Fire Suppressant Device With Controlled Orifice Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional portable fire extinguishers are ineffective in extinguishing cooking oil fires due to reduced effectiveness of dry chemical agents and may cause hot oil to splash and spread the fire, and they are often cumbersome and difficult for the general public to use.
Innovation Solution
A portable fire suppressant device with a container storing a liquid fire suppressant agent and a propellant, featuring a valve assembly and spray nozzle designed to deliver the agent at a specific flow rate and range, effectively extinguishing Class A and UL711A fire hazards with a compact and user-friendly design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wet chemical fire suppressant is used to extinguish cooking oil fire, then the fire suppression effectiveness is improved, but the forceful delivery disturbs the cooking oil surface causing hot oil to splash and spread the fire
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the delivery parameters of the fire suppressant by controlling the discharge flow rate through specifically designed orifices with calculated cross-sectional areas. The stem valve orifices have a combined tangential flow cross-sectional surface area of a first predetermined value, and the spray nozzle orifices have a combined tangential flow cross-sectional surface area of a second predetermined value, ensuring the suppressant is delivered at the optimal flow rate to extinguish the fire without causing oil splashing
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a valve assembly as an intermediary component between the suppressant storage and the spray nozzle. The valve assembly with its stem valve and controlled orifices acts as a mediator to regulate the flow rate of the wet chemical fire suppressant, preventing excessive forceful delivery that would disturb the cooking oil surface while still maintaining sufficient suppression effectiveness
2Reliability
If conventional portable fire extinguisher is used, then the device is available for kitchen fire protection, but the device is heavy, large, and difficult for the general public to use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the fire extinguisher by using a pressurized container system with liquid fire suppressant and gas propellant. This allows the extinguisher to be compact and lightweight while maintaining effective fire suppression capability, making it more portable and easier to handle for the general public
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a pneumatic system with gas propellant (nitrogen or carbon dioxide) to pressurize and discharge the liquid fire suppressant through the valve assembly and spray nozzle. This pneumatic mechanism enables easy operation with simple actuation while delivering the suppressant effectively, eliminating the need for heavy mechanical pumping systems
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 device safely and effectively extinguishes Class A and UL711A fire hazards with a controlled discharge of the liquid fire suppressant, minimizing splash and providing easy handling and cleanup, addressing the limitations of traditional extinguishers.
Implementation Method 1
a propellant having a predetermined charge density... the valve assembly, upon actuation of the nozzle, enables discharge of the fire suppressant agent at a predetermined flow rate and up to a predetermined discharge range
Implementation Method 2
the stem valve comprises one or more first orifices having a combined tangential flow cross-sectional surface area of a first predetermined value, and the spray nozzle comprises one or more second orifices having a combined tangential flow cross-sectional surface area of a second predetermined value
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2
AI summary
Described herein is a fire suppressant device (100). The device (100) comprises a container (102) configured to store a liquid fire suppressant agent (110) having a predetermined gravity, and a propellant (112) having a predetermined charge density, a valve assembly (104) configured with the container (102), where the valve assembly (104) comprises a stem valve (206) comprising one or more first orifices (206-1) having a combined tangential flow cross-sectional surface area of a first predetermined value, and a spray nozzle (106) fluidically configured with the valve assembly (104), where the nozzle (106) comprises one or more second orifices (302) having a combined tangential flow cross-sectional surface area of a second predetermined value.