Rotatable Spray Head Fire Suppression With Low-Water Watermist
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Solution Overview
Problem
Alternative fire suppression systems face limitations due to their low water usage, which restricts their equivalence to conventional sprinkler systems in terms of fire performance, leading to regulatory challenges and reduced market acceptance.
Innovation Solution
A wall-mountable spray head unit with a rotatable assembly and thermal sensors that can selectively activate and target fire suppressant material, allowing for equivalent performance to conventional sprinkler systems while minimizing water consumption and damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If alternative fire suppression systems use low water flow rates, then water damage is reduced and installation cost is decreased, but fire suppression performance becomes insufficient compared to conventional sprinkler systems
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the parameters of water delivery by using high-pressure pumps to generate watermist (fine water droplets) at low flow rates (5.6 litres per minute), transforming the physical state and delivery mechanism of water to achieve effective fire suppression with minimal water consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces the traditional mechanical gravity-based sprinkler system with an electronically controlled high-pressure pump system that uses sensors and motors to actively target and suppress fires, substituting passive mechanical operation with active electronic control
2Ease of manufacture
If alternative fire suppression systems are designed differently from conventional sprinklers, then installation is easier and less disruptive, but regulatory approval becomes difficult due to lack of equivalence to established standards
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates thermal sensors and pyrometers that continuously monitor temperature and provide feedback to the control system, enabling automatic detection and targeting of fires, which demonstrates measurable performance equivalence to conventional systems for regulatory purposes
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs multiple functions within a single integrated unit: detection (thermal sensors), calculation (microcontroller), suppression (high-pressure watermist delivery), and communication (WiFi module), making it a versatile solution that can meet various regulatory requirements across different building types
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 achieves comparable fire suppression performance to conventional sprinkler systems with reduced water usage, addressing regulatory concerns and enhancing market viability by providing a cost-effective, non-disruptive, and aesthetically superior solution.
Implementation Method 1
uses a pyrometer mounted on the rotatable head to determine the angular location of the fire
Implementation Method 2
at least one high-pressure pump in fluid communication with the spray head assembly and configured to deliver the watermist through the spray head assembly
Data Source
AI summary
A fire suppression system is shown including at least one or at least two wall-mounted spray head units capable of aiming and shooting fire suppressant liquid into a fire.