Fire Suppressant System Design Evaluation Method

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Solution Overview

Problem

The design of fire suppressant systems is a time-intensive and expert-dependent process, involving manual iterations and computational challenges due to numerous parameter variations, making it inefficient for optimizing system layout, agent distribution, and compliance with safety and regulatory standards.

Innovation Solution

A method and system for evaluating fire suppressant system designs by receiving system requirements, generating physics-based models, calculating key performance indicators, and comparing them to optimize design, using constraint programming and user input to automate the process and reduce computational complexity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual design iterations and expert knowledge are used to design fire suppressant systems, then design quality and compliance with safety standards can be ensured, but the design process becomes time-intensive and dependent on designer expertise

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedesign compliance with safety standardsVSAvoiddesign process time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical design iterations with an automated computer-based evaluation system that uses algorithms to assess design configurations against safety requirements and performance criteria, eliminating dependence on designer expertise while maintaining compliance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service design evaluation by automatically comparing design configurations against stored safety standards and requirements, allowing the system to evaluate itself without requiring external expert review for each iteration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If computer modelling is used to evaluate fire suppressant system designs, then design optimization can be achieved, but computational requirements and time consumption increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedesign optimization efficiencyVSAvoidcomputational resources
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the design evaluation into distinct modular components: receiving design configurations, evaluating against safety requirements, calculating performance parameters, and generating reports. This modular approach reduces computational complexity by processing evaluations independently rather than requiring full-system modeling

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the approach from detailed physical modeling to parameter-based evaluation, where key performance parameters are calculated directly from design specifications and compared against required thresholds, reducing computational intensity while maintaining evaluation accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Manufacturing precision

If the number of design parameters and component variations is increased to achieve optimal design, then design quality improves, but the complexity of manual evaluation and iteration increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedesign optimizationVSAvoidevaluation process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex manual evaluation processes with automated computer-based algorithms that can efficiently process multiple design parameters and component variations simultaneously, transforming an intractable manual problem into a computationally manageable task

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an intermediary evaluation layer that translates diverse design parameters and component specifications into standardized assessment criteria, enabling systematic comparison and optimization without requiring direct manual analysis of each parameter combination

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3988178A1Method and system for evaluating designs for a fire suppressant system
Publication Date: 2022.04.27 COLLINS AEROSPACE IRELAND LTD
  • EP3988178A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3988178A1 patent drawing
  • EP3988178A1 patent drawing

AI summary

A method and system for evaluating designs for a fire suppressant system for a space, the method comprising: receiving system requirements defining constraints of the system; obtaining a model of a design designed to satisfy the system requirements; calculating key performance indicators for the model; and evaluating the design by comparing the key performance indicators with the system requirements.