Ventilation System for Hazardous Material Cold Storage

Abstract

The present invention relates to a ventilation system applied to a low-temperature explosion-proof storage warehouse for the storage of hazardous materials. The forced exhaust system according to the present invention comprises a gas detection unit that detects the concentration of hazardous gases inside the low-temperature explosion-proof storage warehouse, a fire detection unit that detects whether a fire has occurred, an automatic ventilation door for exhaust and an automatic ventilation door for supply, an explosion-proof exhaust fan motor, a fire damper, and a control unit. The control unit classifies the operating state of the system into a normal mode, a gas exhaust mode, a stabilization mode, and a fire response mode based on detection signals input from the gas detection unit and the fire detection unit, and selectively controls the components according to each mode. Accordingly, the present invention has the effect of improving safety and operational efficiency in a low-temperature storage environment for hazardous materials by distinguishing between gas leakage situations and fire occurrence situations and performing different controls for each.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a hazardous material storage facility, and more specifically, to a ventilation system for a hazardous material low-temperature storage warehouse that can rapidly discharge gas to the outside and prevent the spread of fire in response to the leakage of harmful gases and the occurrence of fire that may occur from hazardous materials stored in a low-temperature environment. Background Technology

[0002] In storage warehouses storing hazardous materials or harmful chemicals, gases harmful to the human body may be generated due to leaks or spills during storage, and if these gases accumulate above a certain concentration, there is a risk of explosion or fire.

[0003] Accordingly, exhaust systems utilizing ventilation fans have conventionally been widely used to expel air from inside warehouses to the outside. Such systems are generally configured to detect internal gas concentrations using gas detection sensors and to activate ventilation fans to expel internal air to the outside when the concentration exceeds a set level.

[0004] In addition, some conventional technologies include a supply air structure that introduces external air simultaneously with exhaust to improve ventilation efficiency, or apply technology that adjusts the discharge location by extending the exhaust path to the outside through a duct.

[0005] However, most of these conventional ventilation systems are designed with a focus solely on gas exhaust functions, and there is a problem in that they do not adequately consider response in the event of a fire.

[0006] In particular, in conventional systems, even if a fire occurs, the ventilation fan continues to operate or the ventilation door remains open, allowing outside air to continuously flow in. This increases the oxygen supply, which leads to the problem of the fire actually spreading.

[0007] Furthermore, in the case of freezing or cold storage warehouses operating in low-temperature environments, since they are formed with a sealed structure to maintain internal temperature and prevent condensation, applying a standard ventilation system as is may lead to problems such as internal temperature fluctuations and condensation.

[0008] Furthermore, conventional technology lacks a structure that distinguishes between gas leaks and fires to execute different control strategies, resulting in limitations in attempting to respond to all situations using a single control method.

[0009] In other words, conventional ventilation systems are based on simple ON / OFF control according to gas concentration, making it difficult to respond actively to various dangerous situations, and they have structural limitations that can actually increase the risk, especially in the event of a fire.

[0010] Therefore, a system is required that can distinguish between gas leaks and fire situations and perform different controls for each. Prior art literature

[0011] Korean Patent Publication No. 10-1812686 (December 20, 2017) The problem to be solved

[0012] To solve such problems, the present invention provides a ventilation system for a hazardous materials cold storage warehouse that can effectively respond to gas leakage and fire situations that may occur in a cold storage warehouse for storing hazardous materials.

[0013] Another objective of the present invention is to provide a ventilation system for a hazardous materials cold storage warehouse with a state-based control structure that can be operated safely and efficiently by distinguishing between gas leakage situations and fire occurrence situations, performing different controls according to multiple operating modes, removing residual gas after gas discharge, stabilizing the internal environment, and suppressing condensation even in low-temperature environments. means of solving the problem

