EP1007159A1

EP1007159A1 - Pyrotechnical device and process for extinguishing fires

Info

Publication number: EP1007159A1
Application number: EP97950055A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Volker SCHÜTTE; Ernst Werner Wagner
Original assignee: Wagner Alarm- und Sicherungssysteme GmbH
Current assignee: Wagner Alarm- und Sicherungssysteme GmbH
Priority date: 1996-10-30
Filing date: 1997-10-30
Publication date: 2000-06-14
Anticipated expiration: 2017-10-30
Also published as: CA2268976A1; YU49141B; EP1007159B1; ID18693A; HRP970572B1; MY133808A; GR3036888T3; HRP970572A2; YU42597A; AU719286B2; SG53115A1; ES2161478T3; CA2268976C; AR010257A1; IL122061A0; AU5315198A; DE19643929A1; US6164382A; TR199701267A2; DE19643929C2

Abstract

The present invention pertains to a pyrotechnical device and process for extinguishing fires, especially in case of a forest fire or a surface fire. The extinguishing device comprises two flexible fire hoses (1, 2) arranged side by side and transversally relative to the direction from which the danger (5) comes and designed so that both ends can be obturated. A fire suppressant (3, 4) is placed in or upon each hose and its ignition causes same to be sprayed and directed into the fire. In order to guarantee a targeted jet of the fire suppressant in the direction from which the danger comes, the impulse (I1) from the first hose (1) turned in the direction opposite the danger is meant to be stronger than the impulse (I2) from the hose turned in the direction from which the danger comes. For the various hose (2) cross-sections, the quantity of blasting agents depends on the diameter of the hose turned to the danger, taking into account the density rho of the fire suppressant under the inventive formula.

Description

Device and method for extinguishing fires

description

The present invention relates to a device for extinguishing fires, with two flexible hoses arranged next to one another and transversely to the direction of the threat, closable at both ends for receiving extinguishing agent, and with one explosive in or on the hoses, each of which generates a pulse by ignition and the extinguishing agent is atomized into a mist and set on fire. The invention further relates to a method for extinguishing fires with the described device.

Both such a device and such a method for extinguishing fires are known, for example, from DE 195 00 477 Cl. The principle of explosive extinguishing is based on the fact that when the explosive is detonated inside or in the vicinity of a homogeneous medium in the form of an extinguishing agent, a very high pressure is built up, causing, for example, water in the hose

Compression shock runs, which gives it an enormous impulse, atomizes it into the finest particles and throws it symmetrically from the center of the explosive charge into the environment. The advantage of atomizing a preferably aqueous extinguishing agent is the very large effective extinguishing agent surface in relation to the amount of extinguishing agent used.

The disadvantages of the device known from DE 195 00 477 Cl and the corresponding method lie in the unsatisfactory distribution of the extinguishing agent in the vicinity of the explosive hose when the explosive charge is detonated. It has been found that the extinguishing agent is distributed approximately evenly between a vertical lobe and a left and a right horizontal lobe when using a single explosive hose, with almost no release of extinguishing agent at an angle of 45 ° to the floor surface. The Dispensing extinguishing agent at a 45 ° angle is, however, desirable in order to achieve an effective throwing distance and optimal area coverage.

The disadvantage of inadequate spray characteristics at a 45 ° angle to the floor surface is not affected by the use of two detonation hoses arranged next to one another in parallel. Only the height and volume of the vertical lobe have been increased significantly.

This problem is addressed by the present invention, the task of which was considered to further develop both the device for the extinguishing of fires mentioned at the outset and known from DE 195 00 477 Cl, as well as the corresponding method in such a way that concentrated extinguishing agent delivery is directed in the direction of the threat satisfactory room penetration and surface coverage is possible.

To achieve the object, the device for extinguishing fires of the type mentioned at the outset is designed in such a way that the pulse of the first hose facing away from the danger point is greater than the pulse of the second hose facing the danger point.

