WO2021255331A1

WO2021255331A1 - Fire extinguishing system

Info

Publication number: WO2021255331A1
Application number: PCT/FI2021/050415
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tommi HOLAPPA; Jarkko PERÄLÄ
Original assignee: Salgrom Technologies Oy
Priority date: 2020-06-15
Filing date: 2021-06-04
Publication date: 2021-12-23
Also published as: FI129368B; FI20205621A1

Abstract

The form able fire extinguishing system comprises a housing (10), at least two extinguishant units (12) containing an extinguishing agent and at least one temperature-responsive extinguishant unit activator (14), which extinguishant units and activator(s) are inside the housing. The housing is elongated in shape and the extinguishant units are spaced apart within the housing. The housing can be a tube with a substantially rigid wall. Alternatively, the housing can be a hose or sleeve with a flexible wall. The housing may further comprise both rigid tubular wall portions and flexible hose-like wall portions.

Description

Fire extinguishing system

Field of the invention The invention relates to a fire extinguishing system comprising a housing, at least two extinguishant units containing an extinguishing agent and at least one temperature-responsive extinguishant unit activator, which extinguishant units and activator(s) are inside the housing.

Prior art Most of the autonomous fire extinguishing systems currently on the market are permanently-mounted fixed systems connected to the electricity grid or other power source. Installing fixed systems in cramped spaces is slow and cumbersome. Installing and dismantling fixed structures is expensive and requires special expertise. Sea containers used for the transport of cargo are particularly challenging in terms of fire protection. Cargo carried in sea containers may contain substances or equipment which may catch fire during the handling or transport of the container. Cargo containing various chemicals or electrical appliances with a power supply in place are particularly flammable. Extinguishing a fire in a sea container is particularly difficult because the burning container may be located on the deck of a ship far away at sea, tightly surrounded by other containers.

Cargo ships have their own fire extinguishing systems, which usually use water as an extinguishing agent. Fire extinguishing systems on cargo ships are off- container systems with which it is often difficult to reach individual containers in container stacks. In addition, the use of water as an extinguishing agent is insufficient if the burning cargo contains oil, chemicals or batteries.

CN 210205660 U, US 2017/0120089 A1 and CN 209529941 U describe fire extinguishers permanently mounted in transport containers. Such equipment is expensive and cumbersome to install and also reduces the space available for container cargo. In addition, fixed fire extinguishers cannot be easily removed from the container, meaning they unnecessarily take up space in the container when the cargo carried in the container is not flammable.

US 2008/0314602 A1 describes a portable fire extinguishing apparatus with a housing that has a tank in it, which contains a fire extinguishing agent. The outer surface of the housing has nozzles protruding from the surface of the housing. The outer surface of the device has permanently mounted magnets that allow the fire extinguisher to attach to a ferromagnetic material. CN 204655839 describes an automatic fire extinguishing apparatus comprising extinguishing aerosol contained in a closed housing. One wall of the housing has a self-adhesive surface that allows the housing to be attached to a desired object. Individual fire extinguishing apparatuses can be used to build a system with several fire extinguishing apparatuses in an enclosed space, such as a sea container, but installing such a system in a container for the duration of transport of cargo and dismantling it from the container after the transport of the cargo is laborious and slow.

The object of the invention is to provide a fire extinguishing system which can reduce the problems associated with the prior art. The objects of the invention are achieved by a fire extinguishing system which is characterized by what is set out in the independent claim. Some preferred embodiments of the invention are set out in the dependent claims.

Brief summary of the invention

The invention relates to a fire extinguishing system comprising a housing, at least two extinguishant units containing an extinguishing agent and at least one temperature-responsive extinguishant unit activator, which extinguishant units and activator(s) are inside the housing. The housing is elongated in shape and the extinguishant units are spaced apart within the housing. Preferably, the housing is a tube with a substantially rigid wall. Alternatively, the housing may be a hose or sleeve with a flexible wall or wall portion. The housing may also comprise both rigid tubular wall portions and flexible hose-like wall portions.

