Aircraft Fire Extinguisher Dynamic Pressurization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fire extinguishers used in aircraft engines face challenges such as sensitivity to micro-leaks, excessive extinguishing agent quantity due to bell-shaped concentration curves, and delayed reaction times, which affect their efficiency and reliability.
Innovation Solution
A fire extinguishing device with a tank where the extinguishing agent is flushed by a pressurized gas with a regulated pressure profile, allowing for precise control of agent concentration in the treatment area, reducing agent quantity, and extending treatment time while ensuring concentration thresholds are met.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If permanent pressurisation is used in the extinguishing agent tank, then the extinguishing agent can be rapidly discharged, but the device becomes sensitive to micro-leaks and requires severe monitoring and maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamic pressurisation by replacing permanent pressurisation with pressurisation that is activated only when needed. A gas generator produces pressurising gas on demand to discharge the extinguishing agent, eliminating continuous high pressure and its associated micro-leak sensitivity while maintaining rapid discharge capability when triggered.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent stores pressurising gas in advance in a separate reservoir, preparing the system for rapid discharge without maintaining continuous high pressure in the extinguishing agent tank. This preliminary preparation allows quick response when needed while avoiding the reliability issues of permanent pressurisation.
2Quantity of substance
If high initial concentration is used to meet regulation criteria, then the minimum concentration threshold is satisfied, but the quantity of extinguishing agent increases excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses dynamic pressurisation control to maintain extinguishing agent concentration within the regulatory threshold range rather than using excessive high initial concentration. By controlling the pressurising gas flow and tank pressure dynamically, the system achieves compliance with minimum concentration requirements (e.g., 6% for 0.5 seconds) without the bell-shaped concentration curve that leads to waste.
3Stress or pressure
If the tank contains both extinguishing agent and pressurisation gas, then pressurisation is available for discharge, but the extinguishing agent does not completely fill the tank
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the storage system into separate components: the extinguishing agent tank and a separate pressurising gas reservoir. This segmentation allows the extinguishing agent tank to be completely filled with agent while the pressurising gas is stored separately and introduced only when discharge is needed, eliminating the volume loss caused by mixed storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressurising gas is prepared in advance in a separate reservoir rather than being mixed with the extinguishing agent in the same tank. This preliminary separation allows maximum extinguishing agent volume while maintaining the capability for rapid pressurisation and discharge when triggered.
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 solution enables efficient and precise delivery of the extinguishing agent, reducing the need for excessive agent and minimizing micro-leak impacts, while ensuring compliance with concentration regulations and improving reaction times.
Implementation Method 1
the extinguishing agent is flushed from the tank in which it is stored by a pressurised gas
Implementation Method 2
the pressurised gas being brought and held in said tank in a regulated manner. Since the pressure in the tank follows a predetermined profile as a function of time
Data Source
AI summary
A fire extinguishing device comprises an extinguishing agent tank and pressurised gas generation means such that the generated gas can enter into the tank when the extinguishing agent is to be ejected on a fire area.The device according to the invention also comprises means of regulating the pressure inside the extinguishing agent tank: thus, the pressure inside the tank remains controlled with time, with a profile predetermined by the user as a function of regulatory parameters and criteria, in order to optimise the action of the extinguishing agent and the necessary quantity.