The impulse of a body is known to mean the product of its mass and its speed. Density also refers to the ratio of the mass of a body to its volume. Thus the momentum which is given to the extinguishing agent by the explosion depends on the volume and the

Density of the extinguishing agent and the size of the explosive charge, which ensures the speed of the extinguishing agent particles. The alignment of the extinguishing agent ejection towards the danger point and the desired throwing characteristic is thus achieved in that the product of the mass and the speed of the extinguishing agent of the first explosive hose, which is viewed behind the second explosive hose from the danger point, gives a greater impulse to the extinguishing agent of the emits second hose when it has received its own explosive charge, which as a result leads to a deflection of the main mass of the extinguishing agent in the direction of the threat by impulse superimposition.

The object on which the invention is based is further achieved by a method which is adapted to the device according to the invention and in which it is essential that the disintegrants of the first and the second hose are ignited simultaneously in order to achieve the impulse superimposition described above.

Both the device according to the invention and the method have a number of advantages which significantly increase the effectiveness in extinguishing fires. On the one hand, there is an advantage in the targeted ejection of the extinguishing agent itself, which means that the extinguishing agent used can be used more effectively. In the known device and the corresponding method, the extinguishing agent is disadvantageously released symmetrically on both sides of the explosive hose (s) and, moreover, the horizontal lobes of the extinguishing agent are arranged so flat above the surface of the ground that the effectiveness of the extinguishing agent used is very unsatisfactory. In the embodiments according to the invention, the extinguishing agent is discharged asymmetrically in the direction of the danger point and at an optimal angle to the floor surface, so that an optimal distribution and throwing distance of the extinguishing agent is achieved. Furthermore, by choosing a larger and a smaller explosive hose, it can be achieved as a further advantage that the amount of extinguishing agent not delivered in the direction of the danger point is kept low.

Advantageous developments of the device according to the invention are specified in claims 2 to 6, and for the method according to the invention in claims 8 and 9. Experimental studies have shown that the ratio λ, which indicates the ratio of the pulse I _{x of} the first hose to the pulse I _{2 of} the second hose and by the formula

(di qi ^* Pi)

= λ =

can be represented (d = hose diameter, q = amount of explosive, p = density of extinguishing agent), must be at least equal to 2 in order to achieve a satisfactory directional effect. In this respect, a first development of the device according to the invention provides that the pulse I ₁ emanating from the first hose is at least approximately twice as large as that from the second

Hose outgoing pulse I ₂ .

It has already been explained above that the pulse delivered to the extinguishing agent by the detonation of the explosive charge in relation to the present invention is essentially a function of the diameter of the hose in which the extinguishing agent is contained, the density p of the extinguishing agent, and finally the size of the explosive charge, expressed by the amount of explosive q. Since, for example, detonating cords, such as are preferably used in the present case, are only available in Germany in commercially available sizes of twelve, twenty, forty or one hundred g / m, the need to optimize the use of extinguishing agents, the diameter of the hoses used, the size of the Match the explosive charge and the type of extinguishing agent used. The extinguishing agent can consist, for example, of pure water with the known density 1, or of a pre-expanded extinguishing agent with a significantly lower density. Taking these findings into account, a further development of the device for extinguishing fires with a first explosive hose with a first diameter and a first extinguishing agent with a first density and with a second explosive hose with a second diameter and a second extinguishing agent with a second density brings about the desired Directional characteristic of the extinguishing agent ejection in that the amount of disintegrant, the diameter and the density of the extinguishing agent of the first hose facing away from the danger point to the amount of explosive, the diameter and the extinguishing agent density of the second hose facing the danger point according to the formula

behavior. As a result, this development of the device according to the invention allows any size combinations of the two explosive hoses for certain extinguishing agent compositions, for which the required amounts of disintegrant can be calculated in good approximation according to the formula given. Conversely, when using detonating cords in commercially available discrete sizes, that is, with a given amount of explosive, the corresponding hose diameter can be determined taking into account the composition of the extinguishing agent. Finally, this further development makes it possible to fill a pre-foamed extinguishing agent into an explosive hose instead of pure water, as a result of which the water requirement can be greatly reduced. This is particularly advantageous in inaccessible places, for example in the case of forest fires.