[0014] The present invention, as a means to achieve the above-mentioned purpose, comprises a forced exhaust system applied to an explosion-proof low-temperature storage warehouse for the storage of hazardous materials, the system including: a gas detection unit for detecting the concentration of hazardous gases inside the low-temperature explosion-proof storage warehouse; a fire detection unit for detecting whether a fire has occurred; an automatic ventilation door for exhaust and an automatic ventilation door for supply air; an explosion-proof exhaust fan motor; and a fire damper for blocking the spread of flames in the event of a fire. The system includes a control unit that receives detection signals from the gas detection unit and the fire detection unit, classifies the operating state of the system into a plurality of operating modes, performs switching between the operating modes according to the detection signals, and controls the system to selectively operate some of the exhaust automatic ventilation door, supply automatic ventilation door, exhaust fan motor, and fire damper and maintain the remainder in a non-operating state according to each mode. In the normal mode, the control unit maintains the exhaust automatic ventilation door, supply automatic ventilation door, and exhaust fan motor in a non-operating state; in the gas discharge mode, when the gas concentration is detected to be above a set value, it opens the exhaust automatic ventilation door and simultaneously drives the exhaust fan motor, and opens the supply automatic ventilation door to introduce outside air by the negative pressure inside the warehouse formed by the operation of the exhaust fan motor; in the stabilization mode, when the gas concentration decreases below a set value, it maintains the state for a certain period of time to remove residual gas and stabilize the internal environment, then stops the operation of the exhaust fan motor and closes the exhaust automatic ventilation door and supply automatic ventilation door; and in the fire response mode, when a fire is detected, regardless of the currently executing mode, the Controlling to switch to a fire response mode to block the opening operation of the automatic exhaust ventilation door and the automatic supply ventilation door, stop the operation of the exhaust fan motor, and operate only the fire damper to prevent the external spread of flames, and

[0015] The control unit determines the gas concentration and fire detection signal based on priority, and if a fire detection signal is present, it switches preferentially to the fire response mode regardless of the gas concentration, and

[0016] The automatic ventilation door for air supply opens automatically without a separate drive unit due to the formation of negative pressure inside the low-temperature explosion-proof storage warehouse caused by the operation of the explosion-proof exhaust fan motor, and closes automatically when exhaust ends, and

[0017] The control unit controls the opening time of the automatic exhaust ventilation door and the automatic supply ventilation door and the driving time of the exhaust fan motor within a set range to prevent condensation from occurring in a low-temperature environment, and

[0018] The gas discharged by the exhaust fan motor is configured to be discharged through an exhaust duct to an external location at a height of 5m or more above the ground, and

[0019] The exhaust fan motor is formed with an explosion-proof structure to prevent the generation of ignition sources in an explosion-hazardous environment, and the control unit is configured to be suitable for an explosion-proof environment, which is a technical feature of the configuration. Effects of the invention

[0020] The ventilation system for a hazardous materials low-temperature storage warehouse according to the present invention can achieve the following effects.

[0021] First, by classifying the operating state of the system into multiple modes based on signals input from the gas detection unit and the fire detection unit, and performing different controls according to each mode, it is possible to respond appropriately to gas leakage situations and fire occurrence situations, respectively. In particular, in the event of a fire, by performing control to block the ventilation function and operate the fire damper, the oxygen supply resulting from the influx of outside air is suppressed, thereby effectively preventing the spread of fire.

[0022] Second, by adopting a structure that draws in external air using the negative pressure generated by the driving of an explosion-proof exhaust fan motor in gas exhaust mode, efficient air circulation is possible without a separate air supply device, simplifying the device configuration and improving energy efficiency.

[0023] Third, by removing residual gas for a certain period of time through a stabilization mode after the gas concentration has decreased and gradually stabilizing the internal environment, secondary risks that may occur even after ventilation is finished can be prevented.

[0024] Fourth, by discharging gas through an exhaust duct to an external location above a certain height from the ground, the impact on workers and the surrounding environment can be minimized and safety can be improved.

[0025] Fifth, by configuring the exhaust fan motor and control unit to be suitable for explosion-proof environments, the generation of ignition sources can be prevented even in environments where flammable gases are present, and the safety of the entire system can be ensured.

[0026] As such, the present invention can provide the effect of significantly improving safety and operational efficiency in low-temperature storage environments for hazardous materials by integrally implementing gas discharge and fire spread prevention functions through a state-based control structure. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0027] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the overall configuration of a ventilation system for a hazardous materials low-temperature storage warehouse according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a partial configuration diagram of a low-temperature explosion-proof storage warehouse according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a state transition block diagram illustrating the operating mode transition relationship of a control unit according to the present invention. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0028] Hereinafter, a ventilation system for a hazardous materials cold storage warehouse according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below and may be implemented in various modified forms by those skilled in the art. In addition, parts unrelated to the description in the drawings have been omitted to clearly explain the present invention.

