Suppressant Container Pressurization Without Mechanical Mixing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing firefighting suppression systems require mechanized mixing for onsite filling and pressurization of liquid suppressants like Novec 1230, which is logistically complex and requires accurate weighing scales, making it difficult to measure nitrogen accurately and prone to equipment damage.

Innovation Solution

A method and system where nitrogen is first pressurized to a predetermined pressure within a container, followed by the addition of liquid suppressant, eliminating the need for mechanized mixing by monitoring the head space pressure to achieve a stable operational pressure without the use of weigh scales.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If mechanized mixing is used to saturate Novec 1230 with nitrogen gas, then the container head space pressure becomes stable, but the device complexity and logistic requirements increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehead space pressure stabilityVSAvoidmechanical mixer requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the mechanical mixer from the system entirely. Instead of using complex mechanized mixing equipment to saturate the Novec 1230 with nitrogen gas, the method relies on natural diffusion and dissolution processes. The container is simply agitated manually or left undisturbed, allowing the nitrogen to dissolve into the liquid suppressant without any mechanical mixing apparatus, thereby eliminating the associated complexity and logistic requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system allows the Novec 1230 and nitrogen gas mixture to self-saturate without external mechanical intervention. The natural dissolution process occurs spontaneously when the container is filled and pressurized, and the system reaches equilibrium on its own. This self-service approach eliminates the need for complex mechanized mixing equipment while still achieving the desired saturation and pressure stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Measurement precision

If accurate weighing scales are used to measure nitrogen gas during filling, then the saturation precision improves, but the equipment vulnerability to damage increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenitrogen weight measurementVSAvoidscale damage from shock

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical weighing scale system with a pressure-based measurement system. Instead of using scales to measure the weight of nitrogen gas added to the container, the method uses pressure gauges to monitor the head space pressure. This substitution eliminates the fragile mechanical weighing equipment that is vulnerable to shock and damage during transportation, while still providing sufficient measurement capability to achieve proper saturation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of manufacture

If liquid suppressant is added first then pressurized with nitrogen gas, then the filling process follows conventional sequence, but excessive fluctuations in weigh scale read out occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefilling process sequenceVSAvoidweigh scale read out stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional filling sequence. Instead of adding liquid suppressant first and then pressurizing with nitrogen gas, the method first pressurizes the container with nitrogen gas to create a pressurized atmosphere, and then adds the liquid suppressant. This reversal eliminates the problem of liquid movement causing weigh scale fluctuations, as the pressure measurement is taken from the gas phase rather than attempting to weigh the liquid during transfer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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

This approach reduces the complexity and time required for filling and pressurizing containers, ensuring stable head space pressure over several days without the need for mechanized mixing and minimizing equipment damage.

Implementation Method 1

Agitation causes some of the nitrogen to dissolve into the liquid Novec 1230, which causes the pressure to drop in the container

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDissolution: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 2

Known firefighting suppression systems employ a liquid suppressant that is vaporized to extinguish a fire. The vaporized suppressant extinguishes the fire principally by heat absorption

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVaporization: Evaporation

Data Source

PatentUS11045673B2Methods and system for filling a suppressant container

Publication Date: 2021.06.29 TYCO BUILDING SERVICES PROD LTD

AI summary

Systems and methods for filling and pressurizing a container with liquid suppressant and nitrogen gas. A pressurized receiving container of nitrogen gas is provided at a predetermined gas pressure and liquid suppressant is added to the pressurized receiving container. The predetermined gas pressure provides a sufficient amount of nitrogen to saturate the added liquid suppressant and provide an operative head space pressure within the receiving container without the need for mechanized mixing.