Automated Fire Suppression Piping Design and Constraint Validation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional fire suppression system design processes are manual and resource-intensive, leading to inefficiencies and increased costs due to the lack of automated methods for determining optimal nozzle and piping placements within fire suppression systems.

Innovation Solution

A method and system for determining the placement of pipes within a fire suppression system, which includes obtaining a layout of nozzles, calculating the number, length, and location of pipes, and determining the placement of junctions and elbows, while checking for piping constraints and activating alerts for violations, utilizing a processor and memory with computer-executable instructions to optimize the design process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If manual design methods are used for fire suppression systems, then flexibility and adaptability are maintained, but time consumption and resource waste increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedesign speedVSAvoiddesign time

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical design processes with an automated computer-based system that uses algorithms to calculate optimal pipe placements, nozzle positions, and system configurations. The system automatically processes building floor plans and generates complete fire suppression system designs, eliminating time-consuming manual calculations while maintaining design accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically adjusts multiple design parameters including pipe diameter, material selection, nozzle spacing, and agent flow rates based on input building characteristics and fire hazard assessments. This automated parameter optimization significantly reduces design time compared to manual iteration while ensuring compliance with safety standards.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If automated pipe placement algorithms are implemented, then design efficiency improves, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedesign efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the complex fire suppression system design into separate modular components: building data input module, pipe network optimization module, nozzle placement module, and constraint validation module. This segmentation allows the complex automated system to process design requirements through discrete, manageable computational steps, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high automation levels.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces a computer-based intermediary layer between the designer and the fire suppression system design outputs. This intermediary automatically processes building floor plans, applies safety constraints, optimizes pipe placements, and generates detailed design specifications, simplifying the design process while managing system complexity through standardized computational algorithms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Manufacturing precision

If manual constraint checking is performed, then flexibility in design adjustments is maintained, but error rates and resource waste increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepiping constraint accuracyVSAvoidconstraint verification time

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements automated feedback mechanisms that continuously verify pipe placements, junction positions, and nozzle configurations against predefined safety constraints and building codes. The system provides real-time validation feedback, automatically identifying and flagging potential violations, thereby improving constraint accuracy while eliminating time-consuming manual verification processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces manual constraint checking with automated computational algorithms that systematically evaluate all design parameters against safety requirements. This substitution ensures consistent and accurate constraint verification without human error, while the automated nature of the process eliminates the time investment required for manual review and verification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS11714929B2Fire suppression system—piping design AI aid and visualization tool

Publication Date: 2023.08.01 MARIOFF CORP OY

AI summary

A method of determining placement of pipes within a fire suppression system including: obtaining a layout of nozzles within a room for a fire suppression system; determining a number of pipes, a length of each of the pipes, and a location of each of the pipes to connect each nozzle within the room to a fire suppression agent source in response to the layout of nozzles within the room; determining locations of junctions and elbows to interconnect the pipes; and determining whether the pipe, junctions, and elbows violate a piping constraint.