EP1819403B1 - Device for increasing the effectiveness of the pressurizing gas in an extinguisher bottle - Google Patents

Abstract

A fire extinction device comprises a reservoir (2) of extinguishing agent and means for generating a pressurized gas (30) such that the gas generated (16) may enter the reservoir (2) when the extinguishing agent (4) is to be ejected onto a fire zone. The device of the invention comprises furthermore a refractory separating element (40) between the extinguishing agent (4) and the pressurizing gas generated (16), in order to avoid heat exchanges between them and to optimise the ejection of the extinguishing agent (4).

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

The invention relates to fire-fighting apparatus, ie fire extinguishers. In particular, the invention finds its application in fire extinguishing devices in which the extinguishing agent is expelled from its reservoir by external generation of a gas under pressure.

In one of its aspects, the invention relates to a device disposed in a fire extinguisher tank for improving the efficiency of the pressurizing gas generated and introduced into the tank when the extinguishing agent is to be ejected on a fire zone.

STATE OF THE PRIOR ART

Fire extinguisher extinguishers are known to fall into two broad categories. The first category concerns permanent pressure devices in which a gas ensures the permanent pressurization of the extinguishing agent within a single bottle serving as a reservoir; the extinguishing agent is released by a valve at the outlet of said bottle. In the second category, a propellant is released only when the extinguisher is put into service and releases the extinguishing agent, which is therefore not stored under pressure.

By way of illustration as extinguisher of the first type, it is possible to consider extinguishers currently used to extinguish an aircraft engine fire. These devices, using halon as extinguishing agent, not only allow to extinguish the fire, but also prevent any extension of said fire. The extinguishing agent is contained in a bottle, most of the time spherical, pressurized by an inert gas; one or more distribution lines, connected to said bottle, allow the distribution of the agent to the areas to be protected. At the lower end of the bottle, a calibrated seal closes off each distribution pipe. A pressure sensor is also installed to continuously check the pressurization of the bottle. When a fire is detected, a pyrotechnic detonator is triggered. The resulting shock wave makes it possible to pierce the sealing cap, which causes the bottle to be emptied and the extinguishing agent to be evacuated under the effect of the pressure contained in the bottle towards the areas to be protected, via the pipes.

A major disadvantage of this type of pressurized extinguishers is their sensitivity to micro-leaks, which subjects them to severe conditions of monitoring, verification and maintenance. In addition, the extinguishing agent does not completely fill the bottle since it must be able to contain the pressurizing gas.

For second category extinguishers, they use a separate pressurizing device. These fire-fighting devices are generally equipped with a first compressed gas tank and a second tank for the extinguishing agent. When the apparatus is used, the compressed gas contained in the first tank is communicated via an orifice to the second tank of extinguishing agent for the pressurization of the bottle containing the extinguishing agent. When the extinguishing agent is pressurized, it is ejected to fight the fire, as for appliances of the first category of fire extinguisher.

In some cases, for second class generators, the first compressed gas reservoir can be replaced by a gas generator, as described in the document WO 98/02211 and EP0711578 .

However, the performance of such extinguishers can still be largely optimized. Indeed, some extinguishing agents can quickly absorb the calories of the propellant generated, which leads to a decrease in the pressure in the tank. In particular, in the case of the use of a pyrotechnic material of the propellant type in a fire extinguisher used on an aircraft, the temperature of the components of the extinguisher can reach about 55 ° C below zero, because of the high altitude at which the plane flies.

To compensate for the loss of efficiency resulting from too much absorption of the calories of the propellant, it is possible to increase the volume instantaneous gas generated, that is to say, according to the means used, increase the volume or number of pressurized gas tanks, or the amount of pyrotechnic material. These solutions are detrimental to volume and also weight; these factors are important in any use, and are even essential in the context of aircraft, especially as regards the extinction of engine fires.

STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

The invention proposes to improve the efficiency of a fire extinguisher while avoiding these disadvantages. More particularly, the invention makes it possible to reduce or even eliminate the increase in weight and volume of the means for generating a pressurized gas while maintaining an optimal expulsion of the extinguishing agent whose absorption of calories is limited. In particular, the invention focuses on thermal exchanges and their reduction, aspect not considered in circuit breakers of the prior art.

In one aspect, the invention relates to a fire extinguishing device comprising a reservoir in which is stored an extinguishing agent, means for generating propellant gas, and means for communicating the reservoir with the propellant gas generating means. The propellant can thus enter the tank in order to eject the extinguishing agent.

