EP1260248B1 - Method and device for controlling a fire extinguishing plant with pressurized gas - Google Patents

Abstract

The method is for control of a high pressure gas fire extinguishant discharge circuit which has a electro-pneumatic control circuit (11) for a gas bottle (1). The circuit has a rapid opening valve (2) and a limiting valve. The method involves opening the rapid opening valve (2) through a force control when the pressure limiting valve (6) is opened. The control circuit can have a time limited magnetic valve for opening the rapid opening valve.

Description

The invention relates to a method and apparatus for controlling a high-pressure gas fire extinguishing system by means of a controlled by a fire alarm control panel electro-pneumatic control device, wherein the gaseous extinguishing agent stored under high pressure in at least one gas cylinder with a quick opening valve and the extinguishing agent in the event of a fire behind the quick opening valve on a reduced mean pressure and then behind at least one a control valve controlled range valve a second time to a low pressure and is supplied with this pressure with open quick-opening and range valves to the extinguishing nozzles.

Such fire extinguishing systems are operated for economic reasons with an extinguishing agent stored under high pressure, such as argon, argonite, nitrogen, inergen or the like (US Pat. DE 42 20 062 C2 ). The extinguishing agent is stored in the high-pressure gas cylinders in compressed form. With these permanent gases, the available gas quantity increases with the applied pressure, so that the storage under high pressure is particularly economical. The older system was operated at 200 bar and approved system components are available for this pressure and application.

To improve the economy was at a (not pre-published) gas high-pressure extinguishing system EP-A-1 116 499 , published on 18.07.2001, with priority DE 200 00365U from 11.01.2000, published on 23.05.2001 converted the storage of the gaseous extinguishing agent by the use of simple means of 200 bar to 300 bar and provided for this purpose, a further pressure reducing device.

The preambles of claims 1 and 8 are based on a gas fire extinguishing system DE 42 20 062 A1 , This fire extinguishing system has numerous gas cylinders containing the extinguishing agent. The gas cylinders are each provided with a quick opening valve, which is connected via a pressure reducing device with a range valve. To open a range valve, a control bottle is present in each case, which is pneumatically connected to an opening device. On the one hand, the opening device actuates the area valve and, on the other hand, supplies a signal to a control line, which indicates that an actuation process has taken place. The control line then causes the quick-opening valves to open, so that the quenching gas can flow into the quenching line via the opened range valve. Although this achieves that under normal circumstances, the quick opening valve is first opened, however, it can not be ruled out that faults occur in which the opening of the range valve is signaled, although it has actually not been done.

In DE 43 02 334 A is described working with a gaseous extinguishing fire extinguishing system. The extinguishing agent, such as carbon dioxide, has the disadvantage that it displaces the oxygen in the extinguishing area and suffocation can lead. In order to allow sufficient time for persons to leave the extinguishing area, the gaseous extinguishing agent is delayed while an alarm is instantaneously generated. When the alarm signal sounds, persons present in the extinguishing area can leave the extinguishing area before the extinguishing gas flows out.

A similar fire extinguishing system is described in EP 0 409 237 A2 , In this case, a pneumatic delay element is arranged behind the alarm triggering causing valves. While the alarm generation is instantaneous, the range valves are opened after a delay time.

In the case of multi-zone systems, the gaseous extinguishing agent is supplied to the area to be extinguished in the event of fire via a range valve connected to a collecting pipe.

To ensure that the gas flow does not reach the extinguishing nozzles with the high pressure in the event of a fault, a safety line led to the outside is provided at the end of the collecting pipe, which ensures that the gas flow certainly reaches the outside.

With the removal of the high pressure gaseous extinguishing agent into the open can not be prevented that randomly located in the area of the security line led to the outside people are hit by the escaping gas pressure and injured. The fire extinguishing systems in question here are often installed in the core areas of large administrative buildings or the like. At these points, the leadership of the security line to the outside for safety, construction or architectural reasons is not possible.

The invention has for its object to avoid a guided outdoors safety line and ensure that no abnormal pressure builds up in the pipe system in the event of a fault.

