Fire Suppression System with Induced Airflow Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fire suppression systems either expose valuable contents to water or fail to address heat absorption within enclosures, as they primarily focus on oxygen displacement without cooling the environment.
Innovation Solution
A fire suppression system that includes a housing with inlet and outlet ports, a temperature sensor assembly, and a flow control assembly to discharge a fire suppressing fluid, which draws air into the system, exchanges heat with the fluid, and circulates cooler air back into the enclosure, maintaining a constant flow and reducing oxygen concentration and humidity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If water is used as fire suppressant, then fire suppression effectiveness is improved, but valuable contents are exposed to water damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of the fire suppressant from liquid (water) to gas (inert gas mixture), eliminating water damage while maintaining fire suppression effectiveness through oxygen displacement and heat absorption
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates an inert atmosphere within the enclosure by introducing a mixture of inert gases (nitrogen, carbon dioxide, argon) that displaces oxygen and suppresses fire without damaging valuable contents, replacing the harmful water-based suppression method
2Quantity of substance
If non-combustible fluids such as carbon dioxide are used to displace oxygen, then oxygen displacement is improved, but heat removal capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges two separate functions into one fire suppressant system: oxygen displacement (through inert gas composition) and heat removal (through endothermic evaporation of liquid suppressant), creating a dual-mechanism fire suppression approach
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes phase transition (evaporation) of the liquid fire suppressant to absorb heat from the fire environment, while the vaporized suppressant simultaneously displaces oxygen, combining thermal and chemical suppression mechanisms
3Temperature
If fire-rated insulation is used to slow heating, then thermal protection is improved, but protection fails when heating exceeds fire rating
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by detecting temperature increase before the fire rating is exceeded and automatically activating the fire suppressant system to prevent catastrophic failure, rather than relying solely on passive insulation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback through temperature sensors that continuously monitor the enclosure environment and trigger the fire suppression system when predetermined temperature thresholds are reached, creating an active response mechanism
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
Effectively suppresses fires by cooling the environment, reducing oxygen levels, increasing humidity, and maintaining even temperature distribution within enclosures, thereby protecting contents from damage due to heat and moisture.
Implementation Method 1
A temperature sensor assembly may be configured to detect an increase in temperature corresponding to presence of a fire
Implementation Method 2
At least one of the fluid passage and the fluid discharge assembly may be configured such that the discharge of the fire suppressing fluid into the fluid passage draws air into the fluid passage through the inlet port and around the fire suppressing fluid source, and expels air and the fire suppressing fluid out of the fluid passage
Implementation Method 3
systems and methods for absorbing heat from an enclosure and reducing the concentration of oxygen within the enclosure
Implementation Method 4
Other existing fire suppression systems use non-combustible fluids such as carbon dioxide to displace the oxygen a fire requires
Data Source
AI summary
Fire suppression systems and methods of suppressing fires are disclosed. A fire suppression system may include a housing including inlet and outlet ports, and a housing interior having a fluid passage sized to contain a fire suppressing fluid source between the inlet and outlet ports. The inlet and outlet ports may be fluidly connected to the fluid passage. The system may additionally include a fluid discharge assembly configured to discharge fire suppressing fluid from a flow control assembly into the fluid passage and toward the outlet port. At least one of the fluid passage and the fluid discharge assembly may be configured such that the discharge of the fire suppressing fluid into the fluid passage draws air into the fluid passage through the inlet port and around the fire suppressing fluid source, and expels air and the fire suppressing fluid out of the fluid passage and through the outlet port.