Hypoxic fire prevention and fire suppression systems for computer cabinets and fire-hazardous industrial containers

• US 6,334,315 B1
• Filed: 05/08/2000
• Issued: 01/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2000
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Firepass Corporation
• Original Assignee: Igor K Kotliar
• Inventors: Kotliar, Igor K.
• Primary Examiner(s): CAPOSSELA, RONALD C
• Application Number:
  US09/566,506
• Time in Patent Office: 603 Days
• Field of Search: 95/47, 95/54, 62/78, 169/54
• US Class Current: 62/78
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 7/14 for high-altitude aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 3/0221 for tunnels
• 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: B01D 2257/102 Nitrogen
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/104 Oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/22 by diffusion manufacturing semi-permeable membranes B01D67/00; form, structure or properties of semi-permeable membranes B01D69/00; material for semi-permeable membranes B01D71/00

Abstract

Fire prevention and suppression system is provided for computer cabinets and fire-hazardous containers. The equipment of the system provides low-oxygen environments at standard atmospheric pressure. The system employs an oxygen-extraction apparatus that supplies oxygen-depleted air inside an enclosed area communicating with the device. A fire-extinguishing composition is provided for continuous use in computer cabinets and fire-hazardous containers, consisting of oxygen-depleted air having oxygen content below 12%.

Claims

1. A system for providing a fire-extinguishing atmosphere in enclosed environments, said system comprising:

a compressor having an inlet and a compressed gas outlet;

an air separation device having an intake and first and second outlets, said intake is operatively associated with said compressed gas outlet and receiving an intake gas under pressure from said compressor;

said device taking in said intake gas and emitting a reduced-oxygen gas mixture having a lower concentration of oxygen than said intake gas through said first outlet and enriched-oxygen gas mixture having a greater concentration of oxygen than said intake gas through said second outlet;

said first outlet providing a fire-retarding gas mixture for said enclosed environments with oxygen content below 12%;

said second outlet selectively communicating with outside atmosphere and releasing said enriched-oxygen gas mixture into said outside atmosphere;

said air separation device employing a molecular-sieve adsorber and said intake being operatively associated with a distribution valve providing distribution of said intake gas to multiple inlets each communicating with an individual gas separation container filled with molecular-sieve material that under pressure adsorbs nitrogen and water vapors and allows said enriched-oxygen gas mixture to pass through into collecting tank communicating with said second outlet;

said collecting tank being operatively associated with all said separation containers and receiving selectively said enriched-oxygen gas mixture therefrom;

said separation containers being selectively pressurized and depressurized in cycles and releasing during each depressurization cycle said reduced-oxygen gas mixture being delivered into said first outlet;

said second outlet having release valve allowing to keep said enriched-oxygen gas mixture being collected in said collecting tank under increased atmospheric pressure, so when any of said separation containers depressurizes, a portion of said enriched-oxygen gas mixture is released from said tank back into said container purging said molecular sieve material from remaining nitrogen and water.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 and

said distribution valve being air distribution device selected from the group consisting of electrical, mechanical, air piloted and solenoid valves, both linear and rotary configuration, with actuators controlled by pressure, mechanical spring, motor and timer;

said distribution valve being communicating with and mounted on manifold that is selectively communicating with said multiple separation containers and said first outlet, and selectively allowing periodic access of pressurized air inside said containers and exit of said reduced-oxygen gas mixture therefrom.

2. A system for producing a fire-extinguishing atmosphere in enclosed environments, said system comprising:

a compressor having an inlet and a compressed gas outlet;

an air separation device having an intake and first and second outlets, said intake is operatively associated with said compressed gas outlet and receiving an intake gas under pressure from said compressor;

said device taking in said intake gas and emitting a reduced-oxygen gas mixture having a lower concentration of oxygen than said intake gas through said first outlet and enriched-oxygen gas mixture having a greater concentration of oxygen than said intake gas through said second outlet;

said first outlet providing a fire-retarding gas mixture for said enclosed environments with oxygen content below 12%;

said second outlet selectively communicating with outside atmosphere and releasing said enriched-oxygen gas mixture into said outside atmosphere;

said air separation device employing a molecular-sieve adsorber and said intake being operatively associated with a distribution valve providing distribution of said intake gas to multiple inlets each communicating with an individual gas separation container filled with

molecular-sieve material that under pressure adsorbs oxygen and allows said reduced-oxygen gas mixture to pass through into collecting tank communicating with said first outlet;

said collecting tank being operatively associated with all said separation containers and receiving selectively said reduced-oxygen gas mixture therefrom;

said separation containers being selectively pressurized and depressurized in cycles and releasing during each depressurization cycle said enriched-oxygen gas mixture being delivered into said second outlet.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2 and

said distribution valve being air distribution device selected from the group consisting of electrical, mechanical, air piloted and solenoid valves, both linear and rotary configuration, with actuators controlled by pressure, mechanical spring, motor and timer;

said distribution valve being communicating with and mounted on manifold that is selectively communicating with said multiple separation containers and said second outlet, and selectively allowing periodic access of pressurized air inside said containers and exit of said enriched-oxygen gas mixture therefrom.

5. An apparatus for producing a fire-extinguishing atmosphere in enclosed environments, said apparatus comprising:

a compressor having an inlet and a compressed gas outlet;

an air separation device having an intake and first and second outlets, said intake is operatively associated with said compressed gas outlet and receiving an intake gas under pressure from said compressor;

said device taking in said intake gas and emitting a reduced-oxygen gas mixture having a lower concentration of oxygen than said intake gas through said first outlet and enriched-oxygen gas mixture having a greater concentration of oxygen than said intake gas through said second outlet;

said first outlet providing a fire-retarding gas mixture for said enclosed environments with oxygen content below 12%;

said second outlet selectively communicating with outside atmosphere and releasing said enriched-oxygen gas mixture into said outside atmosphere;

said air separation device employing a membrane air separator for separating said intake gas into said reduced-oxygen and enriched-oxygen gas mixtures.