Stationary Deflector Nozzle for Fire Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional water mist nozzles for fire suppression systems face inefficiencies in fluid distribution and require high pressure, leading to energy losses and increased fluid usage.
Innovation Solution
A water mist nozzle design featuring a stationary deflector element with a conical upper portion and radially extending flowpaths that minimize energy losses by controlling fluid flow accurately, allowing for efficient lateral and vertical distribution of the fire-extinguishing fluid, reducing the need for high pressure and fluid quantity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If conventional water mist nozzles are used, then fire suppression is achieved, but high fluid pressure is required leading to energy losses
Solution Approach 1:
The deflector element is divided into multiple flowpaths (first, second, third flowpaths) that segment the fluid flow into distinct channels. This segmentation allows controlled distribution of fluid at lower pressures by guiding flow through specific pathways with varying slope characteristics, reducing the energy loss associated with high-pressure conventional nozzles
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a dimensional aspect by creating flowpaths with varying slopes in the radial direction from the central peak. The first flowpath has a steeper slope than the second flowpath, which in turn is steeper than the third flowpath. This dimensional variation in slope allows fluid to be distributed laterally at different angles and pressures, enabling efficient fire suppression without requiring high overall system pressure
2Quantity of substance
If conventional water mist nozzles are used, then fire suppression is achieved, but increased fluid quantity is required
Solution Approach 1:
The deflector element segments fluid flow into multiple controlled pathways (first, second, third flowpaths) with different slope characteristics. This segmentation allows precise distribution of fluid quantity to different areas, improving fire extinction efficiency by directing fluid where needed without requiring increased overall fluid quantity
Solution Approach 2:
Different flowpaths have different local slope qualities - the first flowpath has a steeper slope for more vertical discharge, the second has a moderate slope, and the third has a shallower slope for more lateral discharge. This local quality variation optimizes fluid distribution patterns for different fire scenarios, achieving better fire suppression efficiency with the same or reduced fluid quantity
3Productivity
If a stationary deflector element with multiple flowpaths is used, then fluid distribution efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple flowpaths (first, second, third flowpaths with different slopes) are merged into a single integrated stationary deflector element with a central peak. This merging achieves efficient multi-directional fluid distribution through one component rather than requiring multiple separate nozzles or moving parts, improving fluid distribution efficiency without proportionally increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using moving parts or complex valve systems to control fluid distribution, the invention inverts the approach by using a stationary deflector element where the fluid flow itself navigates through predetermined pathways with varying slopes. This inversion from active control to passive geometric control achieves efficient fluid distribution while minimizing device complexity
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 design achieves efficient fire extinction with reduced fluid pressure and quantity, minimizing energy losses and enabling a reliable, cost-effective nozzle construction by eliminating moving parts and internal components.
Implementation Method 1
The fluid jet exiting the discharge nozzle impinges onto the central peak and is distributed to the environment, substantially in a lateral direction, by the plurality of flowpaths
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3a~3d
AI summary
A water mist nozzle (2) for a fire suppression system comprises a nozzle head (4) including a discharge nozzle (6) for supplying a fluid jet (12); a support structure (8); and a stationary deflector element (10). The stationary deflector element (10) is fastened to the support structure (8) and comprises a body with a substantially round outer periphery having a base portion (28) and a substantially conical upper portion (22) with a central peak (24). The substantially conical upper portion (22) provides a plurality of flowpaths (26), the flowpaths (26) extending substantially radially from a radial position close to the central peak (24) in a direction towards the outer periphery, the flowpaths (26) having at least one portion (26a, 26b, 26c) of decreasing slope, in which the slope of the bottom of the flowpaths (26) decreases along the flow direction towards the outer periphery. The stationary deflector element (10) is fastened to the support structure (8) such that the central peak (24) of the substantially conical upper portion (22) of the stationary deflector element (10) faces the discharge nozzle (6) and that the fluid jet (12) exiting the discharge nozzle (6) impinges onto the central peak (24) and is distributed to the environment, substantially in a lateral direction, through the plurality of flowpaths (26).