Method and apparatus for suppression of fires

• US 7,845,423 B2
• Filed: 03/04/2008
• Issued: 12/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alliant Techsystems Incorporated (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Inventors: Rozanski, James D., Lund, Gary K.
• Primary Examiner(s): HWU, DAVIS D
• Application Number:
  US12/042,200
• Publication Number:
  US 20080149352A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,008 Days
• Field of Search: 169/6, 169/9, 169/12, 169/14, 169/44, 169/45, 169/42, 169/43, 239/419.5, 239/425.5, 239/427.3, 239/428.5, 239/429, 239/432, 239/128, 239/132, 239/132.3, 239/8, 239/13
• US Class Current: 169/6
• 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 inlet opening therein, a second outlet opening therein and a flow path providing fluid communication between the first inlet opening and the second outlet opening;

a gas-generating device located and configured to provide a flow of a first gas through a nozzle of the gas-generating device, the nozzle extending into and at least partially surrounded by a portion of the flow path, and to direct the flow of the first gas out of the nozzle into the flow path downstream from the nozzle such that the flow of the first gas draws a volume of a second gas through the first inlet opening and into the flow path upstream from the nozzle;

a diffuser in the flow path downstream of the nozzle, the diffuser located and configured to effect mixing of the first gas with the volume of the second gas drawn into the flow path to form a gas mixture and to expand the gas mixture to reduce a velocity and a temperature of the gas mixture; and

a heat transfer device disposed in the flow path between the diffuser and the first inlet opening and configured to allow at least the second gas therepast.

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 the second gas flows through the oxygen reducing device.

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

13. The fire 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 inlet opening therein, a second outlet opening therein and a flow path providing fluid communication between the first inlet opening and the second outlet opening;

a gas-generating device located and configured to provide a flow of a first gas through a nozzle of the gas-generating device, the nozzle extending into and at least partially surrounded by a portion of the flow path, and to direct the flow of the first gas out of the nozzle into the flow path downstream from the nozzle such that the flow of the first gas draws a volume of a second gas through the first inlet opening and into the flow path upstream from the nozzle;

a diffuser in the flow path downstream from the nozzle, the diffuser located and configured to effect mixing of the first gas with the volume of the second gas drawn into the flow path to form a gas mixture and to expand the gas mixture to reduce a velocity and a temperature of the gas mixture; and

a heat transfer device disposed in the flow path between the diffuser and the first inlet opening and configured to allow at least the second gas therepast; and

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