Fire safety system

• US 5,918,679 A
• Filed: 10/14/1997
• Issued: 07/06/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Frank B. Cramer
• Original Assignee: Frank B. Cramer
• Inventors: Cramer, Frank B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kashnikow, Andres
• Assistant Examiner(s): DEAL, DAVID R
• Application Number:
  US08/949,422
• Time in Patent Office: 630 Days
• Field of Search: 169/9, 169/11, 169/12, 169/26, 169/46, 169/45, 169/62, 169/84, 149/61, 149/19.1, 252/2, 252/3, 252/4, 252/5, 252/6, 252/7
• US Class Current: 169/45
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 3/06 of highly inflammable material, e.g. light metals, petroleum products
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 3/07 in vehicles, e.g. in road vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 99/0018 using gases or vapours that do not support combustion, e.g. steam, carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/03 Fuel tanks chassis frame comprising fluid storage compartment B62D21/16 ; Details of the fuel feeding system related to the fuel tank F02M37/0076
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 37/32 Safety measures not otherwise provided for, e.g. preventing explosive conditions extinguishing or preventing fires in aircraft A62C
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 7/22 Fuel supply systems
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 7/25 Fire protection or prevention in general A62
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/60 Efficient propulsion technologies, e.g. for aircraft

Abstract

A system for preventing and suppressing fires and explosions is provided that fills the ullage spaces in fuel tanks with an inert gas that is generated by the operating system or facility. This insert gas is a combustion gas that is depleted of readily combustible oxygen and that is supplied at a pressure exceeding the ambient and displaces any oxygen in the ullage to a level that inhibits combustion in the fuel tank.

Claims

1. A fire control system, comprising:

an engine that burns fuel and generates combustion gases containing an insufficient amount of oxygen to support combustion;

p1 a first line in fluid communication with the combustion gases to extract those gases from the engine;

a heat exchanger in fluid communication with the line to reduce the temperature of the combustion gases to a first predetermined level;

a separator in fluid communication with the heat exchanger to remove water from the combustion gases leaving the heat exchanger;

a reservoir in fluid communication with the separator to hold the combusted gases; and

a storage tank in fluid communication with the reservoir so the combusted gases can enter any ullage of the storage tank.

2. A fire control system as defined in claim 1, further comprising at least one pressure regulator valve in fluid communication with the combustion gases to reduce the pressure of the combustion gases to a predetermined level.

3. A fire control system as defined in claim 2, further comprising a second heat exchanger in fluid communication with the separator to further reduce the temperature of the combustion gases.

4. A fire control system as defined in claim 2, further comprising a desiccant chamber in fluid communication with the combustion gases to remove moisture from the combustion gases.

5. A fire control system as defined in claim 2, wherein the storage reservoir comprises a fuel tank for the engine.

6. A fire control system as defined in claim 2, wherein the engine comprises an internal combustion engine.

7. A fire control system as defined in claim 2, wherein the engine comprises turbine.

8. A method of fire control, comprising the steps of:

burning fuel to generate combustion gases containing an insufficient amount of oxygen to support combustion;

removing at least a portion of the combustion gases and placing those removed combustion gases in fluid communication with a heat exchanger and reducing the temperature of the combustion gases to a first predetermined level;

placing the reduced temperature combustion gases in fluid communication with a separator to remove water from the combustion gases;

placing a reservoir in fluid communication with the separator to hold the combusted gases in the reservoir; and

placing a storage tank in fluid communication with the reservoir so the combusted gases enter any ullage of the storage tank and displace the air to provide an environment that is not conducive to combustion.

9. A method of fire control as defined in claim 8, comprising the further step of placing at least one pressure regulator valve in fluid communication with the combustion gases to reduce the pressure of the combustion gases to a predetermined level.

10. A method of fire control as defined in claim 9, comprising the further step of placing a second heat exchanger in fluid communication with the separator to further reduce the temperature of the combustion gases.

11. A method of fire control as defined in claim 8, comprising the further step of placing a desiccant chamber in fluid communication with the combustion gases to remove moisture from the combustion gases.

12. A method of fire control as defined in claim 8, wherein the storage reservoir comprises a fuel tank for the engine and further comprising the step of placing the fuel tank in fluid communication with the engine to provide fuel to the engine.

13. A method of fire control as defined in claim 8, wherein the combustion step comprises the step of combusting the fuel in an internal combustion engine.

14. A method of fire control as defined in claim 8, wherein the combustion step comprises the step of combusting the fuel in a turbine.