Fire Suppression Nozzle Assembly for Fluid-Barrier Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fire suppression systems struggle to effectively isolate and contain hazards in partially enclosed environments, such as commercial kitchens, where separating the hazard volume from the non-hazard volume is challenging, especially when physical barriers are not feasible due to worker presence.
Innovation Solution
A fire suppression and isolation system comprising an ejection nozzle, dispersion nozzle, and valve assembly that controls the release of a suppression medium to create a fluid barrier between hazard and non-hazard volumes, using nozzles positioned between and within the hazard volume to contain and extinguish fires while minimizing medium leakage into non-hazard areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a physical barrier is installed to separate hazard volume from non-hazard volume, then isolation effectiveness is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate due to worker presence and space constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a fluid barrier (water or other suppression medium) ejected through nozzles to create a virtual partition between hazard and non-hazard volumes. This hydraulic approach replaces solid physical barriers, achieving effective isolation without structural complexity. The fluid curtain acts as a dynamic barrier that can be deployed and removed as needed, solving the contradiction between isolation effectiveness and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the state of the suppression medium from static (stored in container) to dynamic (ejected as fluid barrier) upon detecting a thermal event. By controlling the ejection parameters (flow rate, pressure, direction) of the fluid, the system creates an effective isolation barrier only when needed, maintaining operational flexibility while achieving reliable hazard containment.
2Reliability
If suppression medium is released to extinguish fire, then fire suppression effectiveness is improved, but loss of substance increases due to medium leakage into non-hazard areas
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the suppression medium delivery into two distinct pathways: (1) ejection through the fluid barrier nozzle to contain and suppress fire within the hazard volume, and (2) dispersion through separate nozzles directed at the workstation. This segmentation ensures the suppressant is delivered precisely where needed, preventing leakage into non-hazard areas while maintaining fire suppression effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The fluid barrier acts as an intermediary between the hazard volume and non-hazard volume, preventing direct leakage of suppression medium into non-hazard areas. The barrier intercepts and contains the suppressant within the hazard zone, allowing effective fire suppression while minimizing substance loss to surrounding areas.
3Reliability
If ejection nozzle is positioned close to hazard volume for effective containment, then isolation effectiveness is improved, but risk of medium leakage into non-hazard volume increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system addresses the positioning dilemma by operating in multiple spatial dimensions. The ejection nozzle creates a vertical fluid barrier curtain that spans the height of the hazard volume, while dispersion nozzles operate at different levels and angles. This multi-dimensional approach allows effective containment close to the hazard without direct leakage into non-hazard areas, as the fluid barrier provides lateral containment while dispersion targets specific zones.
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 system effectively isolates the hazard volume from the non-hazard volume, reducing collateral damage, cleanup time, and shutdown duration by containing the suppression medium within the hazard area and independently controlling the atmosphere, thus providing a cleaner and more efficient fire suppression method.
Implementation Method 1
the suppression medium ejected from the ejection nozzle defines a fluid barrier that is disposed between the non-hazard volume and the hazard volume
Implementation Method 2
the dispersion nozzle is arranged to disperse the suppression medium within the hazard volume
Data Source
AI summary
A fire suppression and isolation system includes an ejection nozzle, a dispersion nozzle, and a valve assembly. The ejection nozzle is positioned between a non-hazard volume and a hazard volume. The dispersion nozzle is spaced apart from the ejection nozzle and is disposed within the hazard volume. The valve assembly is arranged to control a release of a suppression medium from a container to the ejection nozzle and the dispersion nozzle, responsive to a thermal event, such that the suppression medium that is ejected from the ejection nozzle defines a fluid barrier that is disposed between the non-hazard volume and the hazard volume.