Advantageously, the tank of the extinguishing device according to the invention is connected, preferably near the accumulation point of the agent, to an extinguishing agent distribution network to the zones to be treated and the communication means are, in general although not limited, located at a point substantially opposite to the accumulation point. Tank closure means prevent the extinguishing agent from flowing into the distribution network in the absence of pressure in said tank; they may consist of a valve whose opening is controlled during the trigger sequence of the fire extinguisher, or a sealed seal calibrated to rupture under pressure.

In addition, the device comprises a separation element which avoids the direct contact between the generated gas and the extinguishing agent and which limits the absorption of calories from the gas generated by the extinguishing agent. Thus the gas generated exerts a maximum pressure in the tank. The separating element is refractory, i.e. it has a low thermal conductivity; it is located downstream of the communication means, preferably in the tank, preferably on the surface of the extinguishing agent.

The separating element can separate the reservoir into two sealed parts; it is also possible that the separating element comprises passages putting the two parts in direct communication, in order to simply greatly reduce the contact surface between the pressurizing gas and extinguishing agent.

Thanks to the separation element, there is little or no heat exchange between the propellant and the extinguishing agent, which makes it possible not to degrade the pressure in the tank. Therefore, it is no longer necessary to increase, for this reason of heat exchange, the volume or number of pressurized gas tanks or the amount of pyrotechnic material.

The separating element, or interface between extinguishing agent and pressurizing gas, may consist of a rigid plate, advantageously made of a material such that it can withstand the stresses associated with contact with the pressurizing gas, and mobile, in order to transmit the pressure of the extinguishing agent.

Such a plate may be solid, or may consist of a grid, with passages which reduce the area of direct contact between the pressurizing gas and the extinguishing agent.

According to another embodiment, the interface between the extinguishing agent and the pressurizing gas is composed of a flexible membrane, which also separates the reservoir into two parts. The membrane may be movable, or fixed around the reservoir periphery according to its elasticity.

The separating element according to the invention may comprise opening means which make it possible to evacuate the pressurizing gases when the reservoir is empty. For example, a fuse cover may be positioned so that, when the extinguishing agent has been ejected, the seal is in front of the discharge port distribution, and opens because of the resulting pressure difference.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The figures of the accompanying drawings will better understand the invention, but are given for information only and are not restrictive.

The figure 1 shows an embodiment of an extinguishing device according to the invention.

The Figures 2A-2D illustrate the operation of another embodiment.

DETAILED PRESENTATION OF PARTICULAR EMBODIMENTS

As shown in figure 1 , an extinguishing device, or extinguisher, 1 comprises a bottle 2 which serves as an extinguishing agent reservoir 4; the bottle 2 is preferably at ambient pressure. The invention is more particularly applicable to an extinguishing agent 4 in liquid form; in particular, the extinguishing agent 4 can have a very low saturation vapor pressure (be close to a solvent) and be rather in the liquid state, especially in the range of temperatures relevant to the aeronautical application.

The bottle 2 has one or more outlet orifices 6, which can be coupled to distribution pipes 8, in order to allow the extinguishing agent 4 to be ejected towards an area to be treated. Preferably, the outlet orifices 6 are located on the side where the extinguishing agent 4 accumulates, that is to say generally downward 2. Advantageously, each outlet port 6 is closed by a closure device 12 to keep the extinguishing agent in the bottle 2 as its action is not requested. In particular, if the orifice 6 is single, the closure device 12 may for example be a tared operculum, that is to say a membrane which breaks or opens as soon as the pressure inside the bottle 2 reaches a certain threshold. The closure device 12 may also be a valve, advantageously controlled remotely. Other closure devices 12 are known for example from WO 93/25950 or US-A-4,877,051 , and commercially available.

Furthermore, the extinguishing device 1 comprises means for generating a pressurized gas 14. The means 14 for generating a pressurized gas 16 are connected to the extinguishing agent bottle 2 via communication means 18. Advantageously, the communication means 18 between the extinguishing agent reservoir 2 and the pressurized gas generating means 14 open into the reservoir 2 in a manner opposite to the outlet orifice 6.

The means 14 for generating a gas under pressure can, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated on the figure 1 , consist of one or more tanks of pressurized gas. In this case, a valve in the communication means 18 makes it possible, for example, to isolate the pressurized gas reservoir 14 from the extinguisher 2 reservoir as long as it is not used; other solutions are possible.

In view of the contact surface, the extinguishing agent 4 can absorb the calories of the propellant gas 16 generated during the opening of the communication means 18 initiated in case of need in the fire zone 10. The pressurized gas decreasing in temperature, a reduction in the pressure P in the tank 2 is paralleled. In order to limit the heat exchanges between the two phases, according to the invention, a separating element 20 is present.

