Single-Regulator Fire Suppressant Distribution for Sensitive Assets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fire suppression systems using water as a suppressant can damage sensitive objects such as electronics and books, and specialized chemical suppressants are costly and require multiple pressure regulators, increasing system complexity and cost.
Innovation Solution
A fire suppression system with multiple cylinders of suppressant connected to a single pressure regulator, reducing pressure downstream, and a controller to selectively distribute suppressant to hazards, using chemical agents that minimize damage and reduce system components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple pressure regulators are used for specialized chemical suppressants, then the fire suppression effectiveness is improved, but the system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple pressure regulation functions into a single pressure regulator that can serve multiple suppressant containers. This consolidation reduces the number of separate pressure regulator components while maintaining the ability to effectively suppress fires through multiple chemical agents, thereby reducing system complexity without sacrificing fire suppression effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The single pressure regulator is designed with universal functionality to regulate pressure for multiple different suppressant containers simultaneously. This multi-functional design allows one pressure regulator to perform the work of multiple specialized regulators, reducing component count and system complexity while maintaining effective fire suppression capability
2Reliability
If water is used as fire suppressant, then the fire suppression capability is improved, but damage to sensitive objects occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the fire suppressant by using specialized chemical agents instead of water. These chemical suppressants have different physical properties that allow them to suppress fires without causing damage to sensitive objects such as electronics and books, while maintaining effective fire suppression capability
3Object-affected harmful factors
If specialized chemical suppressants are used, then the protection of sensitive objects is improved, but the cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
By merging multiple suppressant containers into a single system with one pressure regulator, the patent reduces the overall quantity of specialized chemical suppressant material needed while maintaining the protective capability against sensitive objects. This consolidation can reduce system cost while preserving the benefits of using specialized chemicals
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 suppresses fires while protecting sensitive objects and reduces system complexity and cost by using a single pressure regulator and controller, ensuring efficient distribution of suppressants.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure regulator fluidly coupled to the conduit and configured to receive the fire suppressant from the conduit at a first pressure and supply the fire suppressant at a second pressure lower than the first pressure
Data Source
AI summary
A fire suppression system includes a first suppressant container and a second suppressant container each containing fire suppressant, a conduit fluidly coupled to the first suppressant container and the second suppressant container, a pressure regulator fluidly coupled to the conduit and configured to receive the fire suppressant from the conduit at a first pressure and supply the fire suppressant at a second pressure lower than the first pressure, and a valve fluidly coupled to the pressure regulator and configured to selectively supply the fire suppressant to a hazard.