Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A62—LIFE-SAVING; FIRE-FIGHTING
  • A62C—FIRE-FIGHTING
  • A62C99/00—Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
  • A62C99/0081—Training methods or equipment for fire-fighting

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an exercise installation for training people to extinguish a fire.
• Devices of this type which include means capable of generating a real fire, by igniting a fuel - for example a gas produced by a burner -; during training, the trainee should try to put out the fire as quickly and efficiently as possible, using an appropriate fire extinguisher.
• the installation which is the subject of the invention is intended for training people in extinguishing a fire which simulates a hydrocarbon fire, this installation comprising:
• a hearth constituted by a gas burner which is immersed in water contained in a tank;
• the electrode is exposed to the flames, which poses risks of fouling and deterioration resulting from the high temperature.
• the electrode is also exposed to the extinguishing agent used during the exercise, for example water or powder.
• This exposure can compromise the proper functioning of the electrode, for the ignition of a new fire when a trainee has completed his exercise.
• the pneumatic cylinder has a relatively large length, and its presence on one side of the tank can pose difficulties in certain configurations, in particular when it is desired to attach the tank to a partition of the exercise room or place the tank. in a corner of this room.
• the invention aims to solve these difficulties.
• an ignition system comprising a housing positioned near the tank, the interior space of which is thermally protected, and which is provided a heat-resistant tube, for example made of stainless steel, the free end of which opens a short distance above the surface of the water contained in the tank, while inside this housing are arranged, on the one hand, a device for blowing into this tube a mixture of combustible gas, such as propane and air, and on the other hand, a spark plug provided with said electrode, the latter extending axially inside the tube, over only part of its length.
• combustible gas such as propane and air
• the size of the housing is small compared to that of the tank. This thermally insulated housing and the tube protect all of the active components of the ignition system, and in particular the electrode.
• the spark necessary for ignition is not created in the vicinity of the burner, but inside the tube, in order to ignite the combustible mixture which runs through it. These are flames that leave the tube, like a blowtorch, to cause the ignition of the burner.
• the tube remains in place above the tank, its presence not interfering with the exercise, and the electrode being sheltered inside the tube.
• the latter plays the role of a protective sheath, preventing the electrode from being exposed to flames, which would pose risks of fouling and deterioration resulting from the high temperature.
• the electrode is also protected from the extinguishing agent used during the exercise.
• the device for blowing the mixture of combustible gas and air into the tube is a hollow body having inlet openings for the combustible gas and for the air;
• the installation includes a flame presence control means inside the tube, such as an ultraviolet radiation detector, this control means being located inside said housing, at the entrance of this tube;
• the tube assumes the shape of a cane, its free end portion being curved and turned downward, to open just above the surface of the water contained in the tank;
• the burner is supplied by the mixture of combustible gas and air via a “swan neck” pipe;
• the installation includes means for controlling the extinction of flames present in the tank, such as ultraviolet radiation probes; the installation comprises means for controlling the extinction of the flames present in the tank, such as at least one temperature sensor, for example consisting of a thermocouple type probe placed in the immediate vicinity of the hearth and relayed by a sensor "intelligent" capable of detecting and recording temperature readings in real time in the vicinity of the fireplace;
• the installation includes a control circuit capable of automatically cutting off the supply of fuel gas to the burner if the extinction of the flames in the tank has not been detected beyond a determined period of time from l 'ignition;
• the combustible gas is supplied from a pressurized tank and the air by means of a booster, the mixture being made by a “T” connection, into which the air supply duct penetrates, perpendicularly , inside the fuel gas supply pipe;
• the air is supplied to said device by means of a supply duct which is connected to the air inlet mouth and is supplied with air by said booster;
• the combustible gas is brought to said device by means of a supply conduit which is connected to the inlet mouth of the combustible gas, and is supplied with combustible gas from the pressure tank;
• the housing is equipped with a device for adjusting the flow of combustible gas admitted into the device used to inject the mixture of combustible gas and air into the tube;
• the air is brought to this device by means of at least one air intake opening with adjustable flow rate mounted in the wall of the housing;
• This housing is internally lined with a layer of thermally insulating material;
• the burner is made of intertwined stainless steel fibers.
