Inflatable Dry Curtain for Blast Containment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing containment solutions for high-risk processes involving toxic or radioactive substances and explosions face challenges such as decreasing effectiveness over time, limited autonomy, and significant implementation time, particularly in ensuring the integrity of buildings during and after explosions.

Innovation Solution

A dry curtain system designed to deploy quickly and independently, resistant to shock waves, fragments, and building deformation, utilizing a woven technical fabric with sealing layers and horizontal stiffeners, and optionally activated by pyrotechnic or electric actuators, to reconfine discharge zones and limit emissions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a water curtain is used for containment, then containment effectiveness is improved, but the system requires continuous water supply and has limited autonomy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontainment effectivenessVSAvoidcontinuous water supply requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the water-based containment system with a mechanical inflatable barrier system. The inflatable curtain uses gas pressure to maintain its containment function, eliminating the need for continuous water supply while maintaining effective containment of toxic or radioactive substances during and after explosions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The inflatable curtain system is designed to be self-sufficient once deployed. The airbag structure maintains its containment function through internal gas pressure without requiring external water supply or continuous maintenance, providing autonomous operation for an extended period after deployment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If mobile doors are used for re-containment, then containment is achieved, but significant implementation time is required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvere-containment capabilityVSAvoidimplementation time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The inflatable curtain is pre-positioned in a compact state within the building structure, ready for rapid deployment. When an explosion is detected, the system immediately inflates the pre-positioned curtain to create containment, eliminating the time required for manual door operation or assembly during the critical post-explosion period.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses pneumatic inflation to rapidly deploy the containment barrier. Compressed gas is introduced into the airbag structure, causing it to expand quickly and form a sealed containment curtain around the discharge zone, achieving re-containment in a fraction of the time required by mechanical door systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

3Strength

If traditional containment structures are used, then building integrity is maintained, but the structure cannot withstand explosion forces without collapse

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebuilding integrityVSAvoidexplosion resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs an inflatable curtain made of flexible membrane material that can withstand explosion forces. The thin-walled airbag structure is designed to expand and absorb explosion energy, creating a flexible containment barrier that protects the building interior from external explosions while maintaining structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The containment system changes its physical state from a compact stored configuration to an expanded inflated configuration. This parameter change allows the same structure to occupy minimal space during normal operation and provide full containment coverage when activated, adapting to the explosive event dynamics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 dry curtain system provides rapid, efficient, and reliable containment with minimal energy input, maintaining building integrity and reducing harmful emissions, functioning autonomously without continuous water supply or maintenance.

Implementation Method 1

the envelope adapted to release and deploy the curtain in response to the overpressure wave emitted by the explosion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOverpressure wave: Shock Wave

Implementation Method 2

release the curtain capable of unfold under the sole action of gravity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Implementation Method 3

making it possible to place the building under negative pressure after the explosion so as to press the curtain against a frame of the opening

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNegative pressure: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentEP2935749B1Building with a protection device with a curtain

Publication Date: 2017.11.15 ARIANEGRP SAS

Figure 1A
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Figure 2A

AI summary

The subject of the invention is a blast containment device characterized in that it comprises a dry curtain (3, 27) of dimensions greater than the dimensions of a discharge area to be contained, formed by an opening in a building, such as a door for example, said curtain deploying in response to a pressure wave emitted by an explosion. Advantageously, the curtain (3, 27) is contained in a casing (1, 26) and released from the casing and deployed in response to the pressure wave emitted by the explosion.