Tunnel fire suppression system and methods for selective delivery of breathable fire suppressant directly to fire site
First Claim
1. A fire suppression system and a method for selective delivery of a breathable fire-suppressive gas directly to a fire location inside a transportation tunnel, said system and method comprising:
- a gas generation device producing said fire-suppressive gas from ambient atmospheric air;
a gas storage station consisting of multiple high-pressure containers receiving said fire-suppressive gas from said gas generation device and storing it for immediate release when needed;
an addressed gas delivery hose communicating with said gas storage station and said gas generation device and, when in use, receiving said fire-suppressive gas from said station and/or device;
said hose installed throughout a tunnel and having multiple gas discharge means located at required intervals from each other;
fire detecting and alarm system having multiple detectors installed throughout a tunnel at desired intervals and, in case of a fire, providing a corresponding signal to a central control station having a computerized processing and control equipment that allows to initiate said fire suppression system automatically or manually, by a dispatcher;
when a fire is detected inside a tunnel, the initiation of said fire suppression system follows by a release of said fire-suppressive gas from said storage unit into said addressed gas delivery hose and simultaneously, by a signal from the central control station, one of said gas discharge means opens at a location closest to the fire site allowing selective release of the fire-suppressive gas and flooding of a section of the tunnel affected by fire;
at the same moment said gas generation device starts producing more fire-suppression gas and sending it into the gas delivery hose allowing to keep a fire-suppressive atmosphere inside the tunnel for as long as needed;
inflatable tunnel blocking devices or a plugs may be installed additionally in deflated form inside a tunnel tube, preferably near both exits, in order to provide a supplementary control over the direction of the gas flow inside the tunnel;
such a tunnel plug, when inflated, is capable to block a tunnel tube and obstruct the air movement;
in order to direct the flow of the fire-suppressive gas in the required direction, a tunnel plug should be inflated on the side opposite to the desired flow direction.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A total flood fire suppression system is provided for transportation tunnels and other human-occupied environments, which employs a selective gas delivery method for supplying a breathable fire-extinguishing agent to a location closest to a fire site. The agent is produced from ambient air at site and stored in high-pressure containers communicating with an addressed gas delivery hose installed throughout a tunnel. When fire is detected, the agent is released from storage containers into the gas delivery hose that simultaneously becomes penetrated or broken in a location next to the fire site, allowing releasing the agent there and extinguishing the fire by totally flooding the affected portion of a tunnel. Additionally, the direction of the agent flow can be controlled by air blocks or inflatable tunnel plugs that, via a signal from a central control station, can inflate and block a tunnel tube in order to redirect the agent flow into the opposite to a block direction.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A fire suppression system and a method for selective delivery of a breathable fire-suppressive gas directly to a fire location inside a transportation tunnel, said system and method comprising:
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a gas generation device producing said fire-suppressive gas from ambient atmospheric air;
a gas storage station consisting of multiple high-pressure containers receiving said fire-suppressive gas from said gas generation device and storing it for immediate release when needed;
an addressed gas delivery hose communicating with said gas storage station and said gas generation device and, when in use, receiving said fire-suppressive gas from said station and/or device;
said hose installed throughout a tunnel and having multiple gas discharge means located at required intervals from each other;
fire detecting and alarm system having multiple detectors installed throughout a tunnel at desired intervals and, in case of a fire, providing a corresponding signal to a central control station having a computerized processing and control equipment that allows to initiate said fire suppression system automatically or manually, by a dispatcher;
when a fire is detected inside a tunnel, the initiation of said fire suppression system follows by a release of said fire-suppressive gas from said storage unit into said addressed gas delivery hose and simultaneously, by a signal from the central control station, one of said gas discharge means opens at a location closest to the fire site allowing selective release of the fire-suppressive gas and flooding of a section of the tunnel affected by fire;
at the same moment said gas generation device starts producing more fire-suppression gas and sending it into the gas delivery hose allowing to keep a fire-suppressive atmosphere inside the tunnel for as long as needed;
inflatable tunnel blocking devices or a plugs may be installed additionally in deflated form inside a tunnel tube, preferably near both exits, in order to provide a supplementary control over the direction of the gas flow inside the tunnel;
such a tunnel plug, when inflated, is capable to block a tunnel tube and obstruct the air movement;
in order to direct the flow of the fire-suppressive gas in the required direction, a tunnel plug should be inflated on the side opposite to the desired flow direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
said gas delivery hose is made from a light synthetic material strong enough to withhold a working pressure of the gas delivery; - said hose can be delivered on a bobbin and installed throughout the whole length of a tunnel by attaching to a wall with fixtures that would allow the hose to inflate when in use.