• FIG. 1 is a general schematic view of the entire installation
• - Figure 2 is a schematic general view, in axial section, and on a larger scale, of the ignition system which is provided with the installation;
• - Figure 3 is a detail of the "T" connection of the gas and air supply conduits;
• FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the hearth, intended to illustrate the operation of the installation;
• FIG. 5 is a diagram of the installation command and control circuit.
• the reference numeral 1 designates a cylinder of combustible gas, in this case propane; As an indication, the gas pressure in the bottle is between 7 and 17 bars approximately.
• Reference 2 designates a known type of booster, capable of providing an air flow whose pressure is slightly higher than atmospheric pressure.
• Reference 3 designates a connection which - as will be seen later - ensures the connection of the propane and air conduits, so as to supply a mixture of combustible gases to an exercise fireplace.
• the latter consists of a burner 5 which is immersed in water E contained in a tank, or tank, 4 arranged horizontally on a support, for example placed on the ground.
• the submerged burner 5 is a porous horizontal plate, for example composed of knitted stainless steel fibers, the upper face of which is of the “multi-flame” type, allowing spreading of the combustion over the entire upper face of the burner.
• the shape of the container 4 can be any, for example circular, square or rectangular (seen from above). It is relatively shallow compared to its dimensions in a horizontal plane.
• the reference 6 designates a candle with a double electrode situated on one side of the tank 4, inside a box 7.
• This housing has for example a rectangular or rectangular cubic shape.
• each of its sides is of the order of 300 mm.
• Its wall is heat resistant, for example made of stainless steel.
• a lining 700 of material of the type known having good thermal insulation qualities for example a layer based on mineral fibers.
• the housing 7 is provided with a heat-resistant tube 71, for example made of stainless steel; it extends horizontally, passes over the wall of the tank 4, and its free end portion 710, slightly curved downwards, opens out a short distance above the surface of the water E contained in the tank
• This portion 710 is oriented approximately towards the central region of the submerged burner 5.
• the tube 71 has a length of between approximately 300 and 600 mm, has a diameter of the order of 50 to 60 mm, and it s' extends above the surface of the water at a distance therefrom which is between approximately 50 and 200 mm.
• the tube 71 is fixed in leaktight manner, by suitable means not shown, inside an opening of corresponding section made in one of the walls of the housing 7.
• a device 70 capable of blowing into the tube 71 a mixture of combustible gas, such as propane and air, as well as an electric candle provided with the electrode 6.
• This device 70 is a hollow body having a main part
• the free end portion 780 of the pipe 78 is widened.
• the axis common to the parts 72 and 78 is horizontal, consequently parallel to the axis of the tube 71.
• the hose 78 extends inside the tube 71 only over a part of its length, for example over a third of its length.
• a spark plug 6 is mounted in the end portion of the part 72 which is located inside the housing 7, on the side opposite the pipe 78.
• the latter is provided with a rigid, filiform and rectilinear double electrode 62, which extends axially inside the tabular elements 72 and 78. Its free end is positioned in the open part 780 of the pipe 78.
• Appropriate fixing and retaining means ensure, on the one hand, the maintenance of the device 70 inside the housing 7 in the desired position and, on the other hand, the correct centering of the electrode 62 in the tabular elements 72 and 78.
• References 60 and 61 respectively designate a high-voltage current generator and an electrical conductor supplying the spark plug 6, via a contactor 610 such as a switch controlled by an electromagnet.
• the device 70 has inlet mouths for the combustible gas and for the air.
• the air pipe 720 is located upstream of the fuel gas pipe, if we consider the direction of insufflation of the mixture in the pipe 71, via the pipe 78.
• the axis of this tubing is perpendicular to the axis of the main part 72.
• the axis of the fuel gas pipe 730 forms an acute angle a with the axis of the main part 72, with an apex angle directed downstream.
• the tubing 730 is extended by means of a conduit 73 to a connecting piece 170 carried by a wall of the housing 7.
