Fire Protection Proportioner with Dynamic Restrictor Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional foam proportioners fail to maintain the proper percentage of foam concentrate in fire protection solutions across a wide range of flow rates, especially when using high-viscosity foam concentrates, leading to non-compliance with UL and FM standards.
Innovation Solution
A proportioner design with a restrictor assembly and orifice plate configuration that allows for precise control of foam concentrate flow, maintaining the desired percentage within a wide range of flow rates, including those exceeding 10 times the minimum rated flow, and accommodating high-viscosity foam concentrates up to 3500 mPas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional proportioner with restrictor assembly is used, then foam concentrate flow can be controlled, but the proportioner cannot maintain proper foam concentrate percentage across wide flow rates when using high-viscosity foam concentrates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic restrictor assembly where the restrictor disk can move relative to the orifice plate, allowing the flow restriction to be adjusted based on operating conditions. This dynamic adjustment enables the proportioner to maintain proper foam concentrate percentage across wide flow rates (up to 10 times the minimum rated flow) while accommodating high-viscosity foam concentrates up to 3500 mPas, resolving the contradiction between reliability and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameter of viscosity by using high-viscosity foam concentrates (up to 3500 mPas) while maintaining proper proportioning through the restrictor assembly design. The restrictor assembly parameters (orifice plate opening size, restrictor disk position) are optimized to work with these high-viscosity fluids, allowing the system to achieve both reliable foam concentrate percentage maintenance and wide flow rate adaptability simultaneously.
2Productivity
If the restrictor disk is moved away from the orifice plate opening, then foam concentrate flow increases, but the proportioner cannot precisely control foam concentrate flow for high-viscosity foam concentrates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a feedback mechanism where the restrictor assembly design allows for precise control of foam concentrate flow even when the restrictor disk is moved away from the orifice plate. The system maintains precise flow control through the geometric relationship between the restrictor disk and orifice plate, ensuring accurate foam concentrate proportioning across different flow conditions and viscosity levels.
3Device complexity
If conventional proportioner design is used, then system structure is simple, but the proportioner is limited to specific flow rates (750-2300 GPM) when using high-viscosity foam concentrates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal proportioner design that can handle multiple scenarios: wide flow rates (up to 10 times minimum rated flow), high-viscosity foam concentrates (up to 3500 mPas), and various foam concentrate percentages. The restrictor assembly with movable restrictor disk provides multi-functionality, allowing a single proportioner design to replace multiple specialized devices while maintaining simple overall system structure.
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 proportioner ensures effective fire protection by maintaining the target foam concentrate percentage within specified ranges for both low and high flow rates, meeting UL and FM standards, even with high-viscosity foam concentrates, thereby ensuring consistent fire protection performance.
Implementation Method 1
a restrictor assembly having a restrictor disk and an orifice plate to control a flow of the foam concentrate through the foam passage
Implementation Method 2
a body portion that defines a foam passage for transporting a foam concentrate and a fluid passage for transporting a fire protection fluid
Data Source
AI summary
A proportioner having a body portion that defines a fluid passage for transporting a fire protection fluid and a foam passage for transporting a foam concentrate. The foam concentrate mixes with the fire protection fluid to form a fire protection solution. The proportioner also includes a restrictor assembly having a restrictor disk and an orifice plate. The orifice plate has an opening for receiving the restrictor disk. The restrictor disk and opening are configured to form an annulus between an outer surface of the restrictor disk and an inner surface of the opening when at least a portion of the restrictor disk is disposed within the opening and the restrictor disk is spaced from the orifice plate. The restrictor assembly is configured to maintain the annulus for a full travel range of the restrictor disk.