[0029] Furthermore, throughout this specification, when a component is described as “comprising” another component, this means that, unless specifically stated otherwise, it does not exclude other components but may include additional components.

[0030] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the overall configuration of a ventilation system for a hazardous materials low-temperature storage warehouse according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a partial configuration diagram of a low-temperature explosion-proof storage warehouse according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a state transition block diagram illustrating the operating mode transition relationship of a control unit according to the present invention.

[0031] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the ventilation system according to the present invention comprises a low-temperature explosion-proof storage warehouse (100), a gas detection unit (110), a fire detection unit (120), a control unit (130), an automatic ventilation door for exhaust (140), an automatic ventilation door for supply air (150), an explosion-proof exhaust fan motor (160), a fire damper (170), and an exhaust duct (180).

[0032] The gas detection unit (110) is installed inside a low-temperature explosion-proof storage warehouse (100) and is configured to detect the concentration of hazardous gas generated from the stored hazardous material in real time and to transmit a signal corresponding to the detected gas concentration to a control unit (130). The gas detection unit (110) may include an appropriate sensor depending on the type of gas to be detected, and transmits this to the control unit (130) when the gas concentration rises above a set reference value, thereby enabling a gas discharge operation to be performed.

[0033] The fire detection unit (120) is configured to detect a temperature rise, smoke, or flame occurring inside the warehouse to determine whether a fire has occurred and to transmit the corresponding signal to the control unit (130). The fire detection unit (120) operates independently of the gas detection unit (110) so as to be able to quickly detect the occurrence of a fire regardless of the gas concentration.

[0034] The automatic exhaust ventilation door (140) forms an opening for exhausting air inside the warehouse to the outside and is configured to open and close according to the control of the control unit (130). Additionally, the automatic supply ventilation door (150) forms an opening for introducing outside air into the warehouse. The automatic exhaust ventilation door (140) and the automatic supply ventilation door (150) are equipped with automatic opening and closing motors so that they can be opened and closed quickly and can be configured to operate stably even in a low-temperature environment.

[0035] In addition, the exhaust automatic ventilation door (140) and the supply automatic ventilation door (150) may be additionally equipped with an explosion-proof heating wire (not shown) to prevent malfunction caused by condensation and freezing in a low-temperature environment. The explosion-proof heating wire uses electrical heating to maintain the temperature around the door or on the surface above a certain level, thereby preventing moisture condensation and freezing, and ensuring smooth opening and closing of the door even in a low-temperature environment.

[0036] The explosion-proof heating wire can be formed with an explosion-proof structure so that it can be safely used even in an environment where flammable gas may be present, and can be configured to be selectively driven by a control unit (130) as needed.

[0037] With such optional configuration, the present invention can further improve fire spread prevention performance and operational stability in low-temperature environments, in addition to basic gas exhaust and fire response functions.

[0038] The explosion-proof exhaust fan motor (160) is a driving means for forcibly exhausting air inside the warehouse to the outside, and is formed with an explosion-proof structure so as not to generate an ignition source even in an environment where flammable gas is present. The exhaust fan motor (160) is driven under the control of the control unit (130) and performs the role of rapidly lowering the gas concentration by exhausting air inside the warehouse to the outside.

[0039] The above fire damper (170) is installed on the exhaust path to block the movement of flames and high-temperature air in the event of a fire, and is operated by the control of the control unit (130) or by heat detection to block the exhaust path, thereby preventing the spread of fire.

[0040] Meanwhile, the fire damper (170) functions as a primary blocking means to block the movement of flames and high-temperature air when a fire occurs, and if necessary, an auxiliary means to more effectively suppress the spread of flames may be additionally provided in the exhaust path.

[0041] Specifically, an anti-flame mesh (not shown) may be additionally provided at an adjacent location to the exhaust duct (180) or the automatic exhaust ventilation door (140) to block the passage of flames or sparks while allowing air flow. The anti-flame mesh may be formed with a porous structure made of metal and serves to prevent the external spread of fire by suppressing the propagation of flames without obstructing the airflow during gas discharge.

[0042] The gas discharged by the explosion-proof exhaust fan motor (160) is configured to be guided and discharged to the outside of the low-temperature explosion-proof storage warehouse (100) through the exhaust duct (180).

