Two-Step Self-Regulating Valve for Fire Suppression Overpressure Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inert gas fire suppression systems face challenges in delivering high-pressure gas without causing overpressure in protected rooms, which can damage equipment and pose health risks, and require complex and costly control systems to manage gas release effectively.
Innovation Solution
A two-step, self-regulating valve system that controls gas flow by a piston and plug mechanism, allowing for a controlled and uniform pressure release to prevent overpressure while ensuring sufficient gas delivery within the required time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If inert gas is released quickly to suppress fire within one minute, then fire suppression effectiveness is improved, but overpressure in the protected room increases causing equipment damage
Solution Approach 1:
The gas release valve implements periodic action by opening in two distinct steps: first opening partially to allow controlled initial gas flow, then fully opening after a predetermined time delay. This staged approach distributes the gas delivery over time, preventing sudden overpressure while ensuring complete gas discharge within the required one-minute fire suppression window.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve performs preliminary action by opening partially before full gas delivery begins. This initial partial opening allows a controlled amount of gas to enter the protected room first, gradually building pressure and preventing the harmful sudden overpressure that would occur with immediate full opening, while still maintaining overall productivity within the time constraint.
2Volume of stationary object
If high pressure (100 bar) is used to reduce storage vessel volume, then storage efficiency is improved, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The gas release valve implements self-service by using the stored gas pressure itself to drive the timing mechanism and valve opening sequence. The pressure differential between the high-pressure storage vessel and the protected room automatically triggers the two-step opening sequence without requiring external power sources, control systems, or complex mechanical actuation mechanisms, thereby maintaining high storage efficiency while minimizing system complexity.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If closed-loop servo valve is used to throttle gas flow uniformly, then overpressure prevention is improved, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the complex closed-loop control system from the gas release mechanism. Instead of using servo valves with sensors, controllers, and feedback loops, the patent employs a simple mechanical two-step valve that achieves uniform overpressure prevention through its inherent staged opening design, significantly reducing system complexity and cost while maintaining effective overpressure control.
Solution Approach 2:
The gas release valve uses a simple, inexpensive mechanical timing mechanism with a predetermined time delay instead of expensive electronic control systems. This straightforward mechanical approach, while less sophisticated, reliably achieves the required uniform gas delivery and overpressure prevention without the high initial and maintaining costs associated with closed-loop servo control systems.
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 valve system ensures a controlled and uniform release of inert gas, preventing overpressure and ensuring effective fire suppression without damaging equipment or posing health risks, thereby reducing system complexity and costs.
Implementation Method 1
When a gas pressure in the gas cylinder is less than a setpoint, the piston actuator causes the piston to move from the first position to the second position
Data Source
AI summary
A two-step, self-regulating valve (16) controls gas flow from a gas cylinder (12) in a high pressure system. The valve (16) includes a valve body (24), a piston (26), a plug (28), a valve actuator (34), and a piston actuator (32). The piston (26) is movable within the valve body (24) along an axis between a first and a second position. The plug (28) is movable within the valve body (24) along the axis between a valve closed position, a partially open position, and a fully open position. The valve actuator (34) allows the plug (28) to move from the valve closed position to the partially open position. The piston actuator (32) causes the piston (26) to move from the first position to the second position when a gas pressure in the gas cylinder (12) is less than a setpoint. When the piston (26) moves to the second position, the piston (26) allows the plug (28) to move from the partially open position to the fully open position.