Fire protection device and method for fire protection of an industrial oil cooker

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fire protection systems for industrial oil cookers with fixed hood configurations fail to provide effective mist patterns for fire suppression due to insufficient nozzle designs, particularly at low to medium operating pressures and varying hood orientations.

Innovation Solution

A fire protection nozzle with a specific orifice and diffuser configuration, operating at pressures between 1172.11 kPa and 1723.69 kPa, providing a unique distribution pattern that allows for variable installations and effective coverage of industrial oil fryers, including those with angled hood surfaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If existing mist nozzles are used in fixed hood configurations, then the system can operate at low to medium pressures, but the spray pattern fails to provide effective fire suppression coverage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefire suppression effectivenessVSAvoidhood configuration adaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the geometric parameters of the nozzle by introducing a diffuser component with specific angle ranges (10-45 degrees) and dimensional relationships. This modifies the spray pattern parameters to achieve both effective fire suppression coverage and adaptability to fixed hood configurations, resolving the contradiction between reliability and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Use of energy by moving object

If the nozzle operates at low to medium pressures (1172.11-1723.69 kPa), then energy consumption is reduced, but the spray distribution pattern is insufficient for effective fire protection

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperating pressureVSAvoidfire protection coverage
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a diffuser with curved surfaces at specific angles (10-45 degrees) to the spray axis. This curvature transforms the pressure energy more effectively into a distributed spray pattern, achieving reliable fire protection coverage while maintaining low to medium operating pressures, thus resolving the contradiction between energy use and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Productivity

If the orifice inlet diameter is increased to allow higher flow rates, then productivity is improved, but the spray density and coverage uniformity deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefluid flow rateVSAvoidspray distribution uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the single orifice flow into multiple spray streams through the diffuser structure. The diffuser divides the incoming fluid at high flow rates into numerous smaller droplets, maintaining both high productivity (flow rate) and uniform spray distribution density, resolving the contradiction between productivity and manufacturing precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 nozzle ensures comprehensive fire protection by distributing fluid effectively across a coverage area, achieving desired flow rates and densities, thereby addressing the limitations of existing systems in terms of pressure range and hood configuration.

Implementation Method 1

operating at pressures between 1172.11 kPa and 1723.69 kPa

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure gradient: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

providing a unique distribution pattern that allows for variable installations and effective coverage

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid spray: Fluid Spray

Data Source

PatentEP2969047B1Fire protection device and method for fire protection of an industrial oil cooker
Publication Date: 2019.12.11 TYCO FIRE PRODUCTS LP
  • EP2969047B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2969047B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2969047B1 patent drawingFigure 5A~5B

AI summary

Fire protection mist nozzles for industrial oil cookers, oil cookers with fire protection systems, and method of oil cooker fire protection are provided. The mist nozzles operate at pressures between 170 and 250 psi, and provide a unique distribution pattern that allows for variable installations for protection in certain operative environments including oil cookers with various hood configurations. The fire protection nozzles includes a base defining an inlet and an outlet along an axis. The base includes an orifice having an inlet diameter and an outlet diameter. The outlet diameter is preferably greater than the inlet diameter; and the orifice defines a K- factor of less than 1.0 gpm/psi½. The nozzle includes a diffuser aligned with the orifice. The diffuser has a preferably substantially domed portion with a maximum diameter that is less than the summation of the inlet diameter and the outlet diameter of the orifice.