Tunnel Firefighting Line Segmentation and Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

The high cost of designing a main extinguishing fluid line for tunnel firefighting systems due to the need for low flow resistance and sufficient fluid supply to multiple section lines, which increases costs significantly.

Innovation Solution

A fire-fighting device that localizes fires within transverse sections of a tunnel, allowing only adjacent section lines to be connected to the main extinguishing fluid line, reducing the number of lines and nozzles needed, and using check valves to prevent hydraulic short circuits, thus downsizing the main fluid line while maintaining effective firefighting capabilities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the main extinguishing fluid line is dimensioned to supply all section lines simultaneously, then sufficient extinguishing fluid can be delivered to any location, but the cost of the main extinguishing fluid line increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefirefighting effectivenessVSAvoidcost of main extinguishing fluid line
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The tunnel is divided into multiple transverse sections, and section lines are grouped into sets where each set serves a specific transverse section. This segmentation allows the system to activate only the necessary section lines for a given fire location, rather than supplying all section lines simultaneously, thereby reducing the required capacity and cost of the main extinguishing fluid line.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically connects or disconnects section lines from the main extinguishing fluid line based on the location of the fire. Using controllable valves, the system activates only the section lines adjacent to the detected fire, adapting the fluid supply configuration to the actual firefighting needs rather than maintaining a static high-capacity configuration for all possible scenarios.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Quantity of substance

If the main extinguishing fluid line is dimensioned for high flow capacity, then sufficient fluid can reach distant nozzles, but the flow resistance requirement increases the line size and cost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveextinguishing fluid flow rateVSAvoidmain extinguishing fluid line dimensioning
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of providing full extinguishing fluid flow capacity to all section lines simultaneously, the system provides sufficient flow capacity only to the section lines that are actually needed for the current fire. This partial action approach reduces the overall flow rate requirement for the main extinguishing fluid line while still meeting the firefighting needs for the localized fire scenario.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Adaptability or versatility

If all section lines are connected to the main extinguishing fluid line, then complete coverage is ensured, but the complexity of the valve system and fluid distribution increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefire coverage capabilityVSAvoidvalve and line configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the section lines into multiple sets, with each set associated with a specific transverse section of the tunnel. This segmentation reduces the number of section lines that need to be connected to the main extinguishing fluid line at any one time, simplifying the valve control system and fluid distribution network while maintaining the ability to provide complete coverage when needed across different transverse sections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2750770B1Fire fighting in tunnels
Publication Date: 2015.09.30 FOGTEC BRANDSCHUTZ GMBH & CO KG
  • EP2750770B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2750770B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2750770B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a fire fighting device designed for tunnels comprising at least one primary extinguishing fluid line 4, at least two section lines 2 connected to the primary extinguishing fluid line 4, wherein the section lines 2 are allocated to a longitudinal section A, B, C, D of a tunnel and each allocated to one of at least two cross-sections a, b, c, d sub-dividing the longitudinal section A, B, C, D, a fire localization device 16 allocating a localized fire to a cross-section a, b, c, d and a control device 6 connected to the fire localization device 16, wherein the control device 6 connects the primary extinguishing fluid line 4 to a limit selection from the section lines 2 in dependence on a fire localization.