Smoke Generator for Open Fire Extinguishing System Testing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for testing open fire extinguishing systems, such as deluge systems, are costly, complex, and can lead to corrosion and blockages due to seawater use, requiring shutdowns and potentially dangerous clogging issues.
Innovation Solution
A smoke and/or mist generator system that produces a high optical smoke density and flow rate, allowing for the testing of spray heads without water, which prevents solid particles from entering and enables inspection of spray head functionality and direction without shutting down installations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If seawater is used for testing fire extinguishing systems, then the testing can be performed with readily available water source, but corrosion and blockages occur due to salt and solid particles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces air as an intermediary medium to transfer smoke through the fire extinguishing system during testing. This replaces seawater as the testing medium, eliminating corrosion from salt and blockage from solid particles while maintaining the ability to test spray head functionality. The air-smoke mixture serves as a harmless carrier that reveals system performance without causing damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state and properties of the testing medium from liquid (seawater) to gas (air with smoke). This parameter change from liquid to gas phase eliminates the harmful effects of salt corrosion and solid particle blockage, while the smoke component provides visibility to assess spray head performance.
2Reliability
If traditional water testing is performed, then spray head functionality can be verified, but installations must be shut down which is expensive and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables continuous operation of installations during testing by using air-smoke instead of water. The fire extinguishing system can be tested while the installation remains operational, eliminating the need for shutdowns. The smoke provides visible indication of spray head functionality without requiring system cessation.
3Reliability
If seawater testing is conducted, then system operation can be tested, but collected extinguishing agent requires recycling and purification which increases complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful elements (salt, solid particles) from the testing medium by replacing seawater with air-smoke. This eliminates the need for recycling and purification systems, as the air-smoke mixture can be easily dispersed without requiring complex treatment infrastructure.
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
Enables effective testing of open fire extinguishing systems without the need for shutdowns, reducing corrosion risks and allowing for the identification of clogged or misaligned spray heads, ensuring system functionality and effectiveness while preventing solid particle entry.
Implementation Method 1
a smoke and/or mist generator... in which the exiting smoke has an optical smoke density of at least 10 m−1
Data Source
AI summary
An installation for testing open fire extinguishing systems includes a smoke and/or mist generator and a connecting conduit suitable and dedicated for being connected to a fire fighting system. A method for testing of fire extinguishing systems has the following steps performed in any suitable order: a) providing an installation for the generation of smoke and/or mist, b) connecting a conduit of the installation to a conduit of a first section of a preferably open fire extinguishing system, c) opening a valve which provides a connection between the first section of the fire fighting system and the connecting conduit of the installation, d) turning on the smoke and/or mist generator, such that, by the exiting of the smoke and/or mist, the spray heads of the first section of the fire extinguishing system can be inspected on their openness, e) repeating steps b-d for any further section of the fire extinguishing system.