Inflatable Seal Member for Aircraft Cargo Bay Fire Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fire suppression systems in confined spaces, such as aircraft cargo bays, face challenges due to space and weight limitations, as well as increased agent requirements caused by airflow leakage, particularly when using onboard inert gas generating systems, which can lead to higher volumes of halogenated fire suppressants being needed, posing environmental concerns.
Innovation Solution
A fire suppression system incorporating a high pressure inert gas source and a low pressure inert gas source, connected through a distribution network, with a volume reduction system that includes a seal member to isolate volumes and reduce the amount of inert gas required, utilizing inflatable seal members to block openings and airflow leakage, thereby minimizing agent usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If halogenated fire suppressants are used, then fire suppression effectiveness is improved, but environmental harm increases due to ozone depletion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces halogenated suppressants with inert gas (nitrogen enriched air) that creates an oxygen-deficient environment to suppress fire. The OBIGGS generates nitrogen enriched air by removing oxygen from ambient air, and stored inert gas provides additional suppressant. This inert atmosphere approach eliminates ozone depletion while maintaining fire suppression effectiveness through oxygen displacement.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If onboard inert gas generating systems are incorporated, then environmental friendliness is improved, but space and weight limitations worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the OBIGGS with the stored inert gas system into an integrated fire suppression system. The distribution network delivers both generated nitrogen enriched air and stored inert gas through the same ducts to the cargo bay, merging two suppressant sources into a unified system that shares infrastructure and reduces overall complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the inert gas supply into two separate sources: OBIGGS that generates nitrogen enriched air on-demand and stored inert gas that provides immediate suppressant. This segmentation allows the system to use the appropriate source based on fire conditions while sharing the distribution network, optimizing both environmental performance and space utilization.
3Adaptability or versatility
If cargo bay volume is increased to accommodate open or slotted floors, then cargo loading flexibility is improved, but the volume of agent required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent deploys seal members to close floor openings before inert gas is released into the cargo bay. This preliminary sealing action prevents gas leakage through the slotted floor, ensuring that the generated or stored inert gas remains contained within the cargo bay volume and achieves effective oxygen displacement without requiring excessive agent quantities.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal members act as intermediaries between the cargo bay interior and the exterior environment through the slotted floor. By deploying these seals, the system creates a temporary barrier that prevents inert gas escape, allowing the fire suppression to proceed effectively despite the open floor configuration needed for cargo flexibility.
4Ease of operation
If airflow leakage within the cargo bay increases, then ventilation effectiveness is improved, but the amount of agent required to suppress fire increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary sealing of floor openings and cheek gaps before inert gas discharge. This advance preparation prevents airflow leakage pathways from compromising the fire suppression process, ensuring that the inert gas remains contained within the cargo bay and achieves effective oxygen displacement without requiring additional agent quantities to compensate for leaks.
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 effectively reduces the amount of inert gas needed to suppress fires in confined spaces by isolating volumes and blocking airflow leakage, enhancing the environmental friendliness and efficiency of fire suppression while addressing space and weight constraints.
Implementation Method 1
The seal member is selectively deployable between a first position and a second position to isolate a first volume of the confined space from a second volume of the confined space
Implementation Method 2
utilizing inflatable seal members to block openings and airflow leakage
Data Source
AI summary
A fire suppression system includes a high pressure inert gas source configured to provide a first inert gas output and a low pressure inert gas source configured to provide a second inert gas output. A distribution network is connected with the high pressure inert gas source and the low pressure inert gas source to distribute the first inert gas output and the second inert gas output throughout a confined space. A volume reduction system is positioned within the confined space and includes a seal member. The seal member is selectively deployable between a first position and a second position to isolate a first volume of the confined space from a second volume of the confined space and reduce an amount of the first inert gas output and the second inert gas output required to respond to a fire threat within the confined space.