The separating element, in this embodiment, comprises a rigid plate 20 which is movable in the extinguishing agent reservoir 2 so as to have a piston effect: a side 22 undergoes the pressure P of the propellant gas 16, pressure which is communicated by the other face 24 of the plate 20 to the extinguishing agent 4 so as to allow it to be expelled from the reservoir 2. Advantageously, the walls of the reservoir are parallel in the direction of displacement of the plate, for example in the form of a cylinder of revolution; however, alternatives are possible, for example with a separating element comprising articulated plates. The plate 20 is refractory, monobloc or structured, for example of plastic, or of any rigid material, dressed with refractory material, such as an elastomer; it can move during the ejection (dotted), for example by means of rails on the inner wall of the tank 2.

The plate 20 can be "full", that is to say it can separate the volume of the tank 2 of the extinguisher 1 into two parts 26, 28 more or less sealed or hermetic with respect to each other. In particular, a game can be left on the periphery of the plate 20 to allow its movement, but the exchanges are only in this game.

It is advantageous for the part 26 located on the side of the ejection orifice 6 to contain only the extinguishing agent 4, and the upper part 28 to contain no extinguishing agent 4, in the case where the latter is particularly liquid: the plate 20 serves as an interface between extinguishing agent 4 and pressurizing gas 16.

According to another embodiment, the plate 20 is provided with passages between the two parts 26, 28 which it delimits, for example it is in the form of a grid. In this case, heat exchange always occurs on the surface of the extinguishing agent 4, however, they can be very reduced and the function of the plate 20 is filled. In particular, it is desirable that the porosity of the plate 20, that is to say the ratio between the surface of its passages and its total surface, be of the order of 10% to 15%.

Although a separating element comprising a single plate 20 is described, it is possible for each embodiment, such a plate 20 is associated for example with another rigid plate, or a flexible component.

Another embodiment relates to a separation element in the form of a membrane, which will be described with reference to another gas generating system, although the membrane may well be heard to be used in a fire extinguisher 1 of the type of that of the figure 1 .

Indeed, another embodiment relates to a gas generator 30 pyrotechnic cartridge. Advantageously for reasons of space, and as illustrated on the figure 2 , the generator is inside the bottle 2; it consists of an enclosure 32 provided with an ignition device 34, and containing a cartridge 36 of a pyrotechnic material such as propellant. The gases generated by the combustion of the pyrotechnic material 36 are directed towards the bottle 2 via at least one outlet orifice 38 of the enclosure 32. Such generators 30 are known to those skilled in the art.

The separating element 40 here comprises a flexible membrane. Advantageously, the membrane 40 serves as an interface between the extinguishing agent 4 and the pressurizing gas 16, that is to say that the membrane 40 is "placed" on the extinguishing agent 4. The membrane is secured at the periphery at the level of zones 42 of the reservoir 2, by gluing or by mechanical attachment for example. A bonding in the middle of the tank 2 is possible, as represented on the figures 2 , especially when the tank 2 is spherical. It may be advantageous to secure the membrane at the ejection orifice 6.

Preferably, the extensible membrane 40 is impervious to the extinguishing agent 4 or to the propellant gas 16 generated by the combustion of the propellant 36. The membrane is also refractory. She can consist of a flexible and extensible bag, for example of non-reinforced elastomeric material.

According to the filling of the bottle 2, the membrane 40 may be adjacent to the generator 30 when the fire extinguisher 1 is at rest ( Figure 2A ), in which situation the closure device 12, here a tared operculum, is closed.

When extinguishing is required, the ignition device 34 ignites the propellant block 36, and pressurized gas is evacuated through the port 38 to the tank 2. The pressure P thus generated opens the door. tared opercle 12, reduces the level of extinguishing agent 4 due to its ejection in the distribution means 8: see Figure 2B . The drop in level of the extinguishing agent 4 is accompanied by the displacement and the deformation of the membrane 40, which remains in contact with it ( Figure 2C ).

When the extinguishing agent 4 has been completely ejected, it may be desirable, on the other hand, to continue to apply a pressure P to the extinguishing agent 4 which is then contained in the distribution pipes 8 throughout the duration of the depressurization of the bottle. 2 to thus ensure the total eviction of the agent 4 to the fire zone 10. One possibility is the arrangement, in the separation membrane 40, of opening means 44 for contacting the gas pressurizing agent 16 and extinguishing agent 4.

In a first variant embodiment, the opening means 44 may comprise a fusible cover which is pierced when the pressure P applied on the cover 44 is greater than its breaking value. Thus, the membrane 40, when the extinguisher 1 is not used, is in the form of a single piece; when the propellant gas 16 is generated, the pressure in the tank 2 increases and the pressure P applied to the membrane 40 and the lid 44, which remains closed. At the end of the emptying of the bottle 2 containing the extinguishing agent 4, the seal 44 undergoes only the pressure P of the generated gas 16, given the little extinguishing agent 4 still present: the force exerted unilaterally on the operculum 44 due to the pressurization of the bottle 2 becomes sufficient to cause the rupture thereof.

