EP1913980B1 - Inerting device with safety device - Google Patents

Abstract

The device (1) has an inert gas system control unit (30) designed to control an inert gas system (10, 11) such that an inert gas rate assumes a value that is suitable for setting and/or maintaining a preset inertization level in a protective space (2). A safety device including control unit (40), check valves (41, 42) and bypass pipeline system (43), is designed to regulate the inert gas rate, which is fed to the space, during a disruption in the control of the system or a failure of the control unit (30) such that another preset inertization level is set and/or maintained in the space.

Description

The present invention relates to an inerting device for setting and maintaining predeterminable inerting levels in a protected space to be monitored, wherein the inerting device comprises a controllable inert gas system for providing inert gas, a feed pipe system connected to the inert gas system, which can be connected to the protective space, around the inert gas provided by the inert gas system to supply the shelter, and an inert gas system control unit which is designed to control the inert gas system such that an inert gas rate provided by the inert gas system assumes a value suitable for setting and / or maintaining a first predeterminable inertization level in the shelter.

Such an inerting device is basically known from the prior art. For example, in the German patent DE 198 11 851 C2 an inerting device for reducing the risk and extinguishing fires in enclosed spaces described. The known system is designed to reduce the oxygen content in an enclosed space (hereinafter referred to as "shelter") to a pre-settable baseline inerting level and, in the event of a fire, to further rapidly lower the oxygen level to a particular full inertization level, thus effectively extinguishing a fire To allow the lowest possible storage capacity for inert gas cylinders. For this purpose, the known device comprises an inert gas system which can be controlled by means of a control unit and also an inert gas system and the protective space connected supply pipe system, via which the inert gas provided by the inert gas system is supplied to the shelter. As an inert gas is either a steel cylinder battery in which the inert gas is stored compressed, or a system for generating inert gases in question.

In general, the operation of an inerting device to reduce the risk and extinguish fires in confined spaces based on the knowledge that in closed rooms that are only occasionally entered by humans or animals and their devices react sensitively to water, the risk of fire can be countered in that the oxygen concentration in the affected area is normally lowered permanently to a value of, for example, about 12% by volume. At this oxygen concentration, most flammable materials can no longer burn. The main areas of use are in particular IT areas, electrical switch and distribution rooms, enclosed facilities as well as storage areas with high-quality assets.

The prevention or extinguishing effect resulting from the inertization process is based on the principle of oxygen displacement. The normal ambient air is known to be 21% by volume of oxygen, 78% by volume of nitrogen and 1% by volume of other gases. In order to effectively reduce the risk of fire in a shelter, the concentration of nitrogen in the room in question is further increased by introducing inert gas, such as nitrogen, thus reducing the oxygen content. With regard to the fire extinguishing, it is known that a extinguishing effect begins when the oxygen content drops below 15% by volume. Depending on the combustible materials present in the shelter, further lowering of the oxygen content to, for example, 12 vol.% May be required. In other words, by continuously inerting the shelter at a so-called "basic inertization level" where the oxygen content in the room air is lowered below, for example, 15% by volume, the risk of fire in the shelter is also effectively reduced can be.

The term "basic inertization level" as used herein generally means a reduced oxygen content in the room air of the shelter compared to the oxygen content of the normal ambient air, although this reduced oxygen content in principle does not endanger persons or animals, so that it involves the shelter certain precautions can still enter. As already indicated, the setting of a basic inertization level, which is used in the Unlike the so-called "Vollinertisierungsniveau" must not correspond to such a reduced proportion of oxygen, in which already occurs an effective fire extinguishing, primarily to reduce the risk of the creation of a fire in the shelter. The Grundinertisierungsniveau corresponds - depending on the circumstances of the case - an oxygen content of, for example, 13 vol .-% to 15 vol.

On the other hand, the term "full inertization level" is to be understood as meaning a further reduced oxygen content in comparison to the oxygen content of the basic inertization level, in which the flammability of most materials has already been reduced to such an extent that they can no longer be ignited. Depending on the fire load present in the affected shelter, the full inertization level is generally 11% by volume to 12% by volume oxygen concentration.

Although the reduced oxygen content in the room air of the protected room corresponding to the basic inerting level in principle does not endanger persons or animals, so that they can enter the shelter at least for a short time without major complications, for example without respiratory protection, they are permanently inertized at a basic inerting level Certain nationally prescribed safety measures must be taken into account, since in principle a stay in a reduced oxygen atmosphere can lead to an oxygen deficiency, which may have physiological effects on the human organism. These safety measures are specified in the respective national regulations and depend in particular on the amount of reduced oxygen content corresponding to the basic inerting level.

Table 1 below shows these effects on the human organism and the flammability of materials.