In a preferred embodiment of the fire extinguishing system according to the invention, the wall of the housing has holes for the discharge of the extinguishing agent.

In another preferred embodiment of the fire extinguishing system according to the invention, the activators are located in the housing in a space between the extinguishant units.

In a third preferred embodiment of the fire extinguishing system according to the invention, said activator is an electric pulse trigger operating without external energy. The electric pulse trigger stores mechanical energy that is released when the activator is triggered and produces an electric pulse which triggers the extinguishant unit.

Yet another preferred embodiment of the fire extinguishing system according to the invention comprises a plurality of activators connected in series by cables to trigger all the activators simultaneously.

In yet another preferred embodiment of the fire extinguishing system according to the invention, at least one extinguishant unit contains an extinguishing chemical in a solid state. The solid-state extinguishing chemical becomes a gaseous aerosol when the extinguishant unit is activated by the activator.

In yet another preferred embodiment of the fire extinguisher according to the invention, at least one extinguishant unit contains a fire extinguishing or cooling gas, liquid or powder. The gas may contain argon, nitrogen and/or carbon dioxide.

Yet another preferred embodiment of the fire extinguishing system according to the invention comprises indicator means for indicating the triggering of the extinguishant unit. Preferably, said indicator means comprises a heat-activated label on the wall of the housing. Alternatively or in addition, said indicator means may comprise wireless communication means inside the housing.

In yet another preferred embodiment of the fire extinguishing system according to the invention, the housing has fastening means, such as a strap, band or mounting magnet, for fastening it to the structures of the fire-protected space or to the object to be protected from fire.

Yet another preferred embodiment of the fire extinguishing system according to the invention is arranged to operate without an external energy source. In this embodiment, the parts included in the device may operate mechanically, or the device may have its own power supply so that the electric power stored in the power supply enables the device to operate autonomously for the planned operating time.

Yet another preferred embodiment of the fire extinguishing system according to the invention has a hub connection for connecting to an external device, such as an external triggering device. The hub connection comprises at least one known communication port, for example a USB port, an Ethernet interface or a PCMCIA interface. Yet another preferred embodiment of the fire extinguishing system according to the invention can be connected in series with at least one other fire extinguishing system. The series connection can be implemented using the hub connection. All the fire extinguishers connected in series can be arranged to trip simultaneously or in succession when one of the fire extinguishers connected in series trips.

An advantage of the invention is that it can be installed quickly and easily on an object to be protected. Removal of the fire extinguishing system is also quick.

A further advantage of the invention is that it is reliable and mechanically durable, since it operates without external energy and all the parts belonging to the device are placed inside a wall which protects them against mechanical stress.

A further advantage of the invention is that it is easily scalable to different sized spaces by varying the size and/or number of individual extinguishant units included in the system.

Brief description of the drawings

The invention is described in detail below. In the description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which

Fig. 1 shows, by way of example, a fire extinguishing system according to the invention seen diagonally from above, and

Fig. 2 shows, by way of example, a preferred embodiment of the fire extinguishing system according to the invention seen diagonally from above.

Detailed description of the invention

Fig. 1 shows, by way of example, a fire extinguishing system according to the invention seen diagonally from above.

The fire extinguishing system comprises an elongate housing 10 having a substantially rigid wall. The housing is thus a rigid-walled tube. The length of the housing can be chosen on the basis of the intended use of the fire extinguishing system. Advantageously, the length of the housing is 2 to 6 meters. The housing wall has holes 24 which allow air to flow from outside the housing into the housing and, respectively, extinguishing agent to flow from inside the housing to the outside of the housing, as described below. The ends of the housing can be closed or open. The housing can be made of plastic or metal, such as aluminum.

