Fire Suppression System Using Temperature Rate of Change Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fire suppression systems are unreliable in quickly and accurately detecting the location of a fire, leading to false alarms and over-designing to compensate for inaccuracies, which increases costs.
Innovation Solution
A dry-pipe fire suppression system with temperature indicators positioned within the supply line between a control valve and spray heads, monitoring the rate of temperature change to determine the fire location and activate the system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If fire suppression systems activate in response to air flow or pressure changes, then the system activates quickly, but the system generates false alarms and has measurement reliability problems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the detection parameter from air flow/pressure to temperature rate of change (dT/dt). Temperature indicators measure temperature at multiple locations along the supply line, and the control unit calculates the rate of temperature change to detect fires. This parameter change eliminates false alarms caused by air flow while maintaining quick activation, as temperature rise is a more reliable indicator of actual fire conditions.
2Device complexity
If conventional fire suppression systems use slow or inaccurate detection methods, then the system can be simpler, but the system requires over-designing with additional components and larger pipes to compensate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the supply line into multiple zones by placing temperature indicators at different locations along the line between the control valve and spray heads. Each temperature indicator monitors a specific segment, allowing the system to precisely locate fire conditions. This segmentation enables accurate fire location detection without requiring over-designing, as the system can target extinguishing medium precisely where needed rather than protecting entire areas with excessive capacity.
3Measurement precision
If fire suppression systems use temperature indicators to detect fire, then the system can accurately determine fire location, but the system requires multiple temperature indicators positioned within the supply line
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the supply line itself as an intermediary medium to carry temperature indicators to strategic positions near spray heads. By placing temperature indicators within the supply line rather than in the protected space, the system achieves accurate fire location detection while minimizing the number of indicators needed. The supply line acts as a conduit that positions sensors optimally without requiring additional complex sensor arrays in the protected area.
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
This approach allows for efficient and accurate fire location detection, reducing false alarms and enabling more precise system design, thereby minimizing unnecessary components and costs.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of temperature indicators for measuring a surrounding temperature, the temperature indicators disposed within a portion of the supply line between a control valve and the spray head
Implementation Method 2
the control unit monitors a rate of change of the temperature measured by each of the plurality of temperature indicators to determine a location of a fire
Data Source
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AI summary
A fire suppression system is provided including at least one spray head. A drive source is coupled to the at least one spray head by a supply line that delivers an extinguishing medium thereto. A control valve is connected to the supply line between the drive source and the at least one spray head. The system includes at least one temperature indicator for measuring a surrounding temperature. A control unit is operably coupled to the drive source, the control valve, and the at least one temperature indicator. The control unit monitors a rate at which the temperature measured by the at least one temperature indicator changes to determine a location of a fire.