[0043] The exhaust duct (180) is installed to be connected to the exhaust automatic ventilation door (140) or the exhaust path inside the warehouse, and forms a passage for transporting air and harmful gases inside the warehouse to the outside by driving the exhaust fan motor (160).

[0044] In particular, the exhaust duct (180) is formed to extend to an external location at a height of 5m or more from the ground, preferably to the top of the building roof, so that the exhaust gas does not directly affect the worker or the surrounding environment.

[0045] With this elevated exhaust structure, harmful gases do not remain near the ground but diffuse into the atmosphere, thereby reducing the risk of inhalation for workers and preventing secondary damage to surrounding facilities.

[0046] In addition, by preventing flammable or toxic gases from accumulating near the ground, the possibility of secondary accidents such as fire or explosion can be reduced. Furthermore, the exhaust duct (180) may be formed of a material that takes into account corrosion resistance and heat resistance to the external environment, and may be configured with an insulating structure to improve exhaust efficiency or a shape to induce exhaust flow as needed.

[0047] The control unit (130) is configured to determine the internal state of the warehouse based on detection signals input from the gas detection unit (110) and the fire detection unit (120), and to control the operating state of the system by classifying it into a plurality of operating modes. The control unit (130) performs operating modes including a normal mode, a gas discharge mode, a stabilization mode, and a fire response mode, and the switching between each mode is performed according to the detection signal.

[0048] In particular, the control unit (130) is configured to determine the operating mode by comparing the gas concentration and the fire detection signal based on priority, and if a fire detection signal is present, the fire response mode is performed with the highest priority regardless of the magnitude of the gas concentration. Accordingly, even if the gas exhaust mode is being performed, if a fire is detected, it is immediately switched to the fire response mode so that the ventilation function is blocked and the spread of fire is suppressed.

[0049] Meanwhile, in gas exhaust mode, when the exhaust automatic ventilation door (140) is opened and the explosion-proof exhaust fan motor (160) is driven, negative pressure is formed inside the warehouse, and accordingly, outside air is naturally drawn in through the supply automatic ventilation door (150). The supply automatic ventilation door (150) may be configured to include a hinge structure or an elastic member, is opened by negative pressure, and is automatically closed by its own weight or restoring force when exhaust ends.

[0050] In addition, the control unit (130) controls the opening time of the exhaust automatic ventilation door (140) and the supply automatic ventilation door (150) and the driving time of the explosion-proof exhaust fan motor (160) within a set range to prevent condensation and freezing that may occur in a low-temperature environment. Accordingly, changes in temperature and humidity caused by rapid air exchange are mitigated, thereby suppressing the occurrence of condensation and freezing.

[0051] Referring to FIG. 3, the control unit (130) has a state transition structure including a normal mode (210), a gas discharge mode (220), a stabilization mode (230), and a fire response mode (240).

[0052] Normal mode (210) is maintained when the gas concentration is below the reference value and no fire is detected, in which case the exhaust automatic ventilation door (140) and the supply automatic ventilation door (150) are closed and the exhaust fan motor (160) remains stopped.

[0053] When the gas concentration is detected to be above a reference value, the system transitions to a gas discharge mode (220). In this mode, the automatic exhaust ventilation door (140) is opened and the exhaust fan motor (160) is driven to discharge the gas to the outside, and at the same time, external air is drawn in by negative pressure.

[0054] When the gas concentration decreases below a reference value, it transitions to a stabilization mode (230). In this mode, the exhaust state is maintained for a certain period of time to remove residual gas and stabilize the internal environment. Afterward, the exhaust fan motor (160) is stopped, and the exhaust automatic ventilation door (140) and the supply automatic ventilation door (150) are closed to return to a normal mode (210).

[0055] Meanwhile, when a fire is detected, the system immediately transitions to a fire response mode (240) regardless of the currently active mode. In this mode, the opening of the exhaust automatic ventilation door (140) and the supply automatic ventilation door (150) is blocked, the exhaust fan motor (160) is stopped, and the fire damper (170) is activated to block the movement of flames and high-temperature air, thereby preventing the spread of fire.

[0056] As such, the present invention distinguishes between gas leakage situations and fire occurrence situations to perform different operating modes, and selectively controls components in each mode to perform different controls according to the dangerous situation, thereby improving the safety and reliability of the system.