In order to meet in a simple and in particular easy to implement manner with regard to the accessibility of the shelter by the national regulations imposed safety measures, which become increasingly stringent with decrease in the oxygen content in the indoor air of the shelter, it would be conceivable for the purpose and for the period of Commitment to increase the permanent inerting of the shelter from the baseline level to a level of accessibility where the required safety requirements are lower and can be met without major inconvenience. <b><u> Table 1 </ u></b> Oxygen content in the shelter Impact on the human organism Impact on the combustibility of materials 8 vol.% risk of death Non-flammable 10 vol.% Judgment and pain decrease Non-flammable 12 vol.% Fatigue, increase in tidal volume and pulse Flame retardant 15 vol.% None Flame retardant 21 vol.% None None

For example, it would be useful to have a shelter that would normally be at a basic inerting level of e.g. 13.8 to 14.5% by volume oxygen content in which, according to Table 1, an effective fire suppression can already be achieved, in the case of the inspection, for example for maintenance purposes, to a walkability level of e.g. 15 to 18 vol .-% increase in oxygen content.

From a medical point of view, a temporary stay in an oxygen atmosphere reduced to this level of accessibility is safe for all persons with no cardiovascular, vascular or respiratory diseases, so that the respective national regulations have no or only slight additional safety measures demand.

Usually, the lifting of the inerting level set in the shelter takes place from the basic inerting level to the accessibility level by a corresponding control of the inert gas system. In this case, it is particularly useful for economic reasons, during the inspection of the shelter to keep the set in the shelter inerting (permanently with a corresponding control range) permanently at the Begehbarkeitsniveau to the after the inspection of the shelter for re-setting the Grundinertisierungsniveaus in the shelter to keep the amount of inert gas to be introduced as small as possible. For this reason, the inert gas system should also generate or provide inert gas during the period of the inspection of the protective space, so that the inert gas with a corresponding inert gas rate to the shelter is fed there to keep the inerting (possibly with a certain control range) at the walkability level.

It should be noted that the term "accessibility level" as used herein means a reduced oxygen content in the ambient air of the shelter as compared to the oxygen content of the normal ambient air, in which the respective national regulations for an inspection of the shelter are none or only slight call for additional security measures. The walkability level usually corresponds to an oxygen content in the room air that is higher than at a basic inerting level.

It is known that the inert gas rate to be provided by the inert gas system can depend, in particular, on the inerting level to be set in the shelter (accessibility level, basic inerting level, full inertisation level), the air exchange rate of the shelter, but also on other parameters, such as the temperature or pressure in the shelter.

Accordingly, in view of the inert gas system used in the inerting apparatus, it is required that it be designed to be able to provide inert gas at all times so that a predetermined level of inerting can be maintained in the shelter. In particular, the inert gas system should be able to provide inert gas with different inert gas rates at any time, depending on the respective requirements, in order to be able to compensate for leaks in the shelter, possible inert gas losses through air conditioning systems or ventilation systems in the shelter or through goods removal from the shelter. On the other hand, the inert gas system should be designed in terms of its capacity to be able to provide a sufficient inert gas rate, so that within a desired time, a predetermined inerting level can be re-adjusted.

For this purpose, an inert gas system which can be controlled by means of an inert gas system control unit is usually suitable for this purpose, wherein the inert gas rate provided by the inert gas system can be correspondingly regulated via the inert gas system control unit.

The present invention is based on the problem that when a fault in the control of such an inert gas system control unit or failure of the inert gas system control unit can not be ensured that, for example, at the time of inspection of the shelter the inerting in the shelter can be reliably maintained at the predetermined walkability level. This is particularly problematical if, during the inspection of the protective space, the inert gas rate provided by the inert gas system is greater than the inert gas rate necessary to maintain the accessibility level. In such a case, namely, the oxygen content in the room air of the shelter would fall below the walkability level, which is questionable from a medical point of view, the inspection of the shelter.

Accordingly, the present invention has the object, an inerting of the type mentioned further such that can be reliably ensured that in the case of a visit of a normally at a Grundinertisierungsniveau permanently inertized shelter the inertization level set in the shelter even at a fault of Control of the inert gas system control unit or in case of failure of the inert gas system control unit can be reliably maintained at the walkability level.

In general terms, the object of the present invention is to specify an inerting device with which a level of inerting that can be specified in a protected area to be monitored can be set and maintained in a reliable manner, even in the event of a fault or failure of an inert gas system control unit or in one case if the inert gas system control unit is not designed to regulate, with a sufficient resolution or accuracy, the inert gas rate provided by the inert gas system.

• zumindest ein erstes, dem Zufuhrrohrsystem (20) zugeordnetes ansteuerbares Absperrventil (41) zum Unterbrechen der mittels des Zufuhrrohrsystems (20) zwischen der Inertgasanlage (10, 11, 12) und dem Schutzraum (2) herstellbaren Verbindung;
• zumindest ein Bypass-Rohrleitungssystem (43) mit einem zweiten ansteuerbaren Absperrventil (42) zum Herstellen einer Bypassverbindung zwischen der Inertgasanlage (10, 11, 12) und dem Schutzsaum (2), wobei die Bypassverbindung das erste ansteuerbare Absperrventil (41) überbrückt, und
• eine Sicherheitseinrichtungs-Steuereinheit (40), welche ausgelegt ist, bei einer Störung der Ansteuerung der Inertgasanlage (10, 11, 12) oder bei einem Ausfall der Inertgasanlagen-Steuereinheit (30) das erste Absperrventil (41) zu schließen und das zweite Absperrventil (42) zu öffnen, wobei das Bypass-Rohrleitungssystem (43) ausgelegt ist, die über das Bypass-Rohrleitungssystem (43) dem Schutztaum (2) zugeführte Inertgasrate derart zu regeln, dass in dem Schutzräum (2) das zweite vorgebbare Inertisierungsniveau eingestellt und/oder gehalten wird.

