METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SUPPRESSION OF FIRES

• US 20080149352A1
• Filed: 03/04/2008
• Published: 06/26/2008
• 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: Rozanski, James D., Lund, Gary K.
• Granted Patent: US 7,845,423 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 169/46
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 99/0018 using gases or vapours that do not support combustion, e.g. steam, carbon dioxide

Abstract

An apparatus, system and method for suppression of fires are provided. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a housing is provided with a first opening (or set of openings), a second opening (or set of openings) and a Row path defined between the first and second openings. A fire-suppressing gas is produced, such as from a solid propellant composition, and is introduced into the flow path in such a way that a volume of ambient air is drawn from a location external to the housing, through the first opening and into the flow path. The volume of ambient air may be subjected to an oxygen-reducing process and mixed with the fire-suppressing gas to form a gas mixture. The gas mixture is discharged from the flow path through the second opening and into an associated environment for suppression of a fire located therein.

Claims

1. A fire suppression apparatus comprising:

a structure having a first opening therein, a second opening therein and a flow path providing fluid communication between the first opening and the second opening;

a gas-generating device located and configured to provide a flow of a first gas into the flow path such that the flow of the first gas draws a volume of a second gas through the first opening and into the flow path, the gas-generating device including a nozzle through which the first gas flows into the flow path;

a diffuser disposed within the flow path located and configured to effect mixing of the first gas with the volume of the second gas drawn into the flow path and thereby form a gas mixture; and

a heat transfer device disposed between the diffuser and the first opening.

2. The fire suppression apparatus of claim 1, wherein the heat transfer device is thermally coupled with the nozzle of the gas generating device.

3. The fire suppression apparatus of claim 2, wherein the heat transfer device includes a plurality of thermally conductive fins.

4. The fire suppression apparatus of claim 3, wherein the plurality of thermally conductive fins is coupled with the nozzle of the gas-generating device.

5. The fire suppression apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an oxygen reducing device positioned within the flow path and configured to reduce a level of oxygen in the volume of the second gas as it flows therethrough.

6. The fire suppression apparatus of claim 5, wherein the oxygen reducing device includes an oxygen reactive material comprising at least one of iron, nickel, copper, zirconium and titanium.

7. The fire suppression apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one additional heat transfer device disposed in the flow path.

8. The fire suppression apparatus of claim 1, wherein the nozzle is configured to accelerate the flow of the first gas to a substantially sonic velocity or greater.

9. The fire suppression apparatus of claim 1, wherein the gas-generating device further includes a solid propellant composition configured to generate the first gas upon combustion thereof.

10. The fire suppression apparatus of claim 9, wherein the solid propellant composition is configured to generate a volume of at least one of N₂, H₂O and CO₂ as the first gas.

11. The fire suppression apparatus of claim 9, further comprising an igniting device configured to ignite the solid propellant composition.

12. The first suppression apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an NO_X scavenger disposed within the flow path.

13. The first suppression apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an NH₃ scavenger disposed within the flow path.

14. The fire suppression apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a filter disposed within the flow path.

15. A fire suppression system comprising:

at least one fire suppression apparatus comprising;

a structure having a first opening therein, a second opening therein and a flow path providing fluid communication between the first opening and the second opening;

a gas-generating device located and configured to provide a flow of a first gas into the flow path such that the flow of the first gas draws a volume of a second gas through the first opening and into the flow path, the gas-generating device including a nozzle through which the first gas flows into the flow path;

a diffuser disposed within the flow path located and configured to effect mixing of the first gas with the volume of the second gas drawn into the flow path and thereby form a gas mixture; and

a heat transfer device disposed between the diffuser and the first opening; and

a controller configured to generate a signal and transmit the signal to the at least one fire suppression apparatus upon the occurrence of a specified event, wherein the gas-generating device is configured to provide the flow of the gas upon receipt of the signal from the controller.

16. A method of suppressing fires, the method comprising:

defining a flow path within a structure between a first opening and a second opening;

producing a fire-suppressing gas;

introducing the fire-suppressing gas into the flow path;

aspirating a volume of ambient air from a location external of the structure through the first opening and into the flow path;

flowing the volume of ambient air over a heat transfer device;

mixing the volume of ambient air with the fire-suppressing gas to produce a gas mixture; and

discharging the gas mixture through the second opening.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein producing a fire-suppressing gas includes producing an inert gas.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein producing a fire-suppressing gas includes producing a gas comprising at least one of N₂, H₂O and CO₂.

19. The method according to claim 16, wherein producing a fire-suppressing gas includes combusting a solid propellant composition.

20. The method according to claim 19, further comprising thermally coupling the heat transfer device with a device associated with the combustion of the solid propellant composition.