• a conduit 73 On this conduit 73 is mounted an appropriate system for adjusting the gas flow, materialized in the figure by a chamber 74 containing a movable adjustment flap, for example controlled by cam.
• the conduit 73 is intended to be connected, via a connector 170, to a conduit 17 for supplying combustible gas.
• conduit 76 it is intended either to be connected to an air supply duct 22 -as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2-, or to be left free so that it then communicates with the air present inside the enclosure 7.
• the tubing 720 is extended by means of a short conduit 76, the inlet of which is located inside the housing 70.
• References 8a and 8b designate ultraviolet radiation probes, each intended to detect an area of the focal point. More than two probes can of course be used, depending on the dimensions of the tray 4, and the difficulty that one wishes to give to the exercise.
• a similar ultraviolet radiation probe 8c intended, for its part, to detect the presence of a flame inside the tube 71.
• the references 90 and 91 respectively designate a propane detector and a carbon dioxide detector (CO).
• the reference 93 designates a temperature sensor disposed near the hearth which, as will be seen later, has the function of stopping combustion when the temperature exceeds a determined threshold.
• the reference 92 designates a fan capable of causing ventilation of the room L containing the burner, and in which the exercise is practiced.
• the reference 8d designates a temperature sensor constituted by a thermocouple, capable of detecting a negative temperature gradient in the immediate vicinity of the hearth.
• thermocouple of the type marketed by the French company “PYRO-SYSTEMES” under the commercial reference “TC5-30- Klnc-P", of length equal to 100 mm, of diameter equal to 3 mm, and whose maximum operating temperature is 1100 ° C.
• This sensor 8d is integrated in the upper face of the burner 5.
• the reference 11 designates a safety device, comprising a regulator, which lowers the pressure of the propane supplied by the bottle 1, the pressure in the line 15 being for example of the order of 1.5 bars.
• the references 10a and 10b located respectively upstream and downstream of the apparatus 11, designate manual cut-off valves.
• Reference 12 is also a safety device comprising a regulator, the function of which is to further lower the pressure of the propane, to a relatively low pressure, for example between 30 and 300 millibars approximately, the pressure chosen depending on the type of fire used as well as the dimensions and the power of the burner 5. As an indication, this power is between 50 and 150 KW.
• the references 10c and 10d are manual cut-off valves, located respectively upstream and downstream of the apparatus 12.
• Reference 13 designates a "mini-gas" pressure switch
• reference 14 designates a solenoid valve
• the pressure switch 13 causes the automatic closing of the solenoid valve 14 when the gas pressure is less than a determined threshold, due for example to fouling of a filter located upstream.
• the solenoid valve 14 is controlled by the installation command and control circuit.
• the booster 2 supplies air in the duct 20 at a pressure very slightly higher than atmospheric pressure.
• the direction of air circulation in this duct 20 is symbolized by the arrow A.
• Reference 21 designates a valve, with manual control
• the end of the conduit 20 penetrates into the conduit 16 to form a “T” shaped branch, referenced 3, in which the gas propane P and air A, the circulation of the mixture being symbolized by the arrows M in FIGS. 1 and 2.
• the air supply duct 22 of the device 70 is connected to the duct 20 upstream of the connection 3.
• the mixture Downstream of said connection, the mixture is brought, via a conduit 30 in the form of a swan neck to a connection conduit 31 connected to the burner 5.
• the conduit 31 passes through the bottom of the tank 4 in a sealed manner, thanks to the interposition of an appropriate seal.
• FIG. 4 This phenomenon is represented in FIG. 4, in which the arrows i symbolize the plurality of air streams leaving the burner from the bottom up, causing the body of water (of low height) boiling above above the burner.
• arrows i symbolize the plurality of air streams leaving the burner from the bottom up, causing the body of water (of low height) boiling above above the burner.
• the height of water E in the tank 4 is of the order of 15 to 20 cm
• the thickness of the burner 5 is between 8 and 15 mm
• the height of water above the burner is around 4 to 5 cm.
• the pipe 17 for supplying propane to the ignition device 70 is connected to the pipe 16 at a point located between the pressure switch 13 and the solenoid valve 14.