This object is achieved with an inerting device of the type mentioned above in that the inerting device further comprises a safety device which is designed to control the inert gas rate supplied to the protective space in the event of a malfunction of the control of the inert gas system or in the event of failure of the inert gas system control unit a second predeterminable inerting level is set and / or held in the protective space, the safety device (40, 41, 42, 43) having the following:

• at least a first, the supply pipe system (20) associated controllable shut-off valve (41) for interrupting the means of the supply pipe system (20) between the inert gas system (10, 11, 12) and the shelter (2) producible connection;
• at least one bypass piping system (43) having a second controllable shut-off valve (42) for establishing a bypass connection between the inert gas system (10, 11, 12) and the protective seam (2), wherein the bypass connection bridges the first controllable shut-off valve (41), and
• a safety device control unit (40) which is designed to close the first shut-off valve (41) and the second shut-off valve (41) in the event of a fault in the activation of the inert gas system (10, 11, 12) or in the event of failure of the inert gas system control unit (30) 42), the bypass piping system (43) being designed to regulate the inert gas rate supplied to the protective compartment (2) via the bypass piping system (43) such that the second predefinable inerting level is set in the protective compartment (2) and / or or held.

Herein, the term "disturbance of the control of the inert gas system" and "failure of the inert gas system control unit" is generally understood to mean a state in which the inert gas system control unit and / or the inert gas system are - for whatever reason - unable or are basically not designed that from the inert gas system with sufficient resolution or accuracy required for setting and / or for keeping as accurate as possible inert inert gas inert gas can be provided.

The advantages of the solution according to the invention are obvious: In particular, by providing a safety device which operates preferably independently of the inert gas system control unit, it can always be ensured even in the event of a fault that a specific, previously determinable inerting level is set or exactly maintained in the room air atmosphere of the protection space becomes. For example, in one case, when the shelter must be accessed by persons, it is possible for the shelter to enter freely without concern and, in particular, without discomfort. On the other hand, it can be prevented with the solution according to the invention that the permanent inerting of the shelter for the period of the on-going visit is completely canceled. As already indicated, a complete abolition of the continuous inerting would be disadvantageous, in particular from an economic point of view, since in such a case, for example after the inspection of the protective space, an increased amount of inert gas would have to be provided by the inert gas installation in order to protect it in the shelter, e.g. to reset the basic inerting level.

In other words, the solution according to the invention provides a safety measure for shelters in order to ensure that, in a shelter space rendered inert to a walkability level, no oxygen concentration hazardous to persons is achieved, even if the nitrogen plant is affected by an error (for example in the activation) with the introduction of inert gas should not stop or if the nitrogen plant should not be designed by nature to provide inert gas at a non-zero, reduced rate.

At the same time, the solution according to the invention ensures that the nitrogen plant is designed such that it can supply a sufficient volume flow in order to be able to restore and permanently maintain the basic inerting level within a desired time, for example after the inspection room has been inspected. As already indicated, the inert gas system must be able to provide an inert gas rate to compensate for the room leaks, and any losses from the air conditioning system or from the removal of goods.

However, the solution according to the invention is not only suitable for reliably maintaining or adjusting a walkability level in the protected space despite disrupting the activation of the inert gas system, but rather any inerting level to be set in the shelter, such as a basic inerting level or a full inertization level, can be reliably maintained with the safety device ,

Advantageous developments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

Thus, with regard to the safety device, it is particularly preferred that in a case when the second predeterminable inerting level must be set or held in the shelter, the safety device reduces the maximum inert gas rate supplied to the shelter so that the oxygen content in the shelter is not the second can fall below specified inerting level. The reduction of the inert gas rate which can be supplied to the protection space can, for example, be suitably suitably limited, even if the control unit and / or sensors (in particular volumetric flow sensors and / or inert gas or oxygen sensors) should fail. If, for example, the second predeterminable inerting level is the walkability level, it can be ensured with the solution according to the invention that, at the time of inspection of the protective space, the oxygen content in the room atmosphere can not in principle assume a harmful value, even if the activation of the inert gas system is disturbed.