Inside the housing, there are extinguishant units 12 spaced apart. The distance between adjacent extinguishant units can be 0.5 to 2.5 meters. An extinguishant unit comprises a metal tank containing a specialty chemical in a solid state. Under normal conditions, the specialty chemical is in inside the tank in a stable state and at normal atmospheric pressure. Preferably, the specialty chemical contains potassium nitrate. Each extinguishant unit is connected by a fire-resistant cable 16 to an activator 14 which triggers the extinguishant unit. The activators are positioned inside the housing in the empty space between the extinguishant units 12. In Fig. 1, each activator is connected to no more than one extinguishant unit. However, each activator can be connected to more than one extinguishant unit, up to the point where each activator is connected to every extinguishant unit within the housing 10.

When an activator triggers an extinguishant unit, the solid-state specialty chemical undergoes a chemical reaction and turns into an extinguishing aerosol, which is discharged from the tank into the housing, from where it flows, via the holes 24 in the wall of the housing, out of the housing. Preferably, the extinguishing aerosol contains powdered potassium carbonate, nitrogen gas, carbon dioxide and water vapor.

The extinguishant unit activator 14 is an electromechanical electric pulse trigger known per se. The electric pulse trigger stores mechanical energy that is released when the activator is triggered and produces an electric pulse which triggers the extinguishant unit. The electric pulse trigger trips when a heat-sensitive element at its tip heats up above the trigger temperature of the activator. The trigger temperature of the activator can be 70-110°C. The electric pulse trigger is positioned in the housing so that the heat-sensitive element at its tip is in contact with the air inside the housing. Preferably, the electric pulse trigger can be a MIL- TAG pulse device marketed by Salgrom Technologies Oy.

In connection with at least one activator, there is a hub connector 30, by means of which the fire extinguishing system can be connected to an external device, such as an external triggering device. By means of the hub connector, several fire extinguishing systems can be connected in series so that all the fire extinguishing systems connected in series are triggered substantially simultaneously or in succession when one fire extinguishing system activator triggers. The outer surface of the housing wall has a heat-activated label that changes color or appearance when the temperature of the label exceeds the trigger temperature of the fire extinguisher. The heat-activated label thus acts as an indicator 20 which shows the user of the device whether the fire extinguishing system is in working order or whether the extinguishant units contained therein have triggered. A fire extinguishing system that has triggered can be made operational again by replacing its activators and extinguishant units.

On the outer surface of the housing, there are spaced-apart fastening means 22 in the form of straps, by means of which the fire extinguishing system can be fastened or suspended in the space or object to be protected.

Inside the housing, there are wireless communication means 18. The communication means comprise an antenna and a transceiver which can operate in a wireless communication network, such as a 4G or 5G mobile network, a WLAN, an NB-lot, a Zigbee, a LoRa or a Bluetooth network. The communication means comprise a battery for storing the electrical power needed by the communication means. The communication means are wired to the activators 14 so that when the activator is triggered, the communication means send information about the triggering to a predetermined destination, such as a mobile telephone number or an IP address.

Fig. 2 shows, by way of example, a preferred embodiment of the fire extinguishing system according to the invention. In this embodiment, the housing 10a is a hose with a flexible wall with holes 24. The wall may be made of fire-resistant fabric or some other flexible material. In other respects, the fire extinguishing system is similar to the system shown in Figure 1, i.e. it includes extinguishant units 12 inside the housing, which are connected by cables 16 to activators 14, an indicator 20, a hub connector and communication means 18. Thanks to the flexible housing, the fire extinguishing system is easy to place close to a flammable object in a cramped space. The housing has straps which act as fastening means 22 by means of which the fire extinguishing system can be suspended in a space or on an object to be protected from fire.

By means of the fire extinguishing system according to the invention, automatic fire protection can be set up in any space simply by placing one or more fire extinguishing systems in that space. The fire extinguishing systems placed in the space can operate independently or they can be connected in series via a hub connection. An alternative to a hub-based series connection is to place the fire extinguishing systems partly in parallel or crosswise so that a jet of hot gas discharged from one triggered fire extinguishing system is directed to an adjacent second fire extinguishing system. In this way, the triggering of the first fire extinguishing system causes the adjacent fire extinguishing system to trigger quicker than would occur due to an increase in the ambient temperature in the space.