• the tank is lit by means of the device 70.
• the booster 2 is started, and all the propane supply valves are open, so that:
• the mixture M leaves the burner in the form of small air jets i directed from the bottom up, which ensure a certain boiling of the water E in the tank 4.
• the power of the spark plug is then controlled by electric current, by closing the contactor 610, which generates a spark at the tip of the electrode 62, which is located precisely in the portion 780, at the heart of the fuel mixture. This causes the mixture to ignite and the flame mixture propagates inside the tube 71, from which it leaves through the curved part 710 through which it is directed towards the surface of the water, above the burner 5.
• said circuit 80 controls the contactor 610 to cause the electrical supply to the spark plug 6 to stop.
• the tank extinction training exercise can begin.
• a make-up water supply system can also be added to compensate for losses due to evaporation.
• These two systems could also be grouped together in a water recirculation device with level control, possibly fitted with a filter.
• the circuit 80 receives information from: - the ultraviolet radiation probes 8a, 8b, 8c and the sensor 8d;
• This circuit is programmed to control, according to a determined program, the contactor 610 for controlling the ignition of the electrode, each of the solenoid valves 14 and 18, as well as the fan 92.
• the microprocessor 80 can of course be controlled voluntarily, for example by means of a computer keyboard, in order to introduce various operating parameters and monitoring of the operation, and to start and end the exercise.
• the extinction can also result from sufficient cooling of the hearth, which is in this case detected by the sensor 8d which takes into account the temperature taken in real time.
• the circuit then causes the solenoid valve 14 to close, stopping the arrival of propane at the fire.
• the air supply can continue, which is not a problem.
• the air supplied by the booster can also be directed to the outside, through valve 21. Note that during the entire operation, the electrode is out of reach of the extinguishing agent, and also protected from moisture and water splashes resulting from the boiling of the water. E in the tray 4, thanks to the fact that it is protected by the tube 71. This electrode is therefore ready for a new exercise, which can be repeated immediately, in the same manner as that described above.
• the circuit 80 is programmed in such a way that if the extinction is not carried out by the trainee beyond a given period of time, for example after one minute, the solenoid valve 14 is completely similarly actuated so as to shut off the supply of propane, thereby automatically extinguishing the fire.
• the circuit 80 triggers the starting of the fan 92, so as to evacuate these harmful gases from the room, as well as the stop of the arrival of the propane, by command of the solenoid valve 14.
• the temperature sensor 93 In the event of an abnormal rise in temperature - which may result from an uncontrolled fire start - the temperature sensor 93 also causes the solenoid valve 14 to close, to stop the supply of propane to the burner.
• the difficulty of the exercise can be modified by varying the number and the orientation of the flame detecting probes 8a and 8b.
• the box 7 can be placed sheltered from any risk, use can be made as an oxidizer of ambient air for ignition.
• the duct 22 being removed, the air arrives in the enclosure of the housing 7 via the air intakes 76-77 and 1 & -1T suitably adjusted, then at the mouth 76.
• the arrival of the fuel gas under pressure in the hollow body 72 generates sufficient suction to bring in the air.
• the correct fuel gas - combustion air dosage can be adjusted by means of the cam 75 and, if necessary, by means of the concealable openings 76-77 and 76 * -77 '.
• the installation can be provided in a fixed or mobile room, for example inside a truck of the type described in EP-0 146 465 already cited.

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• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
• Emergency Management (AREA)
• Fire-Extinguishing By Fire Departments, And Fire-Extinguishing Equipment And Control Thereof (AREA)

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• 2002
  • 2002-08-27 FR FR0210609A patent/FR2843889B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2003
  • 2003-08-08 CN CN 03824411 patent/CN1688367A/zh active Pending
  • 2003-08-08 AU AU2003271833A patent/AU2003271833A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2003-08-08 EP EP03753671A patent/EP1531910A2/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2003-08-08 WO PCT/FR2003/002496 patent/WO2004020044A2/fr not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2003-08-08 CA CA002495854A patent/CA2495854A1/fr not_active Abandoned

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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