiveness while containing heat transfer within defined spatial boundaries.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively maintains fire protection and insulation performance while preventing heat transfer to the non-fire side, without derating cable capacity.
Implementation Method 1
Intumescent material is a material that swells when exposed to excessive heat, such as in case of fire
Implementation Method 2
By means of the compression unit the modules are compressed in one direction in such a way that the modules will seal inwards around the cables and/or pipes
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~6
Figure 7~8
AI summary
The present invention concerns an extension frame (1, 7, 18, 27) comprising a flange (2, 8, 19, 29, 31) and a box (3, 9, 20). The flange (2, 8, 19, 29, 31) is placed at one end of the box (3, 9, 20). A through opening is formed going through the centre of the box (3, 9, 20) and through the flange (2, 8, 19, 29, 31). A number of holes (4, 5, 10, 11, 21, 22, 33, 34) are provided going through walls of the box (3, 9, 20). Further, a system comprising two extension frames (1, 7, 18, 27) are formed. The two extension frames (1, 7, 18, 27) are placed on opposite sides of a through opening of a partition. A sealing devices (25) for cables or pipes is placed in said through opening of the partition.