Water Mist Head Plate Preventing Spray Collapse

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Solution Overview

Problem

Water mist heads mounted at a distance from ceilings or walls in fire fighting systems experience spray pattern collapse due to air being pulled along, resulting in reduced coverage area and the need for more heads to achieve sufficient fire protection.

Innovation Solution

A water mist head design featuring a nozzle part with spray nozzles connected to a fire suppressant source and a plate with a substantially plane part positioned between the nozzle part and the ceiling or wall, preventing air from being pulled along and maintaining the intended spray pattern, even when mounted at least 15 cm away from the ceiling or wall.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If water mist heads are mounted at a distance from the ceiling to avoid obstructions, then ease of operation is improved, but spray pattern stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting position flexibilityVSAvoidspray pattern stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

A plate is introduced as an intermediary element between the water mist head and the ceiling. This plate serves as a mediator that blocks the airflow path from the spray to the ceiling, preventing the ceiling from disrupting the spray pattern while allowing the water mist head to be mounted at a greater distance for operational flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The plate is positioned in advance to counteract the harmful airflow effect before it can collapse the spray pattern. By placing the plate between the spray and the ceiling, the system preemptively prevents the air being pulled along by the spray from reaching the ceiling and causing pattern distortion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

2Stability of the object's composition

If water mist heads are mounted close to the ceiling for optimal spray pattern, then spray pattern stability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to obstructions from lamps and pipes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespray pattern stabilityVSAvoidmounting position flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The plate acts as a mediator that enables the water mist head to be mounted away from the ceiling by blocking the harmful interaction between the spray and the ceiling, thus resolving the conflict between mounting flexibility and spray stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system is segmented into three distinct components: the water mist head, the intermediate plate, and the ceiling. This segmentation allows each component to fulfill its specific function - the plate being the intermediate element that enables distance mounting while maintaining spray stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Area of stationary object

If multiple water mist heads are used to cover larger area, then coverage area is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoverage areaVSAvoidnumber of water mist heads
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The plate changes the airflow parameters by blocking the path to the ceiling, which prevents spray collapse and maintains a wider, more stable spray pattern. This parameter change in airflow behavior allows each water mist head to cover a larger area effectively.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The plate converts the potentially harmful effect of distance mounting (which would normally cause spray collapse) into a benefit by using the plate itself as a flow control element that stabilizes the spray pattern and actually improves coverage area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 solution allows for a larger coverage area with fewer water mist heads, ensuring efficient fire suppression by maintaining the designed spray pattern and preventing collapse, enabling precise positioning based on fire location and avoiding obstructions.

Implementation Method 1

a nozzle part (2) comprising a plurality of spray nozzles (3), each being adapted to produce a spray (4) of fire suppressant

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid flow:

Implementation Method 2

The sprays tend to 'collapse' in such a manner that the resulting spray pattern is more directional

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 3

A spray generated by a nozzle tends to pull air along the direction of the spray

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAir entrainment: Entrainment

Implementation Method 4

the plate (6) comprising an at least plane part, said plate being arranged between the nozzle part (2) and the ceiling or wall

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFlow separation: Flow Separation

Data Source

PatentEP2227298B1A water mist head for a fire fighting system
Publication Date: 2014.08.06 SEM SAFE FIRE SAFETY AS
  • EP2227298B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2227298B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2227298B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A water mist head (1) for a fire fighting system, the water mist head (1) being mounted at least 15 cm from a ceiling (5) or a wall (10). The water mist head (1) comprises a nozzle part (2) comprising a plurality of nozzles (3), and a plate (6) comprising an at least substantially plane part (7). The plate (6) is arranged between the nozzle part (2) and the ceiling (5) or wall (10), preferably adjacent to the nozzle part (2). The plate (6) prevents the sprays (4) produced by the nozzles (3) from pulling air along. Thereby it is prevented that the sprays (4) 'collapse', and a more diverted spray pattern is obtained, the water mist head (1) thereby being capable of covering a larger area. Thus, the plate (6) creates an effect similar to that of a ceiling or wall arranged adjacent to or near the nozzle part (2).