In a particularly preferred realization of the safety device is provided that this at least a first, the feed pipe associated, controllable shut-off valve for interrupting the producible by means of Zufuhrrohrsystems between the inert gas and the shelter, at least one bypass piping system with a second controllable shut-off valve for producing a Bypass connection between the inert gas system and the shelter, and a safety device control unit, wherein the safety device control unit is designed to close the first shut-off valve and open the second shut-off valve in case of a fault in the control of the inert gas system or in the event of failure of the inert gas system control unit, and wherein the bypass piping system bridging the first controllable shut-off valve is configured to regulate the inert gas rate supplied to the shelter through the bypass piping system, that in the shelter the second predetermined inerting level is set and / or maintained. This advantageous realization of the safety device is characterized in particular by its simple construction, which in particular also simplifies the retrofitting of conventional inerting systems with such a safety device. In particular, conventional inerting systems can be retrofitted with little structural and financial outlay.

On the other hand, the safety device is composed only of a few, known in principle from the prior art and tested components together, which is not only for cost reasons of advantage, but also ensures a reliable operation of the safety device. It would be conceivable here to integrate the safety device control unit as a control module, for example as an additional software module, in the already existing inert gas system control unit. Of course, it is also conceivable to provide the safety device control unit separately from the inert gas system control unit.

In principle, however, it should be possible for an operator to specify in the inert gas system control unit the inerting level to be set and maintained in the protective space. However, it would also be possible for the control unit to independently control the inert gas system, for example in accordance with a predetermined event sequence, in order to set the desired inerting levels in the protective room. With regard to the safety device associated with the safety device control unit is to be considered that it can communicate with the inert gas system control unit to properly control the corresponding shut-off valves in case of failure.

With regard to the first and the second shut-off valve, it should be noted that these two valve devices can be provided either as separate components in the inerting device; However, it would also be possible to use a three-way valve arrangement which assumes the functions of the first and the second shut-off valve as a single component. Suitable valve arrangements are known from the prior art and are not explained in detail here.

With regard to the bypass piping system according to the last-mentioned preferred realization of the safety device according to the invention, it would be conceivable that this has a section with an effective flow cross-section, which is designed to regulate the inert gas rate supplied to the shelter via the bypass piping system such that the second predetermined inerting level is set and / or maintained in the shelter. So it is conceivable, for example, that said section of the bypass piping system, which is either limited to only one area of the bypass piping system or even extends over the entire bypass piping system, fixed in advance with respect to its effective flow cross-section of the air exchange rate of the shelter is set. Provided that it is known which inert gas rate must be supplied to the shelter, then a Thus, it is possible to pre-dimension the section of the bypass piping system such that this section will adjust the amount of inert gas supplied to the shelter through the bypass piping system to a particular inertization level ,

Of course, however, it is conceivable that the effective flow cross section of the section of the bypass piping system is adjustable by means of the safety device control unit to better match the inert gas rate supplied to the shelter via the bypass piping system to the air exchange rate of the shelter. Furthermore, this inventive development, in which the effective flow cross-section of the section is adjustable, characterized in that in the shelter different Inertisierungsniveaus that can be pre-set by the user, adjusted and / or in particular can be kept accurate.

In a particularly preferred implementation with regard to the bypass piping system, it is provided that this has a volumetric flow controller that can be controlled by the safety device control unit for limiting the inert gas rate supplied to the protective space via the bypass piping system. The volumetric flow controller assumes the function of a flow restrictor, so that in a simple but effective way the inert gas rate supplied to the shelter via the bypass piping system can be adjusted. The technical realization of the volumetric flow controller will not be discussed in detail here. Basically, in principle, all known from the prior art devices can be used, which can serve to adjust a fluid volume flow.

In order to ensure that the inerting levels to be set in the protective space can be set and maintained as accurately as possible by supplying a suitable inert gas quantity and / or by a controlled supply of, for example, fresh air or oxygen from the outside atmosphere, it is preferably provided that the inerting device further comprises at least one oxygen Detecting means for detecting the oxygen content in the room air of the shelter, wherein the Inertgasanlagen control unit and / or the safety device control unit are designed to set the inert gas supplied to the shelter in dependence on the measured in the room air of the shelter oxygen content. It would be conceivable here for the oxygen detection device to emit a corresponding signal to the corresponding control units continuously or at predetermined times, as a result either the inert gas system or the volumetric flow controller are controlled accordingly in order always to supply the protective space with the inert gas rate necessary for maintaining the inerting level set in the protective space.

It should be noted that the person skilled in the art recognizes that the term "holding the oxygen content at a certain inertization level" as used herein means maintaining the oxygen content at the inertization level with a certain control range, the control range preferably being a function of the Type of shelter (for example, depending on an applicable for the shelter air exchange rate or depending on the materials stored in the shelter) and / or depending on the type of inerting system or safety device used can be selected. Typically, such a control range is ± 0.1 to 0.4 vol%. Of course, other control range sizes are also conceivable.

In addition to the above-mentioned continuous or regular measurement of the oxygen content, however, the holding of the oxygen content on the vorgaren certain inerting be made depending on a previously performed calculation, in which calculation certain design parameters of the shelter should einzueiesen, such as those for the shelter applicable air exchange rate, in particular the n ₅₀ value of the shelter, and / or the pressure difference between the shelter and the environment.

