Sprinkler Skipping Shield Airflow Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fire protection sprinkler arrays experience inefficiency due to 'sprinkler skipping' where non-activated sprinklers adjacent to a flowing one fail to operate before those farther away from the heat source, attributed to water impingement on the thermal element, which can be caused by water from activated sprinklers or carried by the fire plume, leading to delayed response times and compromised performance.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a skipping shield with features such as holes, slots, louvers, or mesh that allow hot gas to flow while preventing water impingement on the thermal element, and alternative geometrical shapes that promote laminar or turbulent airflow, enhancing the thermal response time without impeding the sprinkler's water distribution pattern.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a solid cylindrical skipping shield is installed to prevent water impingement on the thermal element, then sprinkler skipping is prevented, but the response time of the thermal element is impeded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies porous or perforated shield material that allows hot gas to pass through while blocking water droplets. The shield contains openings or is made of porous material that permits thermal energy transfer to the thermal element while preventing water impingement, thus maintaining both response time and skipping prevention functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The shield design incorporates regions with different properties: areas with openings or perforations aligned with the thermal element to allow heat passage, and solid areas to block water. This local differentiation enables the shield to simultaneously permit thermal response while preventing water impingement on critical components.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a solid cylindrical skipping shield is installed to block water from impinging on the thermal element, then water impingement is prevented, but hot gas flow to the thermal element is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The shield utilizes porous or perforated construction that selectively blocks water droplets while permitting hot gas molecules to pass through. The opening configuration or porous structure allows thermal energy transfer while maintaining the water-blocking function, thus preventing water impingement without restricting hot gas flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The shield is segmented into regions with different permeability characteristics. Perforated or open sections are positioned to allow hot gas flow paths to the thermal element, while solid sections block water trajectories. This segmentation enables differential protection against water and gas.
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 improved skipping shield design reduces the Response Time Index (RTI) and enhances sprinkler performance in fires by ensuring timely activation of thermal elements, thereby improving the sprinkler array's efficiency and compliance with performance standards.
Implementation Method 1
water impingement is defined as (1) water flow from an activated sprinkler to an adjacent sprinkler; or (2) water droplets carried by the fire plume on to an adjacent sprinkler and impinging on that sprinklers thermal element
Implementation Method 2
The improved geometrical shape is designed in such a fashion to encourage laminar or turbulent gas flow around the shield and onto the thermal element of the sprinkler
Implementation Method 3
The improved geometrical shape is designed in such a fashion to encourage laminar or turbulent gas flow around the shield and onto the thermal element of the sprinkler
Implementation Method 4
hot gas from the fire spreads radially outward from the center, the hot gas comes in contact with the second ring of sprinklers
Implementation Method 5
As hot gas from the fire spreads radially outward from the center, the hot gas comes in contact with the second ring of sprinklers
Data Source
AI summary
A fire protection sprinkler is provided with a skipping shield having air flow passages therethrough to reduce the negative impact that the shield has on the thermal response of the sprinkler. By providing holes, slots, louvers, or mesh to the skipping shield, water from adjacent flowing sprinklers can still be blocked from impinging on the thermal element. The shield will block water but allow hot gas from the fire to flow through the shield thereby improving the response time of the thermal element.