Fuel Supply Fire Protection via Non-Flammable Liquid Injection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing solid fuel combustion or gasification plants face significant risks of fires due to dust and combustible gas leakage, particularly in the fuel supply area, where mechanical fire protection systems often fail due to obstruction, high maintenance needs, and incompatibility with irregular fuels.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the injection of a non-flammable liquid into the fuel supply system to form a fuel plug and create an empty space, using endless screws and sensors for fire detection, with an automaton controlling the injection and plug formation to prevent fire spread, and a redundant fire-fighting system for extinguishing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If mechanical fire protection systems (flaps, guillotines, rotary systems) are installed in the fuel supply area, then fire spread is prevented, but the systems are prone to obstruction, require high maintenance, and are incompatible with irregular fuels

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefire protection effectivenessVSAvoidmaintenance requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical fire protection systems (flaps, guillotines, rotary valves) with a fluid-based fire suppression system that injects water or inert gas directly into the fuel supply area. This eliminates moving parts that can be obstructed by irregular fuels, while maintaining reliable fire protection through chemical/physical suppression mechanisms that are not affected by fuel irregularity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs hydraulic injection of water through nozzles positioned in the fuel supply area to suppress fires. This fluid-based approach avoids mechanical obstruction issues while providing effective fire suppression through water's cooling and smothering properties, eliminating the maintenance problems associated with mechanical moving parts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

2Object-affected harmful factors

If mechanical fire protection systems are installed to block fire spread, then fire risks are reduced, but the systems are expensive and complex to install and maintain

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefire riskVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical fire protection systems with a simpler fluid injection system. Instead of installing and maintaining mechanical barriers like flaps and guillotines, the system uses water injection nozzles connected to a straightforward hydraulic supply, dramatically reducing system complexity while maintaining fire protection effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the essential fire suppression function from complex mechanical systems and implements it through a simplified fluid injection approach. By taking out only the necessary fire suppression capability and implementing it through water injection rather than mechanical barriers, the system achieves the same protective function with minimal complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If the fuel supply system is cleared continuously to prevent damper obstruction, then mechanical systems operate reliably, but biomass is wasted and the system requires constant intervention

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical system operationVSAvoidbiomass waste
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical dampers that require clearing with a fluid-based fire suppression system. This eliminates the need for continuous biomass removal to prevent obstruction, as the water injection system has no moving parts that can be blocked by irregular fuels, thereby preventing biomass waste while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

Effectively prevents and combats fire risks by isolating the fuel from the heat source, reducing the risk of fire outbreaks, and maintaining plant operation with a robust, inexpensive, and low-maintenance solution that is suitable for irregular fuels.

Implementation Method 1

a non-flammable liquid is injected into the fuel contained in the fuel supply system

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat absorption: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 2

using endless screws and sensors for fire detection

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical propulsion: Screw

Data Source

PatentEP3868445B1Method for securing a combustion or gasification plant against fire
Publication Date: 2023.03.22 MINI GREEN POWER
  • EP3868445B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2B
  • EP3868445B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3868445B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for fire-resistant protection of a solid fuel combustion or gasification plant (2) (3) comprising a combustion chamber (1) for the solid fuel (3), said chamber (1) being supplied with solid fuel (3) by a fuel supply system (4). The invention is characterized in that it comprises the following steps: injecting a non-flammable liquid into the fuel (3) contained in the fuel supply system (4); forming a plug (7) of fuel (3) in the fuel supply system (4); and creating a fuel-free space (8) in the fuel supply system.