In particular, an aspirative device is suitable as oxygen detection device. In such a device, the room air in the protected space to be monitored is constantly taken representative air samples and fed to an oxygen detector, which emits a corresponding detection signal to the corresponding control unit. Of course, it would also be possible to perform a non-contact (optical) oxygen measurement as oxygen detection device. For this purpose, the PSP measurement technology (PSP = Pressure Sensitive Paint) is suitable. A non-contact optical measuring method for detecting the oxygen content in the shelter would be particularly applicable to rooms that can not be equipped with conventional (especially wired) oxygen detectors, for example, due to their design.

Finally, with regard to the reliability of the solution according to the invention, provision is preferably made for the oxygen detection device to be parallel in number operating oxygen detectors, wherein the inert gas system control unit and / or the safety device control unit are designed to adjust the inert gas rate supplied to the protective space depending on each of the oxygen components measured with the respective oxygen detectors in the room air of the shelter. In a preferred implementation, sensors are used for the multiplicity of oxygen sensors operating in parallel, which are based at least in part on different technologies for detecting the oxygen content in the room air of the protected space, such as paramagnetic sensors, zirconium dioxide sensors, PSP sensor systems, etc. In particular In this case, it is conceivable that the inert gas system control unit and / or the safety device control unit are designed to output a fault message and / or an emergency stop signal for switching off the inert gas system, if at least one oxygen detector indicates an oxygen content in the room air of the protective room With respect to the oxygen components measured with the other oxygen detectors has a deviation that exceeds a certain predetermined value.

In a particularly preferred further development of the solution according to the invention, it is provided that the inert gas system comprises an ambient air compressor and an inert gas generator connected thereto, wherein the inert gas system control unit is designed to control the air flow rate of the ambient air compressor such that the inert gas rate provided by the inert gas system is set to the value suitable for setting and / or holding the first predeterminable inertization level. This preferred solution with regard to the inert gas system is characterized in particular by the fact that the inert gas system can generate the inert gas in situ, which eliminates the need, for example, to provide a pressure-cell battery in which the inert gas is stored in a compressed form.

However, it would also be conceivable, of course, for the inert gas system to have an inert gas pressure storage container, the inert gas system control unit being designed to actuate a controllable pressure reducer associated with the inert gas pressure storage container and connected to the supply pipe system in such a way as to provide the inert gas rate provided by the inert gas system to set the value suitable for setting and / or holding the pre-eminable first inertization level. The Inertgasdruckspeicherbehälter can be provided in combination with the aforementioned ambient air compressor and inert gas generator or alone.

In a particularly preferred further development of the last-mentioned embodiment, in which the inert gas system comprises an inert gas pressure storage container, it is provided that the inerting device further comprises a pressure-dependent valve device which is open in a first prescribable pressure range, for example between 1 to 4 bar and a filling of the inert gas pressure storage container by means of the inert gas system allowed. Furthermore, it would be conceivable that in this preferred development, the safety device has a bypass piping system connected to the inert gas pressure accumulator tank.

As already indicated, the solution according to the invention is not limited to setting or maintaining the accessibility level in the protective space in the event of a fault in the control of the inert gas system. Rather, the claimed inerting device invention is designed so that the first and / or the second predeterminable inerting level can be a Vollinertisierungsniveau, a Grundinertisierungsniveau or a walkability level.

In the following, two preferred embodiments of the inerting device according to the invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.

Fig. 1:

eine schematische Ansicht einer ersten bevorzugten Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Inertisierungsvorrichtung; und

Fig. 2:

eine schematische Ansicht einer zweiten bevorzugten Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Inertisierungsvorrichtung.

Show it:

Fig. 1:

a schematic view of a first preferred embodiment of the inerting device according to the invention; and

Fig. 2:

a schematic view of a second preferred embodiment of the inerting device according to the invention.

In Fig. 1 1 schematically shows a first preferred embodiment of the inerting device 1 according to the invention for setting and maintaining predeterminable inerting levels in a protective space 2 to be monitored. In essence, the inerting device 1 consists of an inert gas system, which has an ambient air compressor 10 and an inert gas generator 11 connected thereto. Furthermore, an inert gas system control unit 30 is provided, which is designed to control the air feed rate of the ambient air compressor 10 via corresponding control signals. In this way, the inert gas rate provided by the inert gas system 10, 11 can be determined at least partially by means of the inert gas system control unit 30.

The inert gas generated by the inert gas system 10, 11 is supplied via a feed pipe system 20 to a protected space 2 to be monitored; Of course, however, several shelters may be connected to the supply pipe system. In detail, the supply of the inert gas provided with the inert gas system 10, 11 via corresponding outlet nozzles 21, which are arranged at a suitable location in the shelter 2.

In the preferred embodiment of the solution according to the invention, the inert gas, advantageously nitrogen, is recovered locally from the ambient air. The inert gas generator or nitrogen generator 11 functions, for example, according to the known from the prior art membrane or PSA technology to produce nitrogen-enriched air with, for example, 90 vol .-% to 95 vol .-% nitrogen content. This nitrogen-enriched air serves as an inert gas in the preferred embodiment, which is supplied to the shelter 2 via the supply pipe system 20. The enriched in the production of inert gas oxygen-enriched air is discharged via another pipe system to the outside.

