New fibre optic LHDC by Patol enhances fire detection capabilities
Iain Hoey
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Patol launches FibreSense LHDC in the UK
Industrial fire detection specialist Patol has expanded its range of solutions with the introduction of a new Fibre Optic linear heat detection cable (LHDC) and controller suite.
The new product, FibreSense, offers extended capabilities of LHDC technology and includes two primary forms of the sensing cable: Thermoplastic Tube (TT) and Armoured Tube (AT).
As reported by Patol, FibreSense is a Fibre Optic distributed temperature sensing solution designed to provide cost-effective fire detection for a wide range of applications.
The Thermoplastic Tube cable is especially suitable for environments with high levels of electro-magnetic activity.
It is Flame-Retardant Non-Corrosive (FRNC) and Low Smoke Zero Halogen (LSOH), featuring a Kevlar strength layer that protects a central structure of a gel-filled thermoplastic loose tube.
This configuration allows the cable to measure temperature profiles at thousands of points simultaneously along its length, ensuring signal quality remains unaffected in hostile environments.
Features of FibreSense LHDC
The new FibreSense systems offer significant improvements in fire detection capabilities.
They can provide protection of up to 10 kilometres per channel, with controllers available in 2km, 5km, or 10km versions.
Each channel supports multiple detection zones, offering unlimited protection length.
The data is available in various formats, including fixed/max temperature, average temperature, and rate-of-rise.
Patol’s Sales Director, Iain Cumner, highlighted the advantages of the new product: “LHDC is a well-proven and extensively used fire detection method.
“Over 4 million metres of our LHDC is operating in projects throughout the world, providing early detection of overheating in circumstances where other forms of detection would not be viable – either through the inability to withstand the environment or through prohibitive costs.
“Our previous cable supplier ceasing manufacture made us look into alternatives and now, with the introduction of the new FibreSense products, we are able to offer an option which not only draws on the existing benefits that LHDC offers, but also extend them.”
Integration and applications
FibreSense systems come equipped with an intuitive, user-friendly LCD touchscreen, allowing for local programming rather than engineer-led programming.
Alarm, real-time temperature, and distance data can be sent via a Modbus communications path to third-party systems, such as SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition), for controlling ventilation or extinguishant systems.
The flexibility of the system is ensured by multiple system configurations, a choice of Fibre Optic cable types, and a variety of mounting hardware options.
This makes it suitable for various fire detection applications, including tunnels, conveyor systems, escalators, power generation facilities, car parks, and warehouses.