The second hose facing the danger point preferably has a larger diameter than the first hose facing away from the danger point. This training has the background that the second hose, which is closer to the potential or existing source of fire, mainly acts as an extinguishing agent supplier, while the other (first) hose essentially acts as a pulse generator.

It has also been shown experimentally that it is sufficient if the second hose facing the danger point, which primarily acts as a supplier of extinguishing agent, is provided with a smaller detonating cord, which essentially has only the task of simultaneously detonating the second detonating hose the detonating cord of the first hose. In this respect, a further development of the invention provides that the amount of explosive of the first hose is greater than the amount of explosive of the second hose.

The first extinguishing agent in the first hose is particularly preferably water, and the second extinguishing agent in the second hose is a mixture of water and an extinguishing agent additive, so that the environmental impact and the costs of the extinguishing agent additive can be kept as low as possible. The extinguishing agent additive can, for example, be a pure one

Foaming agent or a so-called "retarder". A retarder is understood to mean either salts that penetrate the pores of the burning material and therefore prevent its outgassing, or thickening gels that form a protective coating on the burning material and thus cause the fire to suffocate.

In a further development of the method according to the invention, according to which the impulse emanating from the first hose must be greater than the impulse emanating from the second hose, provision is again made for the variables which essentially determine the impulse, namely the amount of explosive, the diameter and the density of the extinguishing agent of the explosive hoses, according to the formula mentioned at the beginning

λ. «4 ₍ i) <Ϊ2 ^d l Pi be dimensioned, and that the explosives of the first and the second hose (1, 2) are ignited simultaneously.

To use the extinguishing device or the application of the

A method for preventive fire protection in stationary systems is preferably provided for the detonating agent to be ignited on the basis of a signal from a device for early detection of fire. Here, the term “stationary systems” is understood to mean, for example, oil or gas tanks, refineries, oil drilling or production facilities, storage rooms, airfield runways and landing strips or aircraft parking areas, without this list being exhaustive. A device for early fire detection includes a sensor with which the presence of a fire parameter such as smoke or the like is detected at the earliest stage of the fire and leads to the triggering of an alarm.

Two exemplary embodiments of the device according to the invention and the corresponding method are explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing.

Show it:

Figure 1 is a schematic representation of the explosive pattern with a single hose according to the prior art.

2 shows a schematic illustration of the explosive pattern of two adjacent explosive hoses according to the prior art;

3 shows a schematic illustration of two explosive hoses to explain the first exemplary embodiment according to the invention;

4 shows a schematic illustration of two hoses with different diameters to explain the second exemplary embodiment according to the invention; and Fig. 5 is a schematic representation of the explosive pattern according to the second embodiment of the invention.

Figures 1 and 2 show schematically the explosive pictures at

Use of a single detonation hose 1 and two detonation hoses 1, 2 arranged parallel to one another in accordance with the prior art. Both explosive devices have in common that the extinguishing agent is distributed symmetrically on both sides of the detonation hose or hoses. A vertical lobe 6 and a left horizontal lobe 7 and a right horizontal lobe 8 are formed in each case. The horizontal lobes 7, 8 are arranged flat above the bottom 9. It is clearly recognizable that in both explosive pictures there is no delivery of extinguishing agent at a 45 "angle to the floor 9. The only difference between the explosive pictures of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 is that the vertical lobe 6 when two explosive hoses 1, 2 is significantly higher and larger in volume than when using a single hose according to FIG. 1.

The lack of extinguishing agent ejection at a 45 ° angle to the floor 9 and the small spreading of the horizontal lobes 7, 8, which can be seen in both explosive pictures, have resulted in an ineffective and unsatisfactory use of extinguishing agent. For a comprehensive and wide ejection of extinguishing agent in the direction of threat 5, a deflection of the main mass of the extinguishing agent at an angle of 45 ° to the floor 9 is desirable.

