Foam-Generating Cage for Conventional Sprinklers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sprinklers with expansion ratios less than 4 are inadequate for generating heavy foam, necessitating costly and complex heavy-foam sprinklers, especially when fluorine surfactants are banned or not used, and there is a need for a universal solution to upgrade conventional sprinklers without resorting to these complex systems.
Innovation Solution
A cage with specific dimensions and configurations, such as screen or lattice openings, is added to conventional sprinklers to enhance the expansion ratio, allowing the generation of heavy foam, compatible with both fluorine-containing and fluorine-free fire-fighting agents, by encasing the sprinkler intermediate space and directing the fire-fighting fluid through it, thereby increasing the expansion ratio without requiring complex installations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If conventional sprinklers are used, then the device complexity is low, but the expansion ratio is insufficient (less than 4)
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the sprinkler system into two functional parts: the conventional sprinkler body (water distribution) and the add-on cage (foam generation). The cage is segmented with multiple screen openings distributed across its surface, allowing water to be distributed uniformly through numerous small openings, creating foam without requiring complex internal sprinkler modifications.
Solution Approach 2:
The cage acts as an intermediary component between the conventional sprinkler and the fire-fighting fluid. It receives water from the sprinkler through its support structure and transforms it into foam through its screen openings, without requiring modification of the original sprinkler design. This mediator approach enables conventional sprinklers to achieve heavy foam generation.
2Productivity
If heavy-foam sprinklers are used, then the expansion ratio is sufficient (4 and above), but the device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The foam-generating function is segmented into a separate add-on cage component rather than being integrated into the complex heavy-foam sprinkler body. This cage can be attached to conventional sprinklers, providing heavy foam capability (expansion ratio 4+) without requiring replacement of the entire sprinkler system.
Solution Approach 2:
The cage is designed as a universal add-on component that can be attached to various conventional sprinkler types. It performs the additional function of foam generation while working with the existing sprinkler's water distribution capability, making heavy foam technology accessible to conventional sprinkler systems.
3Reliability
If fluorine surfactants are used, then the film barrier function is effective, but environmental harm increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention converts the limitation of fluorine-free surfactants (inability to form stable films) into a benefit by using the cage's screen openings to generate heavy foam with sufficiently small bubble diameters. The foam structure itself, rather than a liquid film, provides the barrier function, eliminating the need for harmful fluorine surfactants while maintaining fire-fighting effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical parameters of the foam (bubble diameter, density, expansion ratio) to achieve the barrier function without relying on fluorine surfactants. By controlling the cage's screen opening dimensions and water flow parameters, heavy foam with expansion ratio 4+ is generated, providing adequate barrier properties using environmentally friendly surfactants.
4Productivity
If conventional sprinklers are upgraded to heavy-foam sprinklers, then the expansion ratio increases, but installation effort and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The upgrade solution is segmented into a removable add-on cage rather than requiring replacement of the entire sprinkler assembly. This allows the foam-generating function to be added separately, simplifying installation and maintenance while achieving heavy foam capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The cage is designed to encase or surround the conventional sprinkler's water outlet, nesting the foam-generating structure around the existing component. This nested configuration allows the cage to be installed over the sprinkler without requiring removal of the original sprinkler body, reducing installation effort.
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 cage effectively upgrades conventional sprinklers to achieve expansion ratios similar to those of heavy-foam sprinklers, enabling the generation of fire-fighting foam with expansion ratios of 4-7, ensuring compatibility with both types of fire-fighting agents and avoiding the need for expensive and complex system conversions.
Implementation Method 1
A cage with specific dimensions and configurations, such as screen or lattice openings, is added to conventional sprinklers to enhance the expansion ratio, allowing the generation of heavy foam
Data Source
AI summary
A cage for generating fire-fighting foam from fluid containing foaming agent released from a sprinkler may be constructed from woven screen or expanded lattice having screen openings having a diameter between 1 mm and 7 mm and/or lattice openings having a width between 1 and 7 mm and a length between 2 mm and 9 mm. The cage has dimensions which permit an intermediate space between a fluid exit opening and spray plate of the sprinkler to be surrounded radially with a height and a width: the height corresponds to at least 0.20 times the external diameter of the spray plate; the internal diameter of the cage, alternatively the non-circular minimum spacing between the opposite internal sides of the cage, at the level of the spray plate, corresponds to at least the external diameter of the spray plate.