HVAC Clean-Agent Plenum Fire Suppression Without Water Corrosion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing combined HVAC and fire suppression systems using sprinklers face issues such as temperature changes leading to inadvertent triggering or failure to trigger sprinklers, and the use of water poses significant disadvantages in many environments.
Innovation Solution
A combined HVAC and fire suppression system utilizing a clean agent, such as halocarbon fire suppression agents, as the heat exchange fluid within the HVAC apparatus, which evaporates to form fire-suppressing gases for distribution via the fan coil unit, eliminating the need for additional pipework and allowing for integrated maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If water is used in HVAC and fire suppression systems, then fire suppression is achieved, but material corrosion occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition of the fluid from water to a clean agent (halocarbon). This chemical parameter change eliminates the corrosive properties inherent in water while maintaining fire suppression effectiveness. The clean agent is chemically inert toward building materials, thereby preventing corrosion of pipes, fixtures, and structural components while still providing reliable fire suppression.
2Reliability
If separate HVAC and fire suppression systems are used, then each system can be optimized independently, but installation and maintenance efforts are duplicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the HVAC system and fire suppression system into a single integrated system by using the clean agent as the common working fluid for both applications. The same piping network, fluid circulation infrastructure, and control systems serve dual purposes. This consolidation eliminates duplicate installation efforts and reduces maintenance requirements while maintaining the functional optimization of both HVAC and fire suppression capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal system where the clean agent-based infrastructure performs multiple functions: it provides heat exchange for HVAC operations and simultaneously serves as the fire suppressant medium. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate water supplies, sprinkler systems, and associated maintenance procedures, thereby reducing installation and maintenance time while preserving system optimization.
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 system provides effective fire suppression with reduced risk of system malfunctions and material corrosion, while consolidating installation and maintenance efforts, and offers enhanced fire protection through the use of a waterless fire suppression agent.
Implementation Method 1
a chiller connected to the piping; a fan coil unit connected to the network of piping, wherein the fan coil unit includes a coil for passage of the heat exchange fluid chilled by the chiller
Implementation Method 2
a fan for movement of air over the coil in order to transfer heat from the air to the heat exchange fluid in the coil
Implementation Method 3
transfer heat from the air to the heat exchange fluid in the coil
Implementation Method 4
utilizing a clean agent, such as halocarbon fire suppression agents, as the heat exchange fluid within the HVAC apparatus, which evaporates to form fire-suppressing gases
Implementation Method 5
The refrigeration system may be a vapour compression type refrigeration system
Data Source
AI summary
A combined HVAC and fire suppression system includes a HVAC apparatus and a fluid outlet for release of heat exchange fluid into a discharge plenum of the HVAC system. The heat exchange fluid is a clean agent, such that release of the heat exchange fluid into the discharge plenum provides a fire suppressant effect for a conditioned space. The HVAC apparatus includes a network of piping holding a heat exchange fluid and arranged for chilling the heat exchange fluid via a chiller connected to the piping; a fan coil unit connected to the network of piping, the fan coil unit includes a coil for passage of the heat exchange fluid chilled by the chiller, a fan for movement of air over the coil in order to transfer heat from the air to the heat exchange fluid in the coil, and the discharge plenum.