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3. The system and method according to claim 1 wherein
said gas discharge means being a multiplicity of puncturing devices installed at desired intervals behind said gas delivery hose on a tunnel wall; - each such device communicating with the central control system and, when a signal from it is received, the device closest to the detected fire site, penetrates or destroys a portion of the hose by initiating an electro-explosive or thermoelectric mechanism;
each such mechanism can be installed in a combination with a local fire detector and may also communicate with it and receive the initiating signal from said local detector.
- each such device communicating with the central control system and, when a signal from it is received, the device closest to the detected fire site, penetrates or destroys a portion of the hose by initiating an electro-explosive or thermoelectric mechanism;
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4. The system and method according to claim 1 wherein
said breathable fire-suppressive gas being an oxygen-reduced (hypoxic) air having oxygen content below 14% and preferably in a range from 10%-12%. -
5. The system and method according to claim 1 wherein
said system and method being applicable to use in mines, buildings and other human-occupied environments. -
6. The system and method according to claim 1 wherein
said selective delivery of a breathable fire-suppressive gas directly to a fire location can be accomplished in shorter tunnels without said addressed gas delivery hose and only by using said inflatable plugs that will direct the gas injected into a tunnel tube into desired direction. -
7. The system and method according to claim 1 wherein
said tunnel blocking devices or plugs can be used in multiple quantities installed throughout a tunnel tube that will allow to instantly isolate a fire affected section for quicker and more effective fire extinguishing; - such a blocking device can be made as an inflatable, expandable, erectable, movable or falling barrier that will substantially block air movement through it.
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8. The system and method according to claim 7 wherein
said plugs being inflated by a propellant or, alternatively, said plugs can be quickly inflated and deflated by a blower controlled by an operator. -
9. The system and method according to claim 1 wherein
said gas generation device producing said fire-suppressive gas by extracting a portion of oxygen from ambient air and transmitting oxygen-depleted air into said gas storage station. -
10. The system and method according to claim 1 wherein
said gas generation device producing said fire-suppressive gas by extracting nitrogen from ambient air, and transmitting nitrogen-enriched air into said gas storage station.
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11. A method and equipment for addressed delivery of a fire-suppression agent directly to a section of a tunnel tube or other elongated normally occupied space, said method and equipment comprising:
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an equipment for preparing, storing and releasing said agent inside a tunnel;
a fire-detection and monitoring equipment communicating with a system control station and having local fire detectors installed in multiple positions throughout the tunnel;
a lightweight flexible hose attached to a tunnel wall so that, when in use, it will be able to inflate and to transmit the fire-suppression agent;
said hose communicating through a release valve with a set of high pressure containers holding the fire-suppression agent;
a hose-puncturing device installed in multiple positions throughout the tunnel so that, when in use, it can puncture, cut or destroy a part of said hose in order to provide a release opening for said agent;
when a fire is detected by a local fire detector, the closest hose-puncturing device is initiated providing for a gas release opening near the fire site;
said agent being released at a reduced pressure from high-pressure containers into said hose, inflating it and propelling towards the opening provided by said hose puncturing device at a location nearest to the fire site. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
said puncturing device being an electro-explosive device that is attached to or at the hose on a tunnel wall, or preinstalled inside the hose during its assembly; - when a signal from the control station or the nearest fire detector is received, the device is initiated and explodes, creating a hole in the hose or destroying a portion of it.
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13. The method and equipment according to claim 11 wherein
said puncturing device being a thermoelectric device that is attached to or at the hose on a tunnel wall, or can be preinstalled inside the hose during its assembly; - when a signal from the control station or the nearest fire detector is received, the device is initiated and heats up, creating a hole in the hose or cutting through it.
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14. A method and equipment for controlled propelling of a fire-suppressive gas flow in a tunnel into desired direction, said method comprising:
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a tunnel or other enclosed elongated structure having an entrance and an exit open to the outside atmosphere;
an equipment for preparing and releasing said gas inside the tunnel or a desired section of it;
a tunnel blocking device that, when in use, can block a portion of a tunnel in order to prevent air movement through it;
said devise allows redirecting the fire-suppressant flow towards a direction said device, when deployed at the entrance of the tunnel or its section, will propel the released gas towards the exit;
said device, when deployed at the exit from the tunnel or its section, will propel the released gas towards the entrance. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
said tunnel blocking device is selected from a group consisting of an inflatable plug made of a lightweight synthetic material, a moveable or closeable gate or shield, and erectable or falling barrier, a droppable curtain and other air-blocking means or a combination thereof. -
16. The method and equipment according to claim 14 wherein
said device can be inflated and deflated when needed by a blower controlled by a system operator. -
17. The method and equipment according to claim 14 wherein
said fire-suppressive gas being breathable hypoxic air having oxygen concentration in the range from 10% to 14% by volume.
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Specification