This object is achieved in that the quick opening valve is opened by a positive control only after the opening of the associated area valve.

With the positive control according to the invention, it is always achieved that in each case first the range valve and then only the quick-opening valves of the high-pressure gas cylinders open. This ensures that no harmful dynamic pressure can occur in the pipe system in the event of a malfunction.

According to the invention, it is once provided that in the case of an electropneumatic forced control, the area valve opened by the control gas emits a control signal to the fire alarm control unit, from which a control signal to a solenoid valve in the electropneumatic control device for opening the quick-opening valve goes off.

On the other hand, it is provided that, in the case of a pneumatic positive control, the area valve opened by the control gas is actuated by means of a pneumatic pulse within the range pneumatic-mechanical control device opens a pneumatic valve and thus releases the control gas to open the quick-opening valve.

Both positive controls ensure that the quick-opening valves of the high-pressure gas cylinders are opened only when the associated range valve is open.

Further method steps and device features are described with reference to a drawing.

• Fig. 1 ein Schaltschema mit einer elektropneumatischen Zwangssteuerung;
• Fig. 2 ein Schaltschema mit einer pneumatischmechanischen Zwangssteuerung, die allerdings nicht der vorliegende Erfindung entspricht.

In one embodiment, two embodiments are shown. It shows:

• Fig. 1 a circuit diagram with an electropneumatic forced control;
• Fig. 2 a circuit diagram with a pneumatic-mechanical positive control, which does not correspond to the present invention.

Both embodiments have the following common features.

Several Hochduckflaschen 1 for a gaseous extinguishing agent are provided with trigger 3 having quick opening valves 2, which are connected to a guided to a range valve 6 manifold 5. Between the quick opening valves 2 and the manifold 5 pressure reducing 4 are installed, which reduce the stored for example with 300 bar in the high-pressure bottles 1 gaseous extinguishing agent to 200 bar. The range valve 6 is provided with a pneumatic trigger 7 and a limit switch 8. From the range valve 6 is an extinguishing line 9, which is guided to the extinguishing nozzles, not shown. In the extinguishing line 9, a further pressure reducing device 37 is installed immediately behind the area valve 6, with which the gaseous extinguishing agent is reduced from 200 bar to eg 60 bar. With this lower pressure, the extinguishing agent reaches the extinguishing nozzles. Provided is a fire alarm control panel 10 and an electro-pneumatic control device 11. For controlling the quick opening valves 2 and the area valve 6 is a filled with a control gas control bottle 12 is provided with a cylinder valve 13 and an electrical release 14 from the fire panel 10 via an electrical Control line 15 is controlled. From the cylinder valve 13, a pneumatic control line 16 is guided into the electropneumatic control device 11, where the control line 16 is provided with a solenoid valve 17 with an electric release 18 and with a pneumatic cylinder control unit 23. The trigger 18 is controlled by the fire panel 10 by means of an electrical control line 19. From the bottle control unit 23, a control line 24 is guided via branch lines 25 to the triggers 3 of the quick-opening valves 2. Seen in the direction of flow of the control gas, a pneumatic control line 26 is branched off behind the solenoid valve 17 from the control line 16 and led to the pneumatic trigger 7 of the range valve 6.

In case of fire, a fire alarm 36 via a control line 33, a fire signal to the fire panel 10, which in turn opens the cylinder valve 13 by means of the control line 15 and the shutter 14.

Electropneumatic forced control according to FIG. 1.

For the electropneumatic forced control of the pneumatic trigger 7 is provided with a further limit switch 31, from which an electrical control line 32 is guided to the fire panel 10. Furthermore, the control line 16 is provided with a solenoid valve 20 with an electrical release 21, which is connected by means of an electrical control line 22 to the fire panel. The solenoid valve 20 has a dual function in this embodiment. It usually acts as a check valve and in a special case as a stop valve, as will be described in more detail below. For the special case, a stop button 35 and a control line 34 is provided.

