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Thermal power stations

It is not always the usual solutions that prove the most cost effective.

The upgrade and expansion of CCTV surveillance at a large power station in the north of England originally proposed the use of multiple PTZ (pan/tilt/zoom) cameras, until CBC (Europe) suggested a simpler alternative.

These multiple dome cameras, complete with infra-red (IR) illumination, were to have been column-mounted, 200 m apart, with each unit having a maximum IR illuminated view of 100 m. But the installation of cameras, columns and cables on sites like this can absorb a large portion of the security budget, before running costs are even considered.

Working with North Lincolnshire installation company NX1 (UK), CBC came up with a way of significantly reducing this outlay. It offered the added advantage of providing usable images in all weather conditions, day or night, without the extra expense of additional illumination.

CBC’s Ganz Thermal Allview system was the cost effective solution specified, following a successful on-site demonstration.

Dean Nixon, NX1’s managing director, says the 1 km man-detection range of Thermal Allview meant the number of proposed cameras covering a specific area of the power station could be replaced completely by just one camera.

“Although the system’s initial cost is higher than the standard Ganz Allview camera, the decision to go thermal in this situation was undoubtedly cost effective. Reducing the number of proposed cameras has also cut the video inputs used on the matrix, adding to the savings on the project,” he comments. “On-site security staff can control the Thermal Allview camera just like a conventional PTZ dome, include its 36x optical zoom. Thermal Allview has improved the overall security on this site, reduced installation costs and provided the best solution for our customer’s needs.”

A second Thermal Allview has already been added to cover an additional part of the site and a planned phase two of the security scheme involves a further 11 units. There are also plans to introduce CBC’s Radar Vision system, which provides detection up to an 800 m radius, When used in conjunction with a Ganz Allview dual optical/thermal camera, Radar Vision can observe people, animals and vehicles without the need for artificial lighting, providing images in fog, mist, rain and snow conditions for true 24/7 detection.

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