Method and apparatus for fire fighting

• US 5,957,210 A
• Filed: 06/04/1997
• Issued: 09/28/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Aerospace AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Aerospace AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Cohrt, Claus, Schaper, Juergen
• Primary Examiner(s): HOGE, GARY CHAPMAN
• Application Number:
  US08/868,640
• Time in Patent Office: 846 Days
• Field of Search: 169/46, 169/44, 169/11
• US Class Current: 169/44
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 5/00 Making of fire-extinguishing materials immediately before use nozzles A62C31/02
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2220/50 for auxiliary power units (APU's)

Abstract

An inert gas for fighting a fire occurring in an enclosed space is produced by the reaction of ammonia with atmospheric air to produce nitrogen mixed with water vapor which is introduced into the fire in the enclosed space. This fire fighting gas mixture is produced in a small gas turbine having a combustion chamber into which ammonia, preferably liquid ammonia, is sprayed. Additionally, water may be sprayed into the combustion chamber to cool the combustion gas to a desired temperature and supplied to the turbine which feeds its exhaust gas to a mixing chamber where a further temperature control may be performed by spraying water into the mixing chamber. The gas output of the mixing chamber is used for the fire fighting.

Claims

1. A method for fighting a fire in an enclosed space comprising the following steps:

(a) reacting ammonia (NH₃) with atmospheric air to produce nitrogen (N₂) and water vapor (H₂ O),

(b) mixing said nitrogen (N₂) and said water vapor to form a fire extinguishing inert gas, and

(c) applying said inert gas to said fire for reducing an oxygen content of an atmosphere in said enclosed space to a level insufficient to sustain said fire.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising spraying water into said inert gas for cooling said inert gas.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising sensing a temperature to provide a temperature responsive control signal and controlling said water spraying with said temperature responsive control signal.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

(d) withdrawing said atmospheric air from said enclosed space, and

(e) controlling a quantity of said ammonia with regard to an oxygen content of atmospheric air withdrawn from said enclosed space.

5. A The method of claim 4, further comprising spraying water into said inert gas for cooling said inert gas.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising sensing a temperature to provide a temperature responsive control signal and controlling said water spraying with said temperature responsive control signal.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising sensing an oxygen content in the air in said enclosed space to provide an oxygen content responsive control signal and controlling a supply of ammonia to said reacting step (a) by said oxygen content responsive control signal.