ESFR Sprinkler Deflector Slots for High-Clearance Fire Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Early suppression fast response (ESFR) fire suppression sprinklers face challenges in maintaining effective fire suppression in high-clearance warehouses, where the large clearance between the sprinkler and the commodity leads to reduced spray pattern density and effectiveness, and can result in 'skipping' where adjacent sprinklers are prevented from operating due to updrafts.
Innovation Solution
The design includes a fire suppression sprinkler with a deflector comprising a circular plate with strategically positioned slots and tines, optimized to maintain a dense spray pattern across the desired area, including a core flow and an outer umbrella pattern, while preventing updrafts from disrupting the sprinkler operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the clearance between the sprinkler and commodity is large, then the sprinkler can protect a larger area, but the spray pattern density is reduced and fire suppression effectiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The deflector is segmented into multiple slots of varying sizes and orientations, creating distinct spray zones including a core flow and outer umbrella pattern. This segmentation allows the spray to be distributed across a large area while maintaining sufficient density in critical zones through the coordinated action of multiple slot openings.
Solution Approach 2:
Different slots in the deflector are designed with different properties (sizes, orientations, positions) to create localized spray characteristics. The slots are strategically positioned and sized to produce varying spray densities in different regions, ensuring adequate density in the intermediate zone while covering the overall protected area.
2Area of stationary object
If the spray pattern is disbursed over a large area, then the coverage is increased, but the spray pattern density in the intermediate zone is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The deflector incorporates slots with varying dimensions and orientations to create localized spray density variations. Specifically designed slots in the intermediate zone maintain sufficient spray density while other slots extend coverage to the outer umbrella pattern, achieving both broad coverage and localized density requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The deflector is divided into multiple slot openings that segment the spray into distinct streams. This segmentation allows the spray to cover a large area while maintaining density in specific zones through the coordinated positioning and sizing of individual slots.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the clearance is large, then the sprinkler can protect high-clearance warehouses, but updrafts can disrupt the spray pattern and cause skipping of adjacent sprinklers
Solution Approach 1:
The deflector design preliminarily counteracts the disruptive effect of updrafts by creating a stable spray pattern structure. The slot configuration and orientation are designed to resist disruption from upward air currents, preventing the spray from being lifted and causing skipping of adjacent sprinklers before the updrafts can fully develop.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of trying to prevent updraft formation, the design accepts the presence of updrafts in high-clearance warehouses and designs the spray pattern to operate effectively despite them. The slot configuration creates a spray structure that maintains stability and effectiveness even when subjected to upward air currents, inverting the approach from preventing the problem to adapting to it.
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 enhances the fire suppression effectiveness in high-clearance warehouses by maintaining a dense and focused spray pattern, preventing 'skipping' of adjacent sprinklers, and ensuring that the sprinkler system can effectively suppress fires without increasing fire and water damage or risk to firefighters.
Implementation Method 1
maintaining a core flow of fire suppressing liquid which has sufficient density and velocity
Implementation Method 2
wetting and cooling of adjacent sprinklers
Implementation Method 3
updrafts created by a fire plume in the intermediate zone
Data Source
AI summary
A fire suppression sprinkler has a deflector with two slots aligned with the deflector support arms. The two slots extend from opposite sides of a periphery of the deflector along a common line which passes though the sprinkler's flow axis. The two slots extend to a point which underlies the sprinkler's nose at the ends of the support arms to which the deflector is attached. Other slots extend from the periphery of the deflector along lines which do not pass through the sprinkler flow axis. The other slots extend to points in spaced relation to the nose. Regions of the deflector periphery surrounding the first and second slots are closer to the flow axis than other regions of the periphery.