Fire Extinguishing System Pressure Activation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing extinguishing systems require both a control line and an extinguishing agent line, necessitating a pressure change in the control line to activate the extinguishing agent container, which complicates the system and demands high tightness of the extinguishing agent lines.

Innovation Solution

The system integrates the control line and extinguishing agent line, allowing activation of the extinguishing agent container through pressure changes in the extinguishing agent line itself, eliminating the need for a separate control line and enabling the extinguishing agent container to be located away from the fire source, with activation via pressure increase or decrease.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a separate control line is used to activate the extinguishing agent container, then the system can be activated reliably, but the system complexity increases and more components are required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveactivation reliabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the control line and extinguishing agent line into a single integrated line. The control function is achieved by creating a pressure change (vacuum or pressure pulse) in the extinguishing agent line itself, eliminating the need for a separate control line. This merging reduces system complexity while maintaining activation reliability through the integrated dual-function line.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The extinguishing agent line is designed to serve dual purposes: as the delivery line for the extinguishing agent and as the control line for activation. By making the extinguishing agent line multi-functional, the system reduces the total number of components while ensuring reliable activation through pressure-based control mechanisms integrated into the same line.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If a separate control line is used for activation, then the activation can be controlled independently, but the installation space and routing requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindependent controlVSAvoidinstallation space
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

By merging the control line and extinguishing agent line into one integrated line, the patent reduces the installation space required. The single line follows the same routing path for both control signals and agent delivery, eliminating the need for separate routing channels and reducing overall installation footprint while maintaining independent control capability through pressure-based activation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Productivity

If the extinguishing agent line is permanently pressurized to enable nozzle opening, then the extinguishing agent can be released quickly, but the tightness requirements and maintenance demands increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveagent release speedVSAvoidmaintenance requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of permanent pressurization, the system uses periodic or transient pressure changes (vacuum creation or pressure pulses) only when activation is needed. The extinguishing agent line remains at ambient pressure during normal operation, and pressure is applied temporarily to activate the container and drive the agent through the nozzles. This periodic action maintains quick release capability while significantly reducing tightness requirements and maintenance demands.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the pressure parameter dynamically - from ambient pressure during normal operation to activated pressure (vacuum or pressure pulse) during extinguishing events. This parameter change approach allows quick agent release when needed while avoiding the continuous high pressure that would require extensive maintenance, thereby reducing maintenance requirements while preserving productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2554220B1Installation d'extinction au montage facilité
Publication Date: 2020.11.18 SOLIS PEREZ EDGAR ROBERTO
  • EP2554220B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2554220B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The invention relates to a fire extinguishing system (100) with at least one extinguishing agent container (10) to which at least one extinguishing agent line (11) is connected, and wherein at least one extinguishing agent nozzle (12) is provided which is connected to the extinguishing agent line (11), wherein, upon activation of the extinguishing agent container (10), extinguishing agent (13) can be released from the extinguishing agent container (10) into the extinguishing agent line (11) and can be guided through the extinguishing agent line (11) to the extinguishing agent nozzle (12). According to the invention, activation of the extinguishing agent container (10) can be triggered by a pressure change in the extinguishing agent line (11).