Catalytic Fire Suppression via Flame Region Targeting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current fire suppression techniques are inefficient in targeting and effectively extinguishing fires, particularly in complex environments, as they often require large quantities of suppressants and are not designed to exploit natural flow paths within fire zones, leading to incomplete fire suppression.
Innovation Solution
A fire suppression system that utilizes reactive agents which react to produce catalytically active species, transported by natural airflow paths to interfere with flame chemistry, reducing the amount of suppressant needed by targeting specific flame holding regions within fire zones.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If traditional fire suppression techniques are used, then fires can be suppressed, but large quantities of suppressants are required and the suppression is incomplete
Solution Approach 1:
The invention targets specific flame holding regions within the fire zone rather than treating the entire volume uniformly. By identifying and treating only the critical regions where flames are anchored, the system achieves effective fire suppression with much smaller quantities of suppressant. The suppressant is delivered through strategically positioned nozzles that focus the agent directly at flame holding regions, creating a localized high-concentration effect where it is most needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The fire zone is segmented into multiple flame holding regions, each treated by dedicated suppressant delivery systems. The system divides the suppression task into discrete targeted zones rather than attempting to flood the entire space, allowing for precise control and reduced overall suppressant requirements while maintaining reliable fire suppression across multiple potential fire locations.
2Reliability
If large quantities of suppressants are used, then fire suppression coverage is improved, but the complexity and weight of the suppression system increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of distributing suppressant throughout the entire protected space, the system concentrates the agent only at flame holding regions. This localized approach reduces the total suppressant load required, thereby reducing the weight of storage containers and delivery infrastructure. The system complexity is minimized by focusing resources on critical points rather than attempting comprehensive volume coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses a modular approach where standardized nozzle assemblies are deployed at multiple flame holding regions. Rather than designing a complex custom system for each location, standardized modules can be replicated and installed at different positions, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining reliable coverage across multiple zones.
3Reliability
If traditional suppression methods are used, then fires can be suppressed, but the amount of suppressant required is excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The system achieves effective fire suppression with minimal suppressant consumption by delivering the agent directly to flame holding regions where it is most needed. This targeted approach prevents waste of suppressant in areas where flames are not present, dramatically reducing overall consumption while maintaining reliable fire suppression capability. The suppressant is applied with high spatial precision to eliminate unnecessary usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system identifies and targets flame holding regions before fire suppression is initiated. By pre-characterizing the fire zone and locating flame holding regions in advance, the system can immediately deploy suppressant to the correct locations upon fire detection, eliminating the need to flood the entire space and thereby minimizing suppressant consumption from the outset.
4Area of stationary object
If suppressant is distributed throughout the entire fire zone, then coverage is improved, but the weight and complexity of the system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides effective suppression coverage by concentrating suppressant at flame holding regions rather than distributing it uniformly throughout the entire fire zone. This localized concentration approach maintains adequate coverage at critical points while dramatically reducing the total suppressant load, thereby reducing the weight of storage containers, delivery piping, and associated infrastructure without sacrificing fire suppression effectiveness.
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
This approach allows for efficient fire suppression with significantly less reactive agent than traditional methods, effectively extinguishing fires by catalytically inhibiting combustion reactions, and reduces the complexity and weight of suppression systems by leveraging natural airflow to deliver the agent directly to flame holding regions.
Implementation Method 1
reactive agents which react to produce catalytically active species, transported by natural airflow paths to interfere with flame chemistry
Implementation Method 2
reactive agents which react to produce catalytically active species
Implementation Method 3
transported by natural airflow paths
Implementation Method 4
transported by natural airflow paths to interfere with flame chemistry
Data Source
AI summary
A method of fire suppression may include injecting a reactive agent into a reaction zone to produce a catalytically active species for fire suppression and conveying the catalytically active species to a fire to catalytically interfere with flame chemistry of the fire. Fire in a fuel tank may be suppressed by injecting the reactive agent into a convective flow of a mixture of fuel and oxidizer in a fuel tank, the reactive agent reacting in the fuel tank to release a species which catalytically interferes with flame chemistry to suppress fire in the fuel tank. Fire at an airplane crash may be suppressed by releasing the reactive agent from the container at the crash site to produce an active species to catalytically interfere with a fire at the crash site.