3 shows a schematic illustration of two identical detonation hoses 1, 2 arranged in parallel and next to one another. The hoses are filled with an extinguishing agent and closed at both ends. An explosive 3, 4 in the form of a flexible detonating cord is arranged in each hose 1, 2. The detonating cords are connected in a manner not shown here to an ignition device which is used to ignite the explosive charge, as a result of which the extinguishing agent is atomized into a mist and set on fire. To a directed one To achieve extinguishing agent ejection during the detonation of the explosives, it is provided in this first embodiment of the device according to the invention that the amount of explosive q _λ of the first hose 1 facing away from the danger point is greater than the amount of explosive q ₂ of the second hose 2 facing the danger point (in relation 3 and 4, the danger point is on the right). As a result, the first hose emits a greater impulse than the second hose, which leads to the desired direction in the case of the impulse superimposition caused by the detonation of both hoses.

FIG. 4 shows a similar schematic illustration of two explosive hoses 1, 2 as in FIG. 3, the explosive hose 1 here having a smaller diameter than the explosive hose 2 to explain the second exemplary embodiment of the invention. Furthermore, the hose 1 contains a first extinguishing agent in the form of pure water, while the hose 2 contains a second extinguishing agent in the form of a pre-expanded mixture of water and an extinguishing agent additive. Here, too, both hoses 1, 2 are each equipped with a flexible detonating cord 3, 4, which extend through the entire length of the detonating hoses 1, 2. In this embodiment of the device according to the invention, that is to say in the case of explosive hoses with different diameters (d _j ^ ≠ d ₂ ), the amount of explosive q _λ , the diameter d ₁ and the extinguishing agent density p of the first one facing away from the danger point (on the right in FIG. 4) behave Hose 1 to the amount of explosive q ₂ , to the diameter d ₂ and to the extinguishing agent density p ₂ of the second hose 2 facing the danger point according to the formula

With this formula, the conditions of explosive charge / hose diameter / Calculate the density of the extinguishing agent for the use of two explosive hoses 1, 2 arranged parallel to one another with the aim of achieving a directed ejection of the extinguishing agent when the explosive detonates. The following guide values are mentioned as an example of the configuration of the detonation hoses 1, 2 according to the above-mentioned formula:

d _x = 14 cm; q _x = 100 g / m; d ₂ = 18 cm; q ₂ = 12 g / m.

With these exemplary values, an extinguishing agent ejection focused on the danger point is achieved if the hose 1 is the one that faces away from the danger point and the hose 2 is the one that faces the danger point.

5 shows a schematic representation of an explosive pattern as can be achieved with the second embodiment according to the invention. In this example, the first hose 1 facing away from the danger point has a smaller diameter than the second hose 2 facing the danger point. However, according to the above-mentioned formula, the hose 1 is equipped with a significantly larger explosive charge. The result in the explosive pattern is a greatly enlarged extinguishing agent lobe 8 directed to the right against the threat direction 5, which is generated by a pulse overlay of the extinguishing agent thrown out of the two explosive hoses 1, 2. The extinguishing agent lobe 8 is a mixture of the vertical lobe 6 and the pure horizontal lobe 8 according to FIG. 2 and throws out the main mass of the extinguishing agent to the right against the threat direction 5. In comparison, the left horizontal lobe 7 has remained small, which also indicates a very targeted and effective use of extinguishing agent. The method according to the invention will now be explained again with reference to FIG. 5.

The two flexible hoses 1, 2, which can be closed at both ends, of which the hose 1 has a first diameter d ₂ and the second hose 2 has a second diameter d ₂ , are laid out transversely to the threat direction and parallel to one another in front of a danger point, which poses a fire threat in the direction of arrow 5. Then the tubes 1, 2 are each equipped with a flexible detonating cord 3, 4 and each filled with an extinguishing agent and closed at their ends. The detonating cords 3, 4 are connected to an ignition device in a manner not shown here. The detonation of the detonating cords 3, 4 atomizes the extinguishing agents contained in the hoses 1, 2 into a mist and sets them on fire. By generating impulses of different sizes in the two hoses 1, 2, a targeted ejection of the extinguishing agent is achieved. In the explosive pattern shown in FIG. 5, the smaller hose 1 was equipped with a larger amount of explosive than the larger hose 2. Finally, the detonating cords of the first and the second hose 1, 2 were ignited at the same time, so that a pulse superimposition took place.

