Fire Pump Flow Test Diverter Tank with Diffusers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for testing fire pump full capacity flow are inefficient, inaccurate, and cause damage due to high-pressure water discharge, requiring multiple personnel, excessive water usage, and difficulty in controlling turbulence and splash, leading to incomplete and inaccurate flow measurements.
Innovation Solution
A portable flow capacity test device with a diverter tank mounted on a trailer, using pitotless nozzles and flow diffusers to reduce turbulence and allow controlled flow measurement, enabling single-person operation and reducing water usage and testing time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If high-pressure water is discharged through a hose and playpipe during flow testing, then flow measurement can be performed, but the water stream causes violent swinging and whipping of the hose and playpipe, requiring multiple personnel and creating safety hazards
Solution Approach 1:
A flow diverter is introduced as an intermediary device between the playpipe and the water discharge point. This mediator captures the high-pressure water stream and redirects it into a containment structure, eliminating the violent swinging and whipping effects while maintaining accurate flow measurement capabilities through integrated pressure sensors and flow meters.
Solution Approach 2:
The high-pressure water stream, which originally caused harmful swinging and whipping effects, is converted into a beneficial force by directing it through a controlled path into a containment structure. The water's kinetic energy is harnessed to drive a turbine that generates electrical power, transforming the previously problematic high-pressure discharge into a useful energy source.
2Measurement precision
If high-pressure water is discharged during flow testing, then flow capacity can be measured, but the water stream digs holes in ground and causes damage to surrounding property and landscaping
Solution Approach 1:
A flow diverter serves as an intermediary that intercepts the high-pressure water stream before it can contact the ground or surrounding property. The diverter channels the water into a containment structure, preventing erosion and damage to landscaping while allowing flow capacity measurements to be taken through integrated sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful aspect of high-pressure water discharge is extracted and separated from the measurement process. The water stream is diverted away from the testing area into a containment structure, removing the damaging effect while preserving the ability to measure flow capacity through pressure and flow sensors positioned in the controlled environment.
3Measurement precision
If water is discharged for extended periods during flow testing, then accurate flow capacity data can be obtained, but excessive water is wasted and testing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables continuous flow testing without interruption by capturing and containing the water stream throughout the test duration. The containment structure holds the water for the entire testing period, allowing multiple measurements to be taken without requiring additional water discharge, thereby eliminating water waste while maintaining measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of discarding the high-pressure water stream after use, the system recovers and contains the water within a containment structure. This recovered water can be reused for subsequent tests or properly disposed of, significantly reducing water consumption while enabling continuous accurate flow capacity measurements.
4Ease of operation
If multiple personnel are deployed for flow testing to control and measure, then operational safety is improved, but device complexity and operational difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The flow testing system performs safety functions automatically through integrated pressure sensors, flow meters, and containment structures that self-regulate the water stream. The system monitors its own operation and maintains safety without requiring multiple personnel, reducing operational complexity while preserving safety through automated control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow diverter and containment structure act as intermediaries that automatically manage the high-pressure water stream, eliminating the need for multiple personnel to manually control and monitor the water discharge. These intermediary devices handle safety functions autonomously, simplifying the overall system operation while maintaining high safety standards.
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 provides accurate, efficient, and safer flow testing with reduced labor and water consumption, allowing for more productive and cost-effective testing in smaller areas without causing damage, while minimizing exposure to water and turbulence.
Implementation Method 1
The diverter box (16) has an open bottom (22) and includes one or more flow diffusers (19)... dissipates the pressure from the system under test... directing the water downward in a safe, less forceful manner
Implementation Method 2
pitotless nozzles... allowing for flow measurements... The nozzle has a curved surface that directs the water away from the gauge
Data Source
AI summary
A flow test device for diminishing and diverting the flow of a high pressure stream of water while testing a fire pump has a hollow diverter tank supported on a trailer for receiving a high pressure stream of water forced by the fire pump through one or more pipes and nozzle tips retained in a stable position adjacent the diverter tank. Diffusers within the tank divert the flow of water as it enters the tank with the water subsequently exiting through an open bottom of the diverter tank. One or more support panels maintain the pipes in a generally horizontal orientation in relation to the diverter tank. A valve and gauge board enables a user to control the testing and provides for easy positioning in the vicinity of the fire pump to be tested while avoiding splash and spray from the diverter tank discharge.