Porous Flow Diverter for Fire Hydrant Back Splash Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current flow diversion devices for testing fire hydrants and fire pumps lack portability and accuracy due to restricted access and difficulty in controlling water back splash, especially on rooftops where anchoring positions are scarce, leading to potential damage and safety concerns.
Innovation Solution
A flow suppression device composed of porous and flexible containment members, including outer and inner fabric bags with adjustable porosity and fasteners, which dissipates high-pressure fluid energy through omni-directional discharge, allowing safe and accurate flow measurements without restraints.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a traditional flow diverter is used for fire hydrant testing, then flow measurement can be performed, but the device requires restraints and anchoring to control high-pressure water discharge, reducing portability and ease of operation
Solution Approach 1:
The flow diverter is constructed from porous fabric material that allows water to pass through while containing the discharge. The porous structure dissipates water energy through friction and distribution across multiple exit points, eliminating the need for external restraints or anchoring while maintaining portability and ease of operation.
2Ease of operation
If the flow diverter size is reduced for better portability, then ease of operation improves, but control over water back splash becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The porous fabric construction allows the diverter to maintain structural integrity and water flow control even at reduced sizes. The porous structure distributes water pressure across the material matrix, preventing concentrated back splash while maintaining portability.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible fabric construction allows the diverter to conform to various surfaces and positions while maintaining water containment. The flexibility enables the material to absorb and redirect water forces without rigid structural support, effective even at small scales.
3Device complexity
If a fixed position Pitot tube is used, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision decreases due to inability to access optimal velocity pressure reading locations
Solution Approach 1:
The Pitot tube is made movable rather than fixed, allowing operators to position it at optimal locations for accurate velocity pressure readings. The movable design maintains simplicity while significantly improving measurement precision by enabling access to representative flow conditions.
4Measurement precision
If the flow diverter allows unrestricted operator access for accurate measurements, then measurement precision improves, but water back splash affecting the operator increases
Solution Approach 1:
The porous fabric contains and redirects water flow away from the operator while allowing measurement access. The material's pore structure dissipates water energy and directs flow through the fabric rather than allowing direct back splash, protecting the operator while maintaining measurement capability.
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 device effectively suppresses fluid flow, preventing damage and ensuring operator safety by reducing discharge velocities and allowing omni-directional discharge, enhancing measurement accuracy and portability while preventing back splash.
Implementation Method 1
porous and flexible construction... dissipates high-pressure fluid energy
Implementation Method 2
outer flow containment member of a porous and flexible construction... primary inner flow containment member of a porous and flexible construction
Data Source
AI summary
A flow suppression device adapted to be connected to a high pressure fluid system includes an outer flow containment member of a porous and flexible construction. The outer flow containment member has an upstream end and a downstream end opposite the upstream end. The upstream end includes an inlet opening adapted to receive a flow stream of pressurized fluid from the high pressure fluid system and the downstream end being substantially closed. The flow suppression device also includes a primary inner flow containment member of a porous and flexible construction contained within the outer flow containment member. The primary inner flow containment member has an upstream end with an inlet opening adjacent the inlet opening of the outer flow containment member and a downstream end opposite the upstream end of the primary inner flow containment member.