Claims

claims

1. Device for extinguishing fires, with two flexible hoses (1, 2) arranged next to one another and transversely to the direction of threat (5), which can be closed at both ends, for receiving a first and a second extinguishing agent, and each with an explosive (3, 4) in or on the hoses (1, 2), by the ignition of which a pulse (I _lr I ₂ ) is generated, by means of which the extinguishing agent is atomized into a mist and set on fire, characterized in that the pulse (I _x ), which starts from the first hose (1) facing away from the danger point, is greater than the impulse (I ₂ ), which starts from the second hose (2) facing the danger point.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that ß the outgoing from the first hose (1) pulse (I ₂ ) is at least about twice as large as the outgoing from the second hose (2) pulse (I ₂ ).

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, with a first flexible, closable at both ends hose (1) with a first diameter (d ₂ ) for receiving a first extinguishing agent, and with a second flexible, closable at both ends hose (2) with a second

Diameter (d ₂ ) for receiving a second extinguishing agent, characterized in that the amount of disintegrant (q _j ), the diameter (d ₂ ) and the density of extinguishing agent p ^) of the first hose (1) facing away from the danger point are related to the amount of disintegrant

(q ₂ ), the diameter (d ₂ ) and the extinguishing agent density (p ₂ ) of the second hose (2) facing the danger point according to the formula Ül «4 (-) ² > -i« 32 ^d l pl

behavior.

4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the second hose (2) facing the danger point has a larger diameter (d ₂ ) than the first hose (1) facing away from the danger point.

5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that ß the amount of explosive (q _λ ) of the first hose (1) is greater than the amount of explosive (q ₂ ) of the second hose (2).

6. The device according to one of claims 1 to 4, where the first extinguishing agent is water and the second extinguishing agent is a water retarder mixture or a water / foam mixture.

7. A method for extinguishing fires, in which two flexible hoses (1, 2) which can be closed at both ends are laid out transversely to the direction of the threat in front of a danger point, are each equipped with an explosive (3, 4) and are each filled with an extinguishing agent, and in which one pulse (I _according to the ignition of the explosives (3, 4)

I ₂ ) is produced, by means of which the extinguishing agents are atomized into a mist and set on fire, characterized in that ß by appropriate dimensioning of the amount of disintegrant (q ^, the diameter (d _λ ) and the extinguishing agent density (p _x ) of the first hose (1) and the amount of disintegrant (q ₂ ), the diameter (d ₂ ) and the extinguishing agent density (p ₂ ) of the second hose (2) in the of the The first hose (1) facing away from the danger point generates a larger pulse (I _x ) than the pulse (I ₂ ) of the second hose (2) facing the danger point, and that the explosives of the first and the second hose (1, 2) simultaneously be ignited.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein a first flexible, closable at both ends hose (1) with a first diameter (d _λ ) and a second flexible, closable at both ends hose (2) with a second diameter (d ₂ ) laid out transversely to the direction of the threat in front of a danger point, each with an explosive (3, 4) and filled with a first extinguishing agent or with a second extinguishing agent, characterized in that the amount of explosive (q), the first diameter (d _± ) and the extinguishing agent density ρ) of the first hose (1) facing away from the danger point and the amount of explosive (q ₂ ), the second diameter (d ₂ ) and the extinguishing agent density (p ₂ ) of the second hose (2) facing the danger point according to the formula

be dimensioned, and that the explosives of the first and the second hose (1, 2) are ignited simultaneously.

9. The method according to claim 7 or 8, which is used for preventive fire protection in stationary systems, d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t, d a ß the ignition of the explosives (3, 4) takes place on the basis of a signal of a device for early fire detection.