The fire extinguisher is particularly well suited to provide an automatic fire extinguishing system in a confined space, such as a shipping container, a train carriage, a truck trailer or a construction site module. At least one fire extinguishing system is attached inside the shipping container, trailer or construction site module so that in the event of a fire, the extinguishing agent from the fire extinguishing system can spread in the entire interior of the space. The fire extinguishing system can be mounted on the walls, ceiling, door or floor of the space. The fire extinguishing system can also be installed outside the object or space to be protected. In this case, the extinguishant units can be triggered by means of external triggers connected to the activators and the extinguishing agent is conducted to the target via separate tubes or channels.

The fire extinguishing system can be attached to a container for the duration of the transport of flammable cargo in a sea container or trailer and removed from the container or trailer after the transport of the cargo. The fire extinguishing system is particularly well suited for providing automatic fire protection for shipping containers, carriages and trailers carrying cargo containing charged batteries, such as electric cars.

Some preferred embodiments of the fire extinguishing system according to the invention have been described above. The invention is not limited to the solutions described above, but the inventive idea can be applied in various ways within the scope set by the claims. List of reference numbers:

10, 10a housing 12 extinguishant unit

14 activator

16 cable

18 communication means

20 indicator

22 fastening means

24 hole

30 hub connector

Claims

1. A fire extinguishing system comprising a housing (10, 10a), at least two extinguishant units (12) containing an extinguishing agent and at least one temperature-responsive extinguishant unit (12) activator (14), which extinguishant units (12) and activator(s) (14) are inside the housing (10, 10), characterized in that the housing (10, 10a) is elongated in shape and the extinguishant units (12) are spaced apart within the housing (10, 10a).

2. The fire extinguishing system of claim 1 , characterized in that the housing (10) is a tube with a substantially rigid wall.

3. The fire extinguishing system of claim 1, characterized in that the housing

(10) is a hose or sleeve with a flexible wall or wall portion.

4. The fire extinguishing system of claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the wall of the housing (10, 10a) has holes (24) for the discharge of the extinguishing agent.

5. The fire extinguishing system of any of claims 1-4, characterized in that the activator(s) (14) are in the housing (10, 10a) in a space between the extinguishant units (12).

6. The fire extinguishing system of any of claims 1-4, characterized in that said activator (14) is an electric pulse trigger operating without external energy.

7. The fire extinguishing system of any of claims 1-6, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of activators (14), which activators (14) are connected in series by cables (16) to trigger all the activators (14) simultaneously.

8. The fire extinguishing system of any of claims 1-7, characterized in that at least one extinguishant unit (12) contains a fire extinguishing chemical in a solid state.

9. The fire extinguishing system of any of claims 1-8, characterized in that at least one extinguishant unit (12) contains a fire extinguishing or cooling gas, liquid or powder.

10. The fire extinguishing system of any of claims 1-9, characterized in that it comprises an indicator means for indicating the triggering of an extinguishant unit

(12).

11. The fire extinguishing system of claim 10, characterized in that said indicator means comprises a heat-activated label on the wall of the housing (10, 10a).

12. The fire extinguishing system of claim 10, characterized in that said indicator means comprises a wireless communication means (18) inside the housing (10, 10a).

13. The fire extinguishing system of any of claims 1-12, characterized in that the housing (10, 10a) has a fastening means, such as a strap, band or mounting magnet, for fastening it to the structures of the fire-protected space or to the object to be protected from fire.

14. The fire extinguishing system of any of claims 1-13, characterized in that it is arranged to operate without an external energy source.

15. The fire extinguishing system of any of claims 1-14, characterized in it has a hub connection for connecting to an external device, such as an external triggering device.

16. The fire extinguishing system of any of claims 1-15, characterized in that it can be connected in series with at least one other fire extinguishing system.