Semi-Enclosed Fire Containment with Rear Airflow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fire containment systems in semi-enclosed spaces, such as cooking apparatuses, fail to effectively keep fires contained, as they tend to expand outward, posing risks to operators and surroundings, and require excessive air handling capacity for suppression.
Innovation Solution
A fire containment system that uses a first blower to exhaust combustion air and a second blower to provide combustion air within the semi-enclosed space, directing the fire towards a rear wall, thereby keeping it contained and reducing the need for high air handling capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If air is restricted to suppress fire, then fire growth is limited, but fire escapes the semi-enclosed space seeking fresh combustion air
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of restricting air to suppress fire, the system introduces air at the rear wall to actively direct the fire away from the open front side. This inverted approach uses air supply rather than restriction to achieve containment, transforming the harmful effect of air-seeking fire behavior into a controlled directional flow that keeps fire away from operators.
Solution Approach 2:
The rear wall air inlet acts as an intermediary that mediates between the fire and the open front side. By supplying air at the rear, it creates a controlled combustion zone that prevents fire from directly escaping to the front, where operators are located.
2Reliability
If fire is allowed to burn with sufficient air supply, then fire remains stable within the space, but more air handling capacity is required to exhaust combustion gases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by supplying air specifically at the rear wall rather than uniformly throughout the space. This localized air introduction creates a controlled combustion zone only where needed, maintaining stable burning conditions for containment while minimizing the total volume of combustion gases that require exhaust handling.
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 safer and more controlled fire suppression by maintaining a localized fire, providing increased time for manual or automated extinguishment and reducing the risk of fire spreading beyond the semi-enclosed space.
Implementation Method 1
a first blower adapted to exhaust air from the semi-enclosed space through the first vent
Implementation Method 2
a second blower adapted to direct air into the semi-enclosed space through the second vent
Implementation Method 3
after a fire consumes the available oxygen available within that space
Data Source
AI summary
A fire containment system and method is disclosed. The fire containment system is designed to assist in temporarily containing a fire within a semi-enclosed space having an open side for operator access. An exhaust air blower exhausts air from the semi-enclosed space through an exhaust vent. An inlet air blower provides air to the semi-enclosed space through an inlet vent. In the case of a fire in the semi-enclosed space, the fire will be drawn away from the open side and toward the inlet vent due to the air supplied by the inlet air blower. The fire is thus encouraged to remain within the semi-enclosed space, allowing additional time for a fire suppression mechanism to be activated.