In detail, it is provided that the inert gas system control unit 30 depending on an example entered by the user in the control unit 30 inerting the inert gas system 10, 11 controls so that the provided by this system 10, 11 inert gas rate assumes a value for setting and / or is suitable for maintaining the predetermined inertization level in the shelter 2. The selection of the desired inertization level at the inert gas turbine control unit 30 may be e.g. be done with a key switch or password protected on a (not explicitly shown) keypad. Of course, however, it is also conceivable here that the selection of the inertization level takes place according to a predetermined sequence of events.

If, for example, the basic inerting level is selected at the inert gas system control unit 30, which has been predetermined in advance taking into consideration the characteristic values of the protection space 2, a three-way valve 41, 42 which is associated with the supply pipe system 20, on direct transmission of the inert gas into the shelter 2 switched.

In one case, however, when the shelter 2 must be entered by persons, which is necessary, for example, when goods have to be removed from the shelter 2 or when certain maintenance operations are to be carried out in the shelter 2, it is necessary to set the permanent inertization in the shelter 2 from the basic inertization level to raise to a walkability level, so that a visit to the shelter 2 without special precautions is medically safe. As already indicated, the accessibility level corresponds to an oxygen content in the room air of the protective space 2 which is higher than the oxygen content corresponding to the basic inerting level. On the other hand - even if the walkability level is set in the shelter 2 - in the shelter 2 is still a Dauerinertisierung before, which is particularly advantageous for economic reasons, since thus kept the required for re-setting the Grundinertisierungsniveaus inert gas to a minimum value can be.

If the level of accessibility, which is preferably determined beforehand in particular taking into account the characteristic values of the protective space 2, is selected at the inert gas system control unit 30, the inert gas system control unit 30 sends a corresponding signal to the three-way valve arrangement 41, 42, consequently with the supply pipe system 20 provided direct connection between the inert gas system 10, 11 and the shelter 2 is interrupted, so that the inert gas is diverted to a bypass piping 43. As shown, the bypass piping system 43 in the preferred embodiment serves to provide a bypass connection between the inert gas system 10, 11 and the shelter 2, the bypass connection bridging the portion of the supply pipe system 20 which is controlled via the controllable shut-off valve associated with the supply pipe system 20 controllable shut-off valve 41) is controlled.

Furthermore, it can be seen that the bypass piping system 43, after bypassing the supply pipe system 20 associated shut-off valve 41 opens again in the supply pipe 20, so that the supplied via the bypass piping 43 to the shelter 2 inert gas via the same inert gas 21 can be supplied. Of course, it would also be conceivable that the bypass piping system 43 has its own, separate inert gas nozzles in the shelter 2.

In order that the inert gas rate supplied to the protective space 2 via the bypass piping system 43 can be adjusted to the inerting level to be set in the protective space 2 and maintained there independently of the activation of the inert gas system 10, 11 effected with the inert gas system control unit 30, the bypass Pipe system 43 in a section 43 a of the bypass piping 43 associated with a controllable volume flow controller 44. This volume flow controller 44 is used for limiting the inert gas rate supplied to the shelter 2 via the bypass piping 43.

Specifically, the volumetric flow control 44 can be appropriately controlled either by the inert gas system control unit 30 or a safety device control unit 40 independent of the inert gas system control unit 30. The safety device control unit 40 is in the preferred embodiment designed as a stand-alone control module in the inert gas system control unit 30. Of course, it would also be conceivable to provide both control units 30, 40 spatially separate from each other in different hardware modules.

Basically, both the inert gas system control unit 30 and the safety device control unit 40 are designed so that the user can enter a desired inertization level therein. Depending on the given inerting level and preferably also as a function of the oxygen content detected in the room air of the protective space 20 by means of an oxygen detection device 50, the inert gas system 10, 11 and / or the volumetric flow controller 44 are actuated accordingly by the control units 30 and 40, thus the protective space 2 the inert gas rate necessary for setting and maintaining the predetermined inertization level can be supplied.

In particular, the solution according to the invention, as in a first embodiment in Fig. 1 is exemplified, characterized in that with the three-way valve 41, 42, the bypass piping 43 and the controllable via the safety device control unit 40 volumetric flow controller 44, a safety device is provided, which in case of failure of the control of the inert gas system 10, 11 via the inert gas system control unit 30 or, in the event of a failure of the inert gas system control unit 30, in principle sets the inert gas rate supplied to the protection space 2 such that the predetermined inerting level, such as the basic inerting level or the accessibility level, can be reliably set and / or kept accurate in the protection space 2 ,

Of course, it is also conceivable that the safety device is always activated when the permanently inertized shelter 2 is to be raised from the Grundinertisierungsniveau to a walkability level, or more generally, if an inerting level change is to be performed. This would be useful, for example, if the inert gas system 10, 11 with the inert gas system control unit 30 is not can be controlled with a sufficient resolution in order to tailor the inert gas rate provided by the inert gas system 10, 11 exactly to the respective needs. This would be the case, for example, if the inert gas system can only be switched on and off with the inert gas system control unit 30. Since when setting a walkability level in the shelter 2 basically the shelter 2 a certain (albeit possibly reduced) inert gas must be supplied continuously or with certain intervals in order to keep the set therein walkability level (possibly with a certain control range), it is not sufficiently that the inert gas system 10, 11 is completely switched off at the time of inspection of the shelter. Rather, it is necessary that the inert gas system almost continuously provides inert gas. Switching off the inert gas system 10, 11 would thus not be considered in the inspection of the shelter 2.