• Im Brandfalle öffnet die Brandmeldezentrale10 nach Signal des Brandmelders 36 mittels der Steuerleitung 15 das Steuergasventil 13, so dass das Steuergas bis zu dem geschlossenen Magnetventil 17 fließt. Gleichzeitig öffnet die Brandmeldezentrale 10 mittels der Steuerleitung 19 das Magnetventil 17, so dass das Steuergas bis zum geschlossenen Magnetventil 20 fließt. Jetzt kann das Steuergas über die Steuerleitung 26 und dem pneumatischen Auslöser 7 das Bereichsventil 6 öffnen. Ist das Bereichsventil 6 geöffnet, erhält der Endschalter 31 ein Signal, das mittels der elektrischen Steuerleitung 32 an die Brandmeldezentrale 10 weitergeleitet wird. Diese gibt wiederum über die elektrische Steuerleitung 22 ein Öffnungssignal an den elektrischen Auslöser 21, der dann das Magnetventil 20 öffnet. Nun können über die Flaschensteuereinrichtung 23 die Schnellöffnungsventile 2 geöffnet und folglich das gasförmige Löschmittel freigegeben werden.

The effect of this electropneumatic forced control is as follows:

• In case of fire, the fire panel 10 opens the signal of the fire alarm 36 by means of the control line 15, the control gas valve 13, so that the control gas flows to the closed solenoid valve 17. At the same time opens the Fire alarm panel 10 by means of the control line 19, the solenoid valve 17, so that the control gas flows to the closed solenoid valve 20. Now the control gas via the control line 26 and the pneumatic trigger 7, the area valve 6 open. If the range valve 6 is opened, the limit switch 31 receives a signal, which is forwarded by means of the electrical control line 32 to the fire panel 10. This in turn gives via the electrical control line 22 an opening signal to the electrical release 21, which then opens the solenoid valve 20. Now, via the bottle control device 23, the quick opening valves 2 can be opened and consequently the gaseous extinguishing agent can be released.

This forced control ensures at all times that first the range valve 6 opens and then the range valves 2 are then opened.

Pneumatic-mechanical forced control according to FIG. 2.

For this pneumatic-mechanical positive control of the pneumatic trigger 7 is provided with a pneumatic valve 28, from which once a bypass line 29 for Control line 26 goes off and on the other hand, a pneumatic control line 30 is guided to a pneumatic control valve 27 in the control line 16. Furthermore, a solenoid valve 20 is installed in the control line 16, which is controlled via the control line 22 of the fire panel 10 and kept closed only in special cases on the stop button 35. An electrical release 21 is connected by means of an electrical control line 22 to the fire panel 10. This required for the special case solenoid valve 20 will be described in more detail below. This solenoid valve 20 is not always installed, but only required for the special case.

The mode of action of this pneumatic-mechanical positive control is as follows.

In case of fire, the fire panel 10 opens the signal from the fire alarm 36 by means of the control line 15, the cylinder valve 13, so that the control gas flows to the closed solenoid valve 17. At the same time the fire panel 10 opens the solenoid valve 17 by means of the control line 19, so that the control gas flows to the closed pneumatic control valve 27. Now the control gas via the control line 26 and the pneumatic trigger 7 open the range valve 6 and simultaneously actuate the pneumatic valve 28 mechanically. As a result, the pneumatic valve 28 is opened and the control gas is supplied by means of the control line 30 to the pneumatic valve 27 and this opened. The control gas flows to the bottle control unit 23, which now opens the quick-opening valves 2, so that the extinguishing agent can be released.

special case

Previously, a special case is indicated. This can then occur if, for example, in case of fire after triggering of the system on the fire panel 10 is recognized that, for example, in the danger area are still persons who need to be rescued. In this case, for example, due to the timing of the quick opening valves by hand, the stop button 35 is pressed and held until the persons are rescued. If the stop button 35 is pressed, via the control line 34, a signal to the fire panel 10, which operates as follows.

In the case after FIG. 1 the solenoid valve 20 opened by the fire panel 10 is closed and the extinguishing agent retained until the danger is over.

In the case after FIG. 2 the same happens. Again, the solenoid valve 20 is kept closed in the special case for the required time.

