Cargo Container Fire Suppression with Aerosol Agents
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional aircraft fire-suppression systems require large amounts of extinguishing agents to maintain adequate fire suppression capabilities during flight, leading to increased weight and reduced fuel efficiency, and existing agents may not provide superior fire suppression properties.
Innovation Solution
A cargo container fire-suppression system that uses a combination of rapid and controlled discharges of extinguishing agents, including liquefied gas and solid compounds generating aerosols with potassium compounds, to efficiently suppress fires with reduced agent weight, utilizing pressurized containers and a control system for timed and regulated releases.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional fire-suppression systems use large amounts of extinguishing agents to maintain adequate fire suppression capabilities during flight, then fire suppression reliability is improved, but aircraft weight increases and fuel efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the extinguishing agent by incorporating metal compounds (such as potassium, sodium, or lithium compounds) that generate aerosols upon decomposition. This chemical parameter change enables the agent to achieve superior fire suppression effectiveness at lower concentrations, directly resolving the contradiction between reliability and weight by making each unit of agent more effective.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite extinguishing agents combining traditional fire suppression chemicals with metal compounds that produce aerosol-forming substances. This composite approach creates a multi-mechanism suppression system that achieves both rapid flame knockdown and sustained suppression at reduced agent quantities, thereby improving fire suppression reliability while reducing the weight penalty.
2Reliability
If fire-suppression systems provide multiple discharges of suppression agent to meet concentration level requirements at all times, then fire suppression reliability is improved, but the quantity of extinguishing agent required increases
Solution Approach 1:
By modifying the chemical composition to include aerosol-generating metal compounds, the patent enhances the agent's effectiveness per unit volume. This parameter change allows the system to achieve required concentration levels with smaller total agent quantities, resolving the contradiction between maintaining reliable suppression across multiple discharge phases and reducing the total agent inventory required.
3Device complexity
If traditional fire suppression agents are used, then system simplicity is maintained, but fire suppression effectiveness and fuel efficiency are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the chemical parameters of the extinguishing agent by incorporating metal compounds that decompose to form aerosols. This composition change enhances fire suppression effectiveness without requiring additional system components or complex delivery mechanisms, thereby improving reliability while maintaining system simplicity.
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 system effectively suppresses fires with reduced oxygen availability and maintains agent concentration, minimizing the weight of extinguishing agents needed onboard, enhancing fire suppression capabilities and fuel efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
solid compounds generating aerosols with potassium compounds
Implementation Method 2
solid compounds generating aerosols
Implementation Method 3
liquefied gas and solid compounds generating aerosols
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a cargo container comprising one or more fire detectors adapted to detect fire conditions and one or more containers adapted to release an extinguishing agent. The cargo container is adapted to detect a presence of a fire condition in the cargo container aboard an aircraft, wherein at least one area of the aircraft is depressurized after detecting the presence of the fire condition. The cargo container is further adapted to after the at least one area of the aircraft is depressurized, release a first discharge of an extinguishing agent in the cargo container.