METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DRYING SPRINKLER PIPING NETWORKS

• US 20080060215A1
• Filed: 09/07/2007
• Published: 03/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Victaulic Company
• Original Assignee: Victaulic Company
• Inventors: Reilly, William J., Blease, Kevin J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,132,629 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 34/406
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 35/62 dry, i.e. empty of extinguishing material when not in use
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 21/006 the gas supply or exhaust being effected through hollow spaces or cores in the materials or objects, e.g. tubes, pipes, bottles F26B9/003 and F26B9/103 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 5/04 by evaporation or sublimation of moisture under reduced pressure, e.g. in a vacuum F26B11/049 and F26B17/128 take precedence

Abstract

A sprinkler system and a method for mitigating scaling, microbiological influenced corrosion and oxidative corrosion are disclosed. The system includes a piping network in fluid communication with a source of pressurized water and an air pump. The network is vented to the ambient. The air pump moves initially dry ambient air through the system, either by maintaining a negative or a positive air pressure within the network. The dry air absorbs residual water within the network and exhausts it to the ambient. Rate of air flow through the system is controlled by restrictor elements such as orifices, throttle valves or venturies within the piping network.

Claims

1. A dry type fire suppression sprinkler system comprising:

a plurality of sprinkler heads;

a source of pressurized water;

a piping network connecting said sprinkler heads to said source of pressurized water, said piping network being normally substantially devoid of water;

a supply valve positioned in said piping network between said source of pressurized water and said sprinkler heads and controlling flow of water thereto, said supply valve being openable in the event of a fire allowing water to flow to said heads;

an air vent positioned in said piping network and providing fluid communication between said piping network and ambient air; and

an air pump in fluid communication with said piping network between said supply valve and said sprinkler heads, said air pump moving ambient air through at least a portion of said piping network through said air vent.

2. A sprinkler system according to claim 1, wherein said air pump comprises a vacuum pump adapted to draw ambient air into said piping network through said air vent and exhaust said ambient air back to the atmosphere.

3. A sprinkler system according to claim 2, further comprising a flow restrictor positioned within said piping network between said air vent and said vacuum pump for controlling the rate of air flow through said piping network.

4. A sprinkler system according to claim 3, wherein said flow restrictor comprises an orifice.

5. A sprinkler system according to claim 3, wherein said flow restrictor comprises a throttle valve.

6. A sprinkler system according to claim 3, wherein said flow restrictor comprises a venturi.

7. A sprinkler system according to claim 2, further comprising an orifice for controlling the rate of air flow through said piping network, said orifice comprising said air vent.

8. A sprinkler system according to claim 2, further comprising a throttle valve for controlling the rate of air flow through said piping network, said throttle valve comprising said air vent.

9. A sprinkler system according to claim 2, further comprising a venturi for controlling the rate of air flow through said piping network, said venturi comprising said air vent.

10. A sprinkler system according to claim 2, further comprising a dryer positioned within said piping network between said air vent and said vacuum pump, said dryer removing moisture from air drawn through said air vent by said vacuum pump.

11. A sprinkler system according to claim 10, wherein said dryer comprises a device selected from the group consisting of a desiccant dryer, a refrigeration dryer, a membrane filter and a compressed air dryer.

12. A dry type fire suppression sprinkler system comprising:

a source of pressurized water;

a piping network comprising at least one branch, said one branch being in fluid communication with said source of pressurized water, said piping network being normally substantially devoid of water;

a supply valve positioned in said piping network between said source of pressurized water and said one branch and controlling flow of water thereto, said supply valve being openable in the event of a fire allowing water to flow to said one branch;

a plurality of sprinkler heads mounted on said one branch;

an air vent positioned at an end of said one branch and providing fluid communication between said one branch and ambient air; and

a vacuum pump in fluid communication with said piping network between said supply valve and said one branch, said vacuum pump drawing ambient air through said one branch through said air vent.

13. A sprinkler system according to claim 12, wherein said piping network is comprised of a plurality of said branches, said branches being in fluid communication with said source of pressurized water, said supply valve being positioned between said source of pressurized water and said branches, a plurality of said sprinkler heads mounted on said branches, one of said air vents being positioned at an end of each of said branches, said vacuum pump being in fluid communication with said piping network between said supply valve and said branches, said vacuum pump drawing ambient air through said branches through said air vents.

14. A sprinkler system according to claim 12, further comprising an orifice positioned within said one branch for controlling the rate of air flow therethrough.

15. A sprinkler system according to claim 14, wherein said orifice comprises said air vent.

16. A sprinkler system according to claim 12, further comprising a throttle valve positioned within said one branch, said throttle valve being adjustable for controlling the rate of air flow through said one branch.

17. A sprinkler system according to claim 16, wherein said throttle valve comprises said air vent.

18. A sprinkler system according to claim 12, further comprising a dryer positioned within said one branch between said air vent and said sprinkler heads, said dryer removing moisture from air drawn through said air vent by said vacuum pump.

19. A sprinkler system according to claim 18, wherein said dryer comprises a device selected from the group consisting of a desiccant dryer, a refrigeration dryer, a membrane filter and a compressed air dryer.

20. A method of drying a piping network, said method comprising:

providing an air vent in said piping network;

moving air from the ambient, through said piping network; and

exhausting said air back to the ambient.

21. A method according to claim 20, wherein moving air through said piping network comprises drawing said air into said piping network through said air vent.

22. A method according to claim 20, further comprising controlling the rate at which said air moves through piping network by restricting the flow of air therethrough.

23. A method according to claim 20, further comprising drying said air before moving said air through said piping network.

24. A method of controlling bacteria growth in a sprinkler system, comprising:

operating a sprinkler network in a normally substantially dry condition;

applying a vacuum apparatus to evacuate air from the network and create a negative pressure within the network so that oxygen is removed and bacteria growth within the network is inhibited;

monitoring pressure within the network;

deactivating the apparatus if pressure within the network reaches a first predetermined level; and

restarting the apparatus if pressure within the network reaches a second predetermined level.

25. A method according to claim 24, further comprising delivering air into the network through a dryer.