[0057] It is obvious to those skilled in the art that each component according to the present invention can be implemented functionally independently, and that some components may be implemented integrated or separated as needed. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, but should be determined by the claims and their equivalents. Explanation of the symbols

[0058] 100 : Low-temperature explosion-proof storage warehouse 110: Gas detector 120: Fire detection unit 130 : Control unit 140: Automatic ventilation door for exhaust 150 : Automatic ventilation door for air supply 160: Explosion-proof exhaust fan motor 170 : Fire damper 180: Exhaust duct 210 : Normal mode 220: Gas exhaust mode 230 : Stabilization mode 240: Fire Response Mode

Claims

Claim 1 A ventilation system for an explosion-proof low-temperature storage warehouse for the storage of hazardous materials comprises: a gas detection unit that detects the concentration of hazardous gases inside the low-temperature explosion-proof storage warehouse in real time; a fire detection unit that detects whether a fire has occurred by detecting a temperature rise, smoke, or flames occurring inside the warehouse; an automatic exhaust ventilation door that forms an opening to discharge air inside the warehouse to the outside and is equipped with an automatic opening and closing motor; an automatic supply ventilation door configured to include a hinge structure or an elastic member to introduce outside air into the warehouse; an explosion-proof exhaust fan motor that forcibly discharges air inside the warehouse to the outside and is formed with an explosion-proof structure to prevent the generation of ignition sources in an explosion-hazardous environment; and a fire damper installed in the exhaust path to block the movement of flames and high-temperature air in the event of a fire. The control unit includes a gas detection unit, a fire detection unit, an automatic ventilation door for exhaust, an automatic ventilation door for supply air, an explosion-proof exhaust fan motor, and a fire damper, wherein the control unit is configured to perform one of the following operating modes: normal mode, gas discharge mode, stabilization mode, and fire response mode; wherein the automatic ventilation door for supply air is automatically opened without a separate drive unit by the formation of negative pressure inside the low-temperature explosion-proof storage warehouse due to the operation of the explosion-proof exhaust fan motor, and is configured to automatically close by its own weight or restoring force when the negative pressure dissipates upon the termination of exhaust; wherein, in the normal mode, the control unit maintains the automatic ventilation door for exhaust air in a closed state and maintains the explosion-proof exhaust fan motor in a stopped state when the gas concentration is below a reference value and no fire is detected; wherein, in the gas discharge mode, when the gas concentration is detected to be above a set value, the automatic ventilation door for exhaust air is opened and the explosion-proof exhaust fan motor is driven simultaneously, and the automatic ventilation door for supply air is opened by the negative pressure inside the warehouse formed by the operation of the explosion-proof exhaust fan motor to allow external air While introducing,In the above stabilization mode, when the gas concentration decreases below a set value during the above gas exhaust mode, the system enters to remove residual gas and stabilize the internal environment; however, to prevent condensation and freezing in the above low-temperature environment, the opening time of the above automatic exhaust ventilation door and the driving time of the above explosion-proof exhaust fan motor are limited within a set range to maintain the exhaust state for a certain period, after which the driving of the above explosion-proof exhaust fan motor is stopped and the above automatic exhaust ventilation door is closed, thereby controlling the above automatic supply ventilation door to automatically close and return to the above normal mode; and in the above fire response mode, when a fire signal is input from the above fire detection unit, the system switches to the above fire response mode as the highest priority regardless of the magnitude of the above gas concentration and the currently operating mode, blocks the opening operation of the above automatic exhaust ventilation door to block the ventilation function, stops the operation of the above explosion-proof exhaust fan motor, and controls the system to block the movement of flames and high-temperature air by operating only the above fire damper. Claim 2 delete Claim 3 delete Claim 4 delete Claim 5 A ventilation system for a hazardous materials cold storage warehouse according to claim 1, characterized in that the gas discharged by the exhaust fan motor is configured to be discharged to an external location at a height of 5m or more above the ground through an exhaust duct. Claim 6 A ventilation system for a hazardous materials low-temperature storage warehouse according to claim 1, characterized in that the exhaust fan motor is formed with an explosion-proof structure so as not to generate an ignition source in an explosion-hazardous environment, and the control unit is configured to be suitable for an explosion-proof environment.

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