System and method for suppressing fires

• US 20050189123A1
• Filed: 09/26/2003
• Published: 09/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: N2 Global, SIA
• Original Assignee: N2 Towers Inc.
• Inventors: Bennett, Joseph Michael, Richardson, Adam Tartar
• Granted Patent: US 7,455,120 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 169/46
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 5/006 Extinguishants produced by combustion

Abstract

A method and apparatus for suppressing a fire utilizing non-azide solid gas propellant generation to produce and transport a suitable gas for suppressing a fire in a normally occupied area. The nitrogen gas produced by the solid propellant gas generation is optionally treated to remove undesirable elements such as water and/or carbon dioxide from the product gas prior to the delivery of the product gas to the protected hazard area.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. A method of suppressing fires in a space comprising the steps of:

(a) generating a first fire suppressing gas mixture from at least one non-azide solid propellant chemical, the first fire suppressing gas mixture comprising at least a first gas, said first gas comprising nitrogen; and

(b) delivering at least said first gas into the space

(c) filtering at least a percentage of a second gas from the first fire suppressing gas mixture prior to delivery into the space.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2 wherein the second gas comprises water vapor.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3 wherein the second gas comprises CO₂.

5. The method as claimed in claim 2 wherein substantially all of the second gas is filtered from the first fire suppressing gas mixture.

6. (canceled)

7. A method of suppressing fires in a space comprising the steps of:

(a) generating a first fire suppressing gas mixture from at least one non-azide solid propellant chemical, the first fire suppressing gas mixture comprising at least a first gas, said first gas comprising nitrogen;

(b) delivering at least said first gas into the space; and

(c) reducing the temperature of the first fire suppressing gas mixture prior to delivering into the space.

8. (canceled)

9. (canceled)

10. (canceled)

11. An apparatus for suppressing fires in a normally occupied enclosed space comprising:

(a) a sensor for detecting a fire;

(b) at least one solid inert gas generator that, in response to receiving a signal from the sensor, ignites to generate only a fire suppressing gas mixture for delivery into the enclosed space; and

(c) an inert gas discharge diffuser to direct the fire suppressing gas mixture into said enclosed space

wherein the fire suppressing gas mixture includes nitrogen and;

wherein the fire suppressing gas mixture includes at least one of water vapor and carbon dioxide.

12. An apparatus for suppressing fires in a normally occupied enclosed space comprising:

(a) a sensor for detecting a fire;

(b) at least one solid inert gas generator that, in response to receiving a signal from the sensor, ignites to generate only a fire suppressing gas mixture for delivery into the enclosed space; and

(c) an inert gas discharge diffuser to direct the fire suppressing gas mixture into said enclosed space

wherein the fire suppressing gas mixture comprises at least two gases and the apparatus further comprises at least one filter for filtering at least a portion of at least one of the gases from the fire suppression gas mixture, prior to the delivery thereof to the enclosed space.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein the filter is adapted to filter substantially all of the at least one of the gases from the first suppressing gas mixture.

14. (canceled)

15. A gas generator for generating and delivering a fire suppressing gas mixture to an enclosed space, comprising:

a housing;

at least one pre-packed solid propellant disposed within said housing;

a pyrotechnic device for initiating ignition of said solid propellant to thereby generate only said fire suppressing gas mixture; and

a discharge diffuser for directing the fire suppressing gas mixture within said enclosed space

at least one filter for filtering at least a portion of one gas from said fire suppressing gas mixture.

16. A gas generator for generating and delivering a fire suppressing gas mixture to an enclosed space, comprising:

a housing;

at least one pre-packed solid propellant disposed within said housing;

a pyrotechnic device for initiating ignition of said solid propellant to thereby generate only said fire suppressing gas mixture; and

a discharge diffuser for directing the fire suppressing gas mixture within said enclosed space

at least one screen for reducing the temperature of said fire suppressing gas mixture.

17. A gas generator for generating and delivering a fire suppressing gas mixture to an enclosed space, comprising:

a housing;

at least one pre-packed solid propellant disposed within said housing;

a pyrotechnic device for initiating ignition of said solid propellant to thereby generate only said fire suppressing gas mixture; and

a discharge diffuser for directing the fire suppressing gas mixture within said enclosed space

wherein said discharge diffuser includes a 180°

directional cap.

18. A gas generator for generating and delivering a fire suppressing gas mixture to an enclosed space, comprising:

a housing;

at least one pre-packed solid propellant disposed within said housing;

a pyrotechnic device for initiating ignition of said solid propellant to thereby generate only said fire suppressing gas mixture; and

a discharge diffuser for directing the fire suppressing gas mixture within said enclosed space

wherein said discharge diffuser includes a 360°

directional cap.

19. A gas generator for generating and delivering a fire suppressing gas mixture to an enclosed space, comprising:

a housing;

at least one pre-packed solid propellant disposed within said housing;

a pyrotechnic device for initiating ignition of said solid propellant to thereby generate only said fire suppressing gas mixture; and

a discharge diffuser for directing the fire suppressing gas mixture within said enclosed space

wherein said discharge diffuser includes a perforated cap.

20. A gas generator for generating and delivering a fire suppressing gas mixture to an enclosed space, comprising:

a housing;

at least one pre-packed solid propellant disposed within said housing;

a pyrotechnic device for initiating ignition of said solid propellant to thereby generate only said fire suppressing gas mixture; and

a discharge diffuser for directing the fire suppressing gas mixture within said enclosed space

wherein said discharge diffuser includes a 90°

directional cap.