Vehicle Yard Fire Mist Layout for Adjacent Fire Containment

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional fire protection systems are inadequate for open-air warehouses, failing to effectively contain and suppress fires in adjacent vehicles before the fire department arrives, leading to extensive damage and financial loss.

Innovation Solution

A fire protection system with a pipeline network between adjacent storage spaces that directs non-flammable fluid mist from bottom to top, cooling adjacent vehicles and preventing fire spread by using control valves and outlet valves to target fluid mist application based on fire detection and temperature classification.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional sprinkler systems are used for overhead watering in open-air warehouses, then fire suppression is possible, but the systems are not suitable for uncovered storage areas and cannot effectively contain fires in multiple storage spaces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefire suppression effectivenessVSAvoidsuitability for open-air warehouses
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the warehouse into multiple independently controllable storage space sections, each with its own fire detection and suppression control. This segmentation allows targeted fire containment in affected areas while leaving other sections operational, resolving the contradiction by making the system adaptable to open-air multi-space warehouses while maintaining reliable fire suppression through localized response capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Area of stationary object

If vehicles are parked close together to maximize space utilization, then space efficiency improves, but fire spreads rapidly from one vehicle to adjacent vehicles before the fire department arrives

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespace utilizationVSAvoidfire spread time
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection and automatic suppression activation before fire spreads between vehicles. Fire detectors continuously monitor for incipient fires, and upon detection, the system immediately activates water mist suppression at the affected location, preventing fire spread to adjacent vehicles parked in close proximity. This preliminary action resolves the contradiction by enabling rapid response that maintains both high space utilization and fire containment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If the fire department responds to fires in parking yards, then professional firefighting is provided, but valuable time is lost during situation assessment and water supply establishment while fire heats up adjacent vehicles

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprofessional firefighting responseVSAvoidresponse time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides self-service fire suppression by automatically detecting fires and activating water mist suppression without requiring fire department intervention for the initial response. The automatic system acts immediately upon fire detection, eliminating the time loss associated with human assessment and manual water supply establishment, while still allowing fire department arrival for subsequent professional firefighting operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Reliability

If water is applied to cool adjacent vehicles to prevent fire spread, then fire containment improves, but excessive water application can cause damage and waste

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefire containmentVSAvoidwater consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies water mist locally only to the specific storage space section where fire is detected, rather than applying water broadly to all adjacent areas. This localized application maintains effective fire containment through targeted cooling of threatened vehicles while minimizing unnecessary water consumption and potential water-related damage to vehicles not in immediate danger.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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

Effectively delays and prevents fire spread to neighboring vehicles by cooling adjacent vehicle sides and redirecting thermal energy, providing a frost-proof and efficient fire protection measure until professional firefighting can commence.

Implementation Method 1

Detecting a burning vehicle and locating the affected parking space

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal radiation detection: Thermal Radiation

Implementation Method 2

using non-flammable fluid mist nozzles to direct fluid mist from bottom to top, cooling adjacent vehicles

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEvaporative cooling: Evaporative Cooler

Implementation Method 3

direct fluid mist from bottom to top, cooling adjacent vehicles

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection cooling: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP4429781B1Fire protection system and method for the operation thereof
Publication Date: 2026.04.22 STADTWERKE BONN VERKEHRS
  • EP4429781B1 patent drawingFigure 1a
  • EP4429781B1 patent drawingFigure 1b
  • EP4429781B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The invention relates to a fire protection system (1) and to a method for the operation thereof. According to the invention, the fire protection system (1) is provided for a storage yard having mutually adjacent storage places (3A, 3B, 3C, 3D) for vehicles (4) and is equipped with: - a fire detector (5) for monitoring at least a portion of the mutually adjacent storage places (3A, 3B, 3C, 3D) and for detecting a fire (2) in the monitored region; - a pipe system (6) which, for each pair of mutually adjacent storage places (3A, 3B, 3C, 3D), has at least one pipe (8A, 8B, 8C, 8D, 8E) running between the pair of mutually adjacent storage places in question in the longitudinal direction of the storage places, said pipe being provided for transporting a non-combustible fluid, wherein the pipes (8A, 8B, 8C, 8D, 8E) each have a control valve (11) for controlling the fluid transport and an outlet valve (9) for emitting a fluid mist (10) upward into the region between the mutually adjacent storage places (8A, 8B, 8C, 8D, 8E); and - a control unit (12) for controlling the control valves (11) and the outlet valves (9) in accordance with a fire detected by the fire detector (5) in the region monitored by the fire detector. In this way, a fire protection system (1) is provided which, also for non-covered storage places, allows automatic locating of fire and targeted fire protection action directly at the fire incident in order to gain time for the preparation of extinguishing actions.