In such a case, i. If only the inert gas system 10, 11 can be switched on or off via the inert gas system control unit 30, during the time within which, for example, the accessibility level is set, the inert gas quantity necessary for the protective space 2 must be set and supplied via the safety device.

In Fig. 2 a second preferred embodiment of the inerting device 1 according to the invention is shown. In this embodiment, the in Fig. 1 designed as a three-way valve 41, 42 valve assembly as two separate two-way valve assemblies 41 and 42 executed. In this case, a first by means of the inert gas system control unit 30 and / or by means of the safety device control unit controllable shut-off valve 41 is assigned to the supply pipe 20 in order to interrupt the means of the supply pipe system 20 between the inert gas system 10, 11 and the shelter 2 can be made connection. Furthermore, the bypass piping system 43 is associated with a second preferably by means of the safety device control unit 40 controllable shut-off valve 42 for establishing a bypass connection between the inert gas system 10, 11 and the protection area 2, wherein the bypass connection bridges the first controllable shut-off valve 41. As in the first preferred embodiment according to Fig. 1 is in the bypass piping 43 a controllable volumetric flow controller 44 is provided.

In contrast to the first preferred embodiment, according to the second embodiment Fig. 2 Furthermore, one of the inert gas system 10, 11 associated inert gas pressure storage container 12 is provided. This accumulator tank 12 is connected to the Intergasgenerator 11 of the inert gas system connected via a preferably pressure-dependent operating valve device 14. This pressure-dependent valve device 14 is preferably designed such that it is open in a first predeterminable pressure range, for example up to a pressure of 4 bar, and allows filling of the inert gas pressure reservoir 12 by means of the inert gas system 10, 11.

By providing such an inert gas pressure storage container 12, it is possible to temporarily store, for example, inert gas continuously generated by the inert gas system 10, 11, if the amount of inert gas required to set or maintain a predeterminable inertization level is less than that actually generated or provided at the time inert gas.

Of course, it is also conceivable that the pressure-dependent valve device 14 by means of the control unit 30, 40 can be controlled accordingly; from that is in Fig. 2 For this purpose, a dashed signal line shown.

Likewise, it is optionally conceivable that the inerting device has a fresh-air supply device 60, via which the protective space 2 can be supplied with fresh air or oxygen in a regulated manner so as to be able to set or maintain a predetermined inerting level in the protective space 2. It would be conceivable here that the fresh air supply device 60 has a correspondingly controllable valve 61, which is opened or closed as required by the control unit 30 or 40. The fresh air supply means 60 may comprise either a nozzle system 62 separate from the inert gas supply nozzle system 21, as shown in FIG Fig. 2 is indicated, but it would also be possible for the fresh air supply means 60, the inert gas supply nozzle system 21 is used.

It should be noted that the embodiment of the invention is not limited to Fig. 1 and 2 described embodiments is limited, but also in a variety of variants is possible.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

inerting

2

shelter

10

inert gas system; Ambient-air compressor

11

inert gas system; inert gas generator

12

Inert gas pressure storage tank

14

pressure-dependent valve device

20

Supply pipe system

21

inert gas nozzles

30

Inert gas control unit

40

Safety device control unit

41

first controllable shut-off valve

42

second controllable shut-off valve

43

Bypass piping system

43a

Section of the bypass piping system

44

Volume flow controller

50

Oxygen detecting means

60

Fresh air supply means

61

controllable shut-off valve

62

Frischluftzufuhrdüse

Claims (15)

1. Inerting apparatus (1) for setting and holding predeterminable inerting levels in a protective space (2) to be monitored, with:

   - an activatable inert-gas plant (10, 11, 12) for the provision of inert gas;

   - a supply-pipe system (20) which is connected to the inert-gas plant (10, 11, 12) and which is connectable to the protective space (2), in order to supply the inert gas provided by the inert-gas plant (10, 11, 12) to the protective space (2); and

   - an inert-gas plant control unit (30) which is designed for activating the inert-gas plant (10, 11, 12) in such a way that an inert-gas rate provided by the inert-gas plant (10, 11, 12) assumes a value which is suitable for setting and/or holding a first predeterminable inerting level in the protective space (2),

   characterized in that
   the inerting apparatus (1) has, furthermore, a safety device (40, 41, 42, 43) which is designed, in the event of a fault in the activation of the inert-gas plant (10, 11, 12) or in the event of a failure of the inert-gas plant control unit (30), to regulate the inert-gas rate supplied to the protective space (2), in such a way that a second predeterminable inerting level is set and/or held in the protective space (2), the safety device (40, 41, 42, 43) having the following:

   - at least one first activatable shut-off valve (41), assigned to the supply-pipe system (20), for interrupting the connection capable of being made between the inert-gas plant (10, 11, 12) and the protective space (2) by means of the supply-pipe system (20);

   - at least one bypass pipeline system (43) with a second activatable shut-off valve (42) for making a bypass connection between the inert-gas plant (10, 11, 12) and the protective space (2), the bypass connection bridging the first activatable shut-off valve (41), and

   - a safety-device control unit (40) which is designed, in the event of a fault in the activation of the inert-gas plant (10, 11, 12) or in the event of a failure of the inert-gas plant control unit (30), to close the first shut-off valve (41) and to open the second shut-off valve (42), the bypass pipeline system (43) being designed to regulate the inert-gas rate supplied to the protective space (2) via the bypass pipeline system (43), in such a way that the second predeterminable inerting level is set and/or held in the protective space (2).
2. Inerting apparatus according to Claim 1, the safety device (40, 41, 42, 43) being designed, in such a way that the second predeterminable inerting level has to be set or held in the protective space (2), to reduce the maximum inert-gas rate supplied to the protective space, in such a way that the oxygen fraction in the protective space (2) cannot undershoot the second predeterminable inerting level.
3. Inerting apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, the bypass pipeline system (43) having a portion (43a) with an effective flow cross section which is designed for regulating the inert-gas rate supplied to the protective space (2) via the bypass pipeline system (43), in such a way that the second predeterminable inerting level is set and/or held in the protective space (2).
4. Inerting apparatus according to Claim 3, the effective flow cross section of the portion (43a) being capable of being set by means of the safety-device control unit (40).
5. Inerting apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, the bypass pipeline system (43) having a volume flow controller (44), activatable by the safety-device control unit (40), for limiting the inert-gas rate supplied to the protective space (2) via the bypass pipeline system (43).
6. Inerting apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, which has, furthermore, at least one oxygen detection device (50) for detecting the oxygen fraction in the space air of the protective space (2), the inert-gas plant control unit (30) and/or the safety-device control unit (40) being designed to set the inert-gas rate supplied to the protective space (2) as a function of the oxygen fraction measured in the space air of the protective space (2).
7. Inerting apparatus according to Claim 6, the oxygen detection device (50) having a multiplicity of parallel-operating oxygen detectors, the inert-gas plant control unit (30) and/or the safety-device control unit (40) being designed to set the inert-gas rate supplied to the protective space (2) as a function of each of the oxygen fractions measured in the space air of the protective space (2) by the respective oxygen detectors.
8. Inerting apparatus according to Claim 7, the inert-gas plant control unit (30) and/or the safety-device control unit (40) being designed to output a fault warning and/or an emergency OFF signal for shutting down the inert-gas plant (10, 11, 12) when at least one oxygen detector indicates an oxygen fraction in the space air of the protective space (2) which, in terms of the oxygen fractions measured by the other oxygen detectors, has a deviation which overshoots a specific predeterminable value.
9. Inerting apparatus according to one of Claims 6 to 8, the oxygen detection device (50) having an aspirative oxygen detection device.
10. Inerting apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, which has, furthermore, a fresh-air supply device (60) for the regulated introduction of fresh air and/or oxygen into the protective space (2), the fresh-air supply device (60) being activatable by means of the inert-gas plant control unit (30) and/or the safety-device control unit (40), preferably as a function of the oxygen fraction in the space air of the protective space (2).
11. Inerting apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, the inert-gas plant (10, 11, 12) having an ambient-air compressor (10) and an inert-gas generator (11) connected thereto, the inert-gas plant control unit (30) being designed to control the air-conveying rate of the ambient-air compressor (10) in such a way that the inert-gas rate provided by the inert-gas plant (10, 11, 12) is set at the value suitable for setting and/or holding the first predeterminable inerting level.
12. Inerting apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, the inert-gas plant (10, 11, 12) having an inert-gas pressure reservoir (12), the inert-gas plant control unit (30) being designed to activate an activatable pressure reducer assigned to the inert-gas pressure reservoir (12) and connected to the supply-pipe system (20), in such a way as to set the inert-gas rate provided by the inert-gas plant (10, 11, 12) at the value suitable for setting and/or holding the predeterminable first inerting level.
13. Inerting apparatus according to Claim 12, which has, furthermore, a pressure-dependent valve device (14) which is opened in a first predeterminable pressure range and makes it possible to fill the inert-gas pressure reservoir (12) by means of the inert-gas plant (10, 11, 12).
14. Inerting apparatus according to Claim 13, the safety device having a bypass pipeline system (43) connected to the inert-gas pressure reservoir (12).
15. Inerting apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, the first and/or the second predeterminable inerting level being a full inerting level, a basic inerting level or a walk-in inerting level.

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