Flexible Fire Protection Unit with Phase Change Agent

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing devices for sealing off rooms from flammable liquids lack effective fire protection properties, particularly in maintaining integrity under high temperatures and prolonged heating.

Innovation Solution

A device featuring a flexible fire protection unit with a porous support structure filled with an agent that undergoes a melting and/or evaporation process under heat, connected to a hinged bulkhead, and surrounded by a vapor barrier to enhance fire protection and maintain structural integrity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Duration of action of moving object

If conventional fire protection materials are used, then fire protection is provided, but the temperature rises quickly and the protection duration is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefire protection durationVSAvoidtemperature rise rate
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of moving objectVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes phase transitions (melting and evaporation) of the filling material within the porous support structure. When exposed to fire, the filling material melts and evaporates, absorbing significant heat energy in the process. This phase change mechanism effectively limits the temperature rise rate of the fire protection unit and extends the duration of fire protection, directly addressing the contradiction between protection duration and temperature rise rate.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #36Phase transitions

2Stability of the object's composition

If a rigid fire protection structure is used, then structural integrity is maintained, but flexibility and adaptability are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidflexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a composite structure consisting of a flexible porous support structure (such as foam material) filled with a filling material. This composite design combines the flexibility of the support structure with the fire protective properties of the filling material, maintaining structural integrity while enabling adaptability to different shapes and surfaces, thus resolving the contradiction between structural integrity and flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The use of a porous support structure provides both mechanical flexibility and a large surface area for heat absorption. The porous nature allows the material to be flexible and conformable while still providing a matrix for the filling material to perform its fire protective function, balancing structural integrity with adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

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 solution significantly increases the effectiveness and duration of fire protection by maintaining low temperature rise in the fire protection unit, allowing for extended protection and improved structural integrity, while also allowing for pressure equalization and increased service life.

Implementation Method 1

the pores of the support structure being at least partially filled with at least one agent which carries out at least one melting and/or evaporation process under the action of heat

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Implementation Method 2

the pores of the support structure being at least partially filled with at least one agent which carries out at least one melting and/or evaporation process under the action of heat

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMelting: Melting

Implementation Method 3

As a result of the melting and/or evaporation process, the temperature of the fire protection unit does not rise or rises only slightly for a certain period of time

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLatent heat: Latent Heat

Implementation Method 4

the support structure is at least partially surrounded by a vapor barrier. This ensures that the agent, which evaporates under the action of heat, for example, remains longer in the support structure

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVapor barrier:

Data Source

PatentEP2286039B1Flat, preferably flexible fire protection unit
Publication Date: 2016.02.17 ANHAMM
  • EP2286039B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2286039B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2286039B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to a flat, flexible fire protection unit (1). Said fire protection unit comprises at least one porous carrier structure (2), the pores (3) of said carrier structure (2) being at least partially filled with an agent (4) that undergoes a change in state of aggregation under the effect of heat.