Gas-Isolated Storage Grid With Low-Oxygen Fire Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Automated storage and retrieval systems face significant risks of fire due to high electric power and acceleration of container handling vehicles, which can create friction and sparks, and existing fire prevention methods are inadequate, with oxygen reduction solutions being energy-intensive and harmful to human workers.
Innovation Solution
A storage facility with a gas-isolated environment that regulates oxygen concentration to reduce the risk of fire, using a gas regulating device to lower oxygen levels to 16% or less, combined with a fire extinguishing system and cooling facilities to maintain a safe atmosphere.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If oxygen concentration is reduced to prevent fire, then fire risk is reduced, but energy consumption increases and human workers are harmed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies inert atmosphere by introducing nitrogen gas into the storage space to displace oxygen, creating an oxygen-deficient environment (16% or less) that prevents fire while maintaining operational safety. This resolves the contradiction by providing fire protection through chemical environment modification rather than energy-intensive methods, and by keeping oxygen levels above the harmful threshold for human workers through controlled gas regulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the oxygen concentration parameter from atmospheric levels (21%) to a controlled range (16% or less) through gas regulation. This parameter change reduces fire risk while maintaining conditions safe for human operation, avoiding both complete oxygen removal (which would harm workers) and atmospheric levels (which would allow fire).
2Reliability
If fire prevention measures are implemented, then safety is improved, but operational efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-establishing the oxygen-deficient atmosphere before storage operations begin and maintaining it continuously. This preliminary safety measure does not interfere with subsequent operational efficiency because the gas regulation system operates autonomously and the modified atmosphere supports normal container handling vehicle operations without requiring additional safety procedures during operations.
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
Significantly reduces the risk of fire within the storage system while maintaining operational efficiency, allowing safe long-term storage of biological species and fresh food without frequent exposure to atmospheric air.
Implementation Method 1
A storage facility with a gas-isolated environment that regulates oxygen concentration to reduce the risk of fire, using a gas regulating device to lower oxygen levels to 16% or less
Implementation Method 2
combined with a fire extinguishing system and cooling facilities to maintain a safe atmosphere
Implementation Method 3
combined with a fire extinguishing system and cooling facilities to maintain a safe atmosphere
Data Source
AI summary
A storage facility includes a storage space, a container handling vehicle, a first upper vehicle support, a first lower vehicle support, a container delivery vehicle, a transit space, and a first separation wall. The storage space encloses a storage and retrieval system including a storage grid configured to store a plurality of storage containers in vertical stacks. The first upper vehicle support extends in an upper horizontal plane above the storage grid. The container handling vehicle is configured: to transport at least one of the plurality of storage containers by a wheel arrangement between at least two locations on the first upper vehicle support; and to vertically displace the at least one storage container by a lifting device. The first lower vehicle support extends in a lower horizontal plane below the first upper vehicle support. The container delivery vehicle operates within a lower section of the storage space above the first lower vehicle support. The container delivery vehicle is configured to receive the at least one storage container from the container handling vehicle and to transport the at least one storage container between at least two locations on the first lower vehicle support by a wheel arrangement. The transit space includes a second lower vehicle support extending in the lower horizontal plane and arranged relative to the first lower vehicle support such that the container delivery vehicle may move between the lower section of the storage space and a lower section of the transit space. The first separation wall separates the storage space and the transit space. The first separation wall includes: a first lower opening sized and positioned to allow the container delivery vehicle to pass through between the lower section of the storage space and the lower section of the transit space; and a first lower closable gate configured to open and close the first lower opening.