The opening of the lid 44 can take place while the amount of extinguishing agent 4 in the tank 2 is almost zero, or it can remain the agent 4 to eject. In the latter case, the size of the hole of the lid 44 is chosen sufficiently small so that the heat exchange between the propellant gas 16 and the extinguishing agent 4 is reduced, so as not to modify the propulsion qualities of the propellant. generated agent. The shaped hole 44 thus makes it possible to continue applying a pressure to the extinguishing agent 4 contained in the pipes 8 during the entire period of depressurization of the bottle 2 thus ensuring the total removal of the agent 4 towards the fire zone 10.

Advantageously, the fuse cover 44 is located at the outlet orifice 6 when the membrane is deformed by the pressure of the gas 16 and at the time of its opening. It is also possible to provide a membrane 40 sufficiently brittle to provide a rupture at the outlet orifice 6 when the pressure difference between its two faces is greater than a threshold (the rest of the membrane 40 is protected by the walls of the tank 2).

Another variant concerns the presence of a small diameter hole in the membrane 40: these opening means 44, like the grid previously, cause a reduced heat exchange between the propellant 16 and the extinguishing agent 4, which does not modify not the propulsive qualities of the generated agent.

The presence of opening means 44 can also be envisaged when a rigid plate 20 is used as the separating element.

In one case as in the other (fusible cover or presence of a hole), the surface of the opening means 44 is advantageously approximately that of the tared opercle 12.

The description presented above does not of course exclude all the alternatives that the skilled person will not fail to raise to achieve an object according to the invention. In particular, various combinations are possible between the different embodiments presented, for example a membrane for a non-spherical tank, or a rigid plate for a propellant combustion generator. One can also have a rigid plate associated with the walls of the bottle by an elastic seal or a flexible membrane.

It will also be clear to those skilled in the art that these examples are illustrative: others means can be used according to the principle of the invention, to generate a gas under pressure to ensure the ejection of the extinguishing agent. Chemical reactions, for example by mixing products, or pumps compressing a gas taken in the environment near or far from said device are conceivable. Similarly, the forms mentioned are purely indicative.

Claims (15)

1. Extinction device (1) comprising:

   - an extinguisher reservoir (2) comprising an extinguishing agent (4),

   - means (14, 30) for generating a pressurised gas (16),

   - communication means (18, 38) for creating a communication between the reservoir (2) and the means for generating said gas (14, 30) so that the gas generated (16) by the means for generating a pressurised gas can penetrate the extinguisher reservoir (2),

   - a separating element (20, 40) located between the communication means (18, 38) and the extinguishing agent (4),

   characterised in that the separating element (20, 40) is refractory so as to reduce the heat exchanges between the extinguishing agent (4) and the gas generated (16).
2. Device according to claim 1 in which the separating element (20, 40) remains in contact with the extinguishing agent (4).
3. Device according to one of claims 1 or 2 in which the separating element (20, 40) comprises at least one passage orifice, and separates the reservoir (2) into two parts (26, 28) which communicate via the passage orifice.
4. Device according to one of claims 1 or 2 in which the separating element (20, 40) separates the reservoir (2) into two leak proof parts (26, 28).
5. Device according to claim 3 or 4 in which the separating element (40) comprises opening means (44) which permit the two parts (26, 28) to be brought into communication.
6. Device according to claim 5 in which the opening means (44) are a fusible cap.
7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6 in which the separating element (20) is rigid and mobile.
8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6 in which the separating element (40) is a flexible membrane.
9. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, in which the pressure in the reservoir (2) of the extinguisher is ambient in the absence of generated gas.
10. Device according to one of claims 1 to 9 in which the extinguishing agent (4) is in liquid form.
11. Device according to one of the previous claims, in which the means for generating a pressurised gas comprise at least one pressurised gas reservoir (14).
12. Device according to one of claims 1 to 10, in which the means for generating a pressurised gas comprise a gas generator (30) comprising a chamber (32) equipped with a gas outlet orifice (38) and a cartridge (36) with a block of pyrotechnic material that generates the propelling gas.
13. Device according to claim 12, in which the chamber (32) of the gas generator (30) is inside the extinguisher reservoir (2).
14. Device according to one of claims 1 to 13, comprising furthermore distribution means (8) for the extinguishing agent.
15. Device according to claim 14, in which the distribution means (8) comprise a calibrated cap (12).

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