Sprinkler Piping Drying With Controlled Airflow Against Corrosion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fire suppression sprinkler systems are prone to microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC), oxidative corrosion, and scaling due to stagnant water, which can lead to leaks and blockages, even in 'dry' systems, as bacteria and minerals react with pipes and water, causing damage and inhibiting proper discharge during fires.
Innovation Solution
A dry type fire suppression sprinkler system with a piping network that uses an air vent and air pump to maintain ambient air flow through the network, combined with a dryer to remove moisture, preventing microbial growth and corrosion, and controlling air flow with flow restrictors to ensure continuous drying and inhibit scaling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If water is present in the piping network, then the system can suppress fires effectively, but microbiologically influenced corrosion, oxidative corrosion, and scaling occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between wet and dry states. During normal operation, the system maintains a dry state to prevent corrosion. When fire detection occurs, the system transitions to a wet state by opening the supply valve to allow water flow for fire suppression. This dynamic state change resolves the contradiction by having the system adapt its water presence based on operational requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The air pump operates periodically to circulate air through the piping network, and the system performs periodic draining to remove residual water. This periodic action helps maintain the piping in a dry state between fire events, preventing corrosion while preserving the ability to quickly respond to fires when needed.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the piping network is kept dry to prevent corrosion, then MIC and scaling are mitigated, but the system cannot respond to fires
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-positioning water in the supply source and pre-configuring the air circulation system. The air pump is ready to circulate air through the piping, and the supply valve is positioned to quickly open and fill the piping with water when fire detection occurs. This preliminary preparation allows rapid transition from dry to wet state without compromising fire response capability.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If air circulation is increased to dry the network more effectively, then corrosion is reduced, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The air pump operates periodically rather than continuously, circulating air through the piping network at intervals to maintain a dry environment. This periodic operation achieves effective corrosion prevention by regularly removing moisture while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous air circulation.
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 mitigates MIC, oxidative corrosion, and scaling by maintaining a dry environment within the piping network, preventing bacterial growth and mineral deposits, ensuring reliable water discharge during fires and reducing maintenance needs.
Implementation Method 1
The air pump moves ambient air through at least a portion of the piping network through the air vent
Implementation Method 2
The dryer removes moisture from air drawn through the air vent by the vacuum pump
Implementation Method 3
The flow restrictor may comprise an orifice, a throttle valve, a venture or other device which restricts fluid flow
Data Source
AI summary
A sprinkler system and a method for mitigating scaling, microbiological influenced corrosion and oxidative corrosion are disclosed. The system includes a piping network in fluid communication with a source of pressurized water and an air pump. The network is vented to the ambient. The air pump moves initially dry ambient air through the system, either by maintaining a negative or a positive air pressure within the network. The dry air absorbs residual water within the network and exhausts it to the ambient. Rate of air flow through the system is controlled by restrictor elements such as orifices, throttle valves or venturies within the piping network.