Aerosol Fire Suppression Inerting Concentration Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Evaluating the inerting concentration of aerosolized fire suppression agents is challenging due to settling issues in quiescent conditions, making it difficult to quantify their performance using standard inerting test methods.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that involve flowing air vertically upward in a chimney tube at a velocity exceeding the settling velocity of the agent, with a burner and ignitor to introduce and ignite a targeted concentration of the fire suppression agent, determining the inerting concentration based on combustion persistence after ignitor deactivation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If standard inerting test method with quiescent conditions is used, then measurement simplicity is improved, but aerosolized agent settles out due to gravity making measurement impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static quiescent test environment into a dynamic flowing environment. By introducing vertical upward airflow through the chimney tube, the system creates motion that counteracts gravitational settling of aerosolized particles, enabling reliable measurement of inerting concentration for aerosol agents without requiring complex quiescent condition maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the flow velocity parameter of the testing medium (air) to exceed the settling velocity of the aerosolized fire suppression agent. By controlling the air flow rate to be greater than the terminal settling velocity of the aerosol particles, the system maintains uniform distribution of the agent throughout the test chamber, enabling accurate concentration measurement.
2Reliability
If air flow velocity exceeds settling velocity of aerosolized agent, then measurement reliability is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional flow control components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs pneumatic principles by using vertical upward airflow through the chimney tube to counteract gravitational settling. The air flow system, controlled by a flow controller, creates a dynamic environment where the aerosolized agent remains suspended uniformly, enabling reliable inerting concentration measurement without complex mechanical agitation or mixing mechanisms.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional gaseous agents are replaced with aerosolized agents, then environmental performance is improved, but testing capability deteriorates due to settling issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent addresses the measurement difficulty of aerosolized agents by creating a dynamic testing environment with vertical upward airflow. This dynamic approach prevents gravitational settling that plagues conventional quiescent testing, enabling accurate measurement of inerting concentration for environmentally friendly aerosolized fire suppression agents.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the flow velocity parameter to exceed the settling velocity of aerosolized particles. By controlling the air flow rate appropriately, the system maintains uniform aerosol distribution during testing, solving the measurement difficulty associated with aerosolized agents while preserving their environmental benefits.
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
Enables accurate determination of the inerting concentration of aerosolized fire suppression agents by preventing settling and ensuring consistent testing conditions, allowing for effective evaluation of their fire suppression performance.
Implementation Method 1
aerosolized liquids and dry powders settle out of the air because of gravitational effects
Implementation Method 2
flowing air vertically upward relative to gravity into a chimney tube at a velocity that exceeds a settling velocity of the fire suppression agent
Implementation Method 3
An ignitor is activated to provide ignition energy to the flowing air and the flowing fuel
Implementation Method 4
The targeted concentration of the fire suppression agent is determined to be below the inerting concentration of the fire suppression agent if combustion of the flowing fuel persists beyond three seconds after the ignitor is deactivated
Data Source
AI summary
A method is disclosed for evaluating inerting concentration of a fire suppression agent. The method includes flowing air upward into a chimney tube and flowing fuel into the flowing air in the chimney tube. A targeted concentration of the fire suppression agent is introduced into the flowing air and into the flowing fuel in the chimney tube. An ignitor is ignited to provide ignition energy to the flowing air and the flowing fuel, and the ignitor is deactivated. The targeted concentration of the fire suppression agent is at or above the inerting concentration of the fire suppression agent if combustion of the flowing fuel does not persist beyond three seconds after the ignitor is deactivated.