EP2612694A1 - Automatische Feuerlöschvorrichtung und Verfahren zu deren Betrieb - Google Patents

Automatische Feuerlöschvorrichtung und Verfahren zu deren Betrieb Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2612694A1
EP2612694A1 EP12150087.0A EP12150087A EP2612694A1 EP 2612694 A1 EP2612694 A1 EP 2612694A1 EP 12150087 A EP12150087 A EP 12150087A EP 2612694 A1 EP2612694 A1 EP 2612694A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
pressure
fire
under
mist
inflammable liquid
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP12150087.0A
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English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Jesper Bille Løvbo
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
GearTeam ApS
Original Assignee
GearTeam ApS
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by GearTeam ApS filed Critical GearTeam ApS
Priority to EP12150087.0A priority Critical patent/EP2612694A1/de
Publication of EP2612694A1 publication Critical patent/EP2612694A1/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A62—LIFE-SAVING; FIRE-FIGHTING
    • A62C—FIRE-FIGHTING
    • A62C99/00—Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
    • A62C99/0009—Methods of extinguishing or preventing the spread of fire by cooling down or suffocating the flames
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A62—LIFE-SAVING; FIRE-FIGHTING
    • A62C—FIRE-FIGHTING
    • A62C31/00—Delivery of fire-extinguishing material
    • A62C31/02—Nozzles specially adapted for fire-extinguishing
    • A62C31/24—Nozzles specially adapted for fire-extinguishing attached to ladders, poles, towers, or other structures with or without rotary heads
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A62—LIFE-SAVING; FIRE-FIGHTING
    • A62C—FIRE-FIGHTING
    • A62C37/00—Control of fire-fighting equipment
    • A62C37/36—Control of fire-fighting equipment an actuating signal being generated by a sensor separate from an outlet device

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an automatic fire extinguishing apparatus.
  • the present invention relates to an automatic fire extinguishing apparatus which is adapted to be remote controlled by the firefighters.
  • the present invention relates to a method of extinguishing a fire.
  • the present invention relates to a method of extinguishing a fire by providing a mist of an inflammable liquid at an under-pressure inlet of a fire.
  • fire fighting can be seen as an attempt of stopping a running engine. Like an engine, a fire has an inlet and an outlet. Blocking either of the inlet and the outlet will cause an engine to die. The same is the case for a fire. If you manage to block either of the inlet or outlet, the fire dies.
  • Today fires are fought at the outlet side of the fire, as currently, there are no tools available for attacking the inlet of a fire.
  • High pressure systems which are the most commonly used systems for creating small droplets, are not sufficient, due to the high velocity of the droplets. When the droplets are forced through the nozzle, a significant drag of oxygen is created, which unfortunately fuels the fire and makes it even more unpredictable e.g. due to flashover or even backdrafts.
  • a backdraft is an explosive event at a fire resulting from rapid re-introduction of oxygen to combustion in an oxygen-starved environment.
  • One example is when a window is broken into an oxygen-starved environment, thus causing oxygen to restart the combustion of un-burned gasses. This often results in an explosive effect as the gases are heated by the combustion and expand rapidly because of the rapidly increasing temperature.
  • Backdrafts are very dangerous situations (often lethal), often surprising fire-fighters, regardless of their level of experience.
  • the present invention relates to an automatic fire extinguishing apparatus for extinguishing a fire in a construction which defines an under-pressure inlet at which the fire defines an under-pressure by means of which oxygen is sucked into the fire and an over-pressure outlet through which smoke is expelled during the fire, the apparatus comprising:
  • the automatic fire extinguishing apparatus provides a plurality of advantages.
  • the automatic apparatus may be positioned as close to an under-pressure inlet of a fire in a construction as possible. Due to the controller unit the apparatus may be controlled at a safe distance. Thus any explosion (e.g. due to flashover or backdraft) in the area of the inlet will not harm the fire-fighters.
  • the automatic apparatus may be positioned at a position which subsequently is change into an under-pressure inlet, i.e. before the risk of explosion increases.
  • the apparatus according to the present invention may be placed in front of a window which is not yet broken. Once in place and when the fire-fighters have retracted to a safe position, the window may be broken to create a passage which turns into an under-pressure inlet. However, often this passage may temporarily turn into an over-pressure outlet causing a flashover or backdraft and thus flames to exit the passage before the fire has found a new equilibrium in which the passage is an under-pressure inlet. It will be appreciated that it is dangerous to for the fire-figthers to stay in the area of the passage prior to the new equilibrium being found.
  • the automatic apparatus reduces the need for fire-fighters to enter buildings or other objects which reduces the number of primary/direct causes of deaths and injuries caused by the fire.
  • the automatic apparatus reduces the secondary causes of deaths and injuries such as cancer caused by repeated entry by fire-fighters into burning buildings or other objects.
  • the automatic apparatus reduces the usage of fire fighting liquid (e.g. water) as a limited volume of liquid is required to create a large volume mist.
  • fire fighting liquid e.g. water
  • Liquid is often a limited recourse in relation to a fire - especially in cases where the firefighting vehicle carