Man-rated fire suppression system and related methods

• US 20060278409A1
• Filed: 04/21/2006
• Published: 12/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alliant Techsystems Incorporated (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Inventors: Truitt, Richard M., Rozanski, James D., Lund, Gary K., Sampson, William P., Blau, Reed J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,408,322 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 169/26
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 13/22 with incendiary substances producing pressure gas
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 5/006 Extinguishants produced by combustion
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 99/0018 using gases or vapours that do not support combustion, e.g. steam, carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: A62D 1/06 containing gas-producing, chemically-reactive components

Abstract

A fire suppression system for producing an inert gas mixture having a minimal amount of carbon monoxide, particulates, or smoke. The inert gas mixture may be generated by combusting a gas generant. The gas generant may be a composition that includes hexa(ammine)-cobalt(III)-nitrate. The fire suppression system also includes a heat management system to reduce a temperature of the inert gas mixture. In one embodiment, the system includes multiple gas generators and is configured to ignite the respective gas generant of each gas generator in a predetermined, time based sequential order. For example, the gas generant of each gas generator may be ignited in a sequential order at specified time intervals. Methods of extinguishing fires are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A fire suppression system comprising:

at least two gas generators, each gas generator having a solid gas generant composition and configured to generate a flow of gas into a defined space upon ignition of their respective solid gas generant compositions, wherein the at least two gas generators are configured to ignite their respective gas generant compositions in a predetermined, time-ordered sequence.

2. The fire suppression system of claim 1, wherein the at least two gas generators are disposed within a common tower structure.

3. The fire suppression system of claim 1, wherein a first gas generator of the at least two gas generators is disposed within a first tower structure, and wherein a second gas generator of the at least two gas generators is disposed within a second tower structure.

4. The fire suppression system of claim 1, wherein the gas generant composition of a first gas generator of the at least two gas generator is ignited at a first time and the gas generant composition of a second gas generator of the at least two gas generators is ignited at a second time approximately 1.5 seconds to approximately 2.5 seconds subsequent the first time.

5. The fire suppression system of claim 4, wherein the gas generant compositions of any remaining gas generators of the at least two gas generators are ignited at sequential intervals of approximately 1.5 seconds to approximately 2.5 seconds subsequent the second time.

6. The fire suppression system of claim 1, wherein the gas generant composition comprises hexa(ammine)cobalt(III)-nitrate (HACN) with less than approximately 0.1% charcoal.

7. The fire suppression system of claim 6, wherein the HACN is unrecrystallized.

8. The fire suppression system of claim 6, wherein the solid gas generant composition further comprises cuprous oxide (Cu₂O) and a polyacrylamide binder.

9. The fire suppression system of claim 8, wherein the solid gas generant composition further comprises a plurality of chopped fibers.

10. The fire suppression system of claim 1, wherein the solid gas generant composition is formed as at least one pellet having a first end surface and a second, opposing end surface, and wherein at least one surface feature is defined in the first end surface and configured to define an air gap between the end surface and a structure disposed adjacent the first end surface.

11. A method of suppressing a fire in a defined space, the method comprising;

providing a plurality of gas generators, each having a solid gas generant composition;

arranging the plurality of gas generators within the defined space; and

igniting the gas generant composition of each gas generator in a predetermined time-based sequence.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein igniting the gas generant composition of each gas generator in a predetermined time-based sequence further includes igniting the gas generant composition of a first gas generator at a first time and sequentially igniting the gas generant compositions of remaining gas generators at approximately 1.5 to approximately 2.5 second intervals subsequent the first time.

13. The method according to claim 11, further comprising providing the solid gas generant as a composition including hexa(ammine)cobalt(III)-nitrate (HACN).

14. The method according to claim 11, further comprising providing the solid gas generant composition as a composition including less than approximately 0.1% charcoal.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising providing the HACN as unrecrystallized HACN.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising providing the solid gas generant composition as a composition including cuprous oxide (Cu₂O) and a polyacrylamide binder.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising providing the solid gas generant composition as a composition including a plurality of chopped fibers.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising forming the solid gas generant composition of each gas generator as a plurality of stacked pellets.

19. The method according to claim 18, further comprising defining an air gap between adjacent pellets of the plurality of stacked pellets.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein defining an air gap includes forming at least one surface feature in an end surface of each of the plurality of pellets.