Absorbent Barrage Unit for Blast Suppression

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional sandbags used for flood and blast suppression are labor-intensive, inefficient, and have limitations in sound reduction, with pre-filled sandbags prone to deterioration and requiring extensive quantities for effective blast fragmentation control, while existing superabsorbent polymer systems suffer from slow water uptake and potential leaks in flood barriers.

Innovation Solution

A method utilizing a combination of superabsorbent polymers and cellulosic fibrous materials in absorbent bags that can hold up to 200 times their weight in water, allowing for rapid formation of a blast and fragmentation barrier, with the option to saturate the bags before or after placement, and using them in various configurations to surround explosive devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If sandbags are used as blast suppression barriers, then fragmentation protection is provided, but extensive quantities are required and they are labor-intensive to deploy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblast suppression effectivenessVSAvoidnumber of sandbags required

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical state of the barrier material from dry particulate (sandbags) to liquid (water), which fundamentally alters the mechanism of blast suppression. Water provides more effective fragmentation suppression per unit volume compared to sandbags, reducing the total quantity needed while maintaining or improving protection effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention utilizes the phase transition capability of water - it can be stored as liquid in containers and deployed as a liquid barrier. This phase flexibility allows for more efficient use of material compared to fixed-form sandbags, reducing the quantity required for equivalent protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #36Phase transitions

2Reliability

If sandbags are used for flood defence, then water barrier is formed, but wet sand significantly increases weight and labor intensity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflood barrier effectivenessVSAvoidweight of sandbags

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of transporting and filling heavy sandbags with wet sand, the invention inverts the approach by transporting lightweight empty containers and filling them with water at the deployment location. This eliminates the weight problem entirely, as water is obtained from local sources rather than being transported in heavy, pre-filled bags.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The system utilizes local water sources at the deployment location to fill the containers, making the system self-sufficient and eliminating the need to transport water or sand over long distances. This significantly reduces the weight and labor intensity of deployment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Loss of time

If pre-filled sandbags are transported to location, then deployment time is reduced, but transport resources and manpower requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeployment timeVSAvoidtransport resources required

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the barrier into multiple portable containers that can be easily transported and quickly deployed. Each container is a self-contained unit that can be independently positioned and filled, allowing for parallel deployment operations that reduce total deployment time while minimizing transport requirements compared to moving large quantities of pre-filled sandbags.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Reliability

If extensive quantities of sandbags are used for blast suppression, then fragmentation protection is improved, but the ability to reduce detonation sound is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefragmentation suppressionVSAvoiddetonation sound propagation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the medium from solid particulate material to liquid water, which has different acoustic properties. Water is more effective at absorbing and dampening sound waves, thereby reducing the propagation of detonation sound to surrounding areas while maintaining fragmentation suppression effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 absorbent bags provide efficient blast and fragmentation suppression, reduce the need for extensive manpower, and effectively absorb sound, requiring fewer units than sandbags while maintaining structural integrity under pressure, thus enhancing safety and reducing environmental impact.

Implementation Method 1

a quantity of water absorbent material (3) contained within, which increases substantially in volume and weight when it absorbs water

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 2

the crystals can form an absorbent gelling polymer when saturated with fluid

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGel formation: Gel

Data Source

PatentEP2397811B1Defence system

Publication Date: 2017.01.04 ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE SYST

AI summary

There is described a barrage unit comprising a porous bag or sack (1) containing an absorbent core (3) said absorbent core (3) comprising an absorbent crystalline material and an absorbent fibrous material.