Claims (12)

1. A method for controlling a fire-extinguishing system of the high-pressure gas type by means of an electropneumatic control means (11) influenced by a central fire alarm system (10), wherein a gaseous extinguishing agent is stored under high pressure in at least one gas bottle (1) having a quick-release valve (2) and, in the event of a fire, is reduced in pressure downstream of the quick-release valve (2) and is supplied to the extinguishing nozzles while the quick-release valve and area valves (2, 6) are open,
   characterized in
   that in the event of a fire, the extinguishing agent is first reduced to a medium pressure and is then reduced a second time to a lower pressure downstream of at least one area valve (6) controlled by a control gas and is fed to the extinguishing nozzles at this pressure, and that the quick-release valve (2) is allowed by positive control to open only after the associated area valve (6) is in its open state.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein, in the event of a fire, the central fire alarm system (10) supplies a control signal to a control gas valve (13) and simultaneously supplies an opening signal to a magnetic valve (17) within the electropneumatic control means (11) to open the area valve (6), characterized in that, in case of a positive electropneumatic control, the area valve (6) opened by the control gas supplies a control signal to the central fire alarm system (10) from where a control signal is supplied to a magnetic valve (20) in the control circuit (11) to open the quick-release valve (2).
3. The method of claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the control signal is generated by means of a limit switch (31) of the area valve (6).
4. The method of claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the two magnetic valves (17, 20) of the control means are opened by means of electronic triggers (18, 21).
5. The method of claim 1, wherein, in the event of a fire, the central fire alarm system (10) supplies a control signal to a control gas valve (13) and simultaneously supplies an opening signal to a magnetic valve (17) within the electropneumatic control means (11) to open the area valve, characterized in that, in case of a positive pneumatic-mechanical control, the area valve (6) opened by the control gas uses a pneumatic pulse within the electropneumatic control means (11) to open a pneumatic valve and thereby releases the control gas to open the quick-release valve (2).
6. The method of claim 4 or 5, characterized in that, in a special case, a magnetic valve (20) within the electropneumatic control means is automatically and/or manually kept closed for a certain time before the quick-release valve (2) is opened.
7. The method of claim 6, characterized in that the triggering of the magnetic valve (20) is delayed for a certain time by means of a stop button (35), a delay means or the like.
8. A fire extinguishing system of the high-pressure gas type comprising a central fire alarm system (10), an electropneumatic control means (11), at least one gas bottle (1) having a quick-release valve (2) in which the gaseous extinguishing agent can be stored under high pressure, a distributing line (5) provided with a pressure reducing means (4) and at least one area valve (6) from which an extinguishing conduit (9) is branched off,
   characterized in that
   a further pressure reducing means is provided in the extinguishing conduit (9) and that a positive control is provided that allows the quick-release valve (2) to open only after the associated area valve (6) is in the open state.
9. The fire extinguishing system of the high-pressure gas type of claim 8, characterized in that, in the case of an electromechanical positive control, an electric control line (32) extends from a limit switch (31) of the area valve (6) to the central fire alarm system (10), and from there another electric control line (22) extends to an electric trigger (21) of a magnetic valve (20) in a control line (16) supplying control gas to the control means (11).
10. The fire extinguishing system of the high-pressure gas type of claim 8, characterized in that, in the case of a positive pneumatic-mechanical control, a control line (30) is branched off from a pneumatic valve (28) of the pneumatic trigger (7), said valve comprising a bypass line (29), said control line extending to a pneumatic control valve (27) in a control line (16) supplying control gas to the control means (11).
11. The fire extinguishing system of the high-pressure gas type of claim 10, characterized in that a magnetic valve (20) with an electric trigger (21) is built into the control line (16), wherein an electric control line (22) that is connected with said central fire alarm system (10), is connected with said trigger.
12. The fire extinguishing system of the high-pressure gas type o one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that for keeping the magnetic valve (20) closed for a short time, a control line (34) extending from a stop button (35) or the like is led into the central fire alarm system (10).

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