Fire Suppression Blanket with Pockets for Ballistic Impact Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional passive fire protection systems are inadequate in preventing deflagration and fires caused by high-energy impacts on containers of flammable liquids, as they do not effectively suppress the ignition of atomized fuel mist generated by such impacts.

Innovation Solution

A flexible fire suppression blanket with pockets containing a heat-absorbing fire suppression compound, designed to wrap around containers, which releases the compound upon impact to extinguish the fuel-air mixture by absorbing heat faster than the flame front, thereby preventing flame propagation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional passive fire protection systems are used, then the system structure remains simple and easy to inspect, but the system fails to effectively suppress ignition of atomized fuel mist caused by high-energy impacts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefire suppression effectivenessVSAvoidsystem structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The fire suppression blanket is divided into multiple pockets, each containing fire suppression compound. This segmentation allows the compound to be distributed at multiple locations along the container, improving coverage and suppression effectiveness without creating a single complex mechanical system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The fire suppression compound is placed specifically in pockets positioned to cover areas most vulnerable to impact and atomization. This local placement ensures that the compound is available exactly where fuel mist ignition is most likely to occur, maximizing effectiveness while maintaining simple overall system design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Speed

If the fire suppression compound is released upon impact, then the compound is introduced directly to the fuel-air mixture at the point of impact, but the system must respond faster than the flame front propagation speed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompound release speedVSAvoidfire suppression reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The fire suppression compound is pre-positioned in pockets along the blanket before impact occurs. When high-energy impact atomizes fuel and creates flammable mist, the compound is already in place to immediately suppress ignition, eliminating the need for post-impact deployment mechanisms and ensuring response occurs at the exact moment and location needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The high-energy impact that causes fuel atomization and potential ignition also forces the fire suppression compound from the pockets into the fuel-air mixture. The harmful impact energy is thus converted into the beneficial action of dispersing the suppressant exactly where it is needed most - at the ignition point.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the blanket is designed to wrap around containers flexibly, then the system can be applied to various container shapes and sizes, but the blanket must maintain intimate contact with the container surface to ensure compound distribution

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontainer compatibilityVSAvoidinstallation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The fire suppression system uses a flexible blanket with integrated pockets that can conform to various container shapes and sizes. This flexible film structure allows the blanket to wrap around different geometries while maintaining close contact with the container surface, ensuring proper compound distribution without requiring rigid installation structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 blanket effectively suppresses fires by ensuring the fire suppression compound is introduced directly to the fuel-air mixture at the point of impact, absorbing heat quickly enough to consume the fuel expelled by the energy of the impact and prevent flame propagation, thus protecting the container from deflagration and fire.

Implementation Method 1

absorbing the heat faster than the flame front, caused by the mechanical effects of the impact, can consume the fuel

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat absorption: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 2

A sufficiently energetic impact can atomize a portion of the flammable liquid and mix the atomized liquid with air

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAtomization:

Data Source

PatentEP2099533B1Passive fire protection system

Publication Date: 2019.06.12 HPS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LLC

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AI summary

A blanket (103) providing a plurality of pockets (109) in which to contain fire suppression compound (211). A blanket (103) can be wrapped around a container of flammable liquid to resist fire resulting from a ballistic attack. Fire suppression compound (211) carried in a pocket (109) may be provided as a plurality of sub-portions individually disposed in a respective pouch (214). End caps (106) may also be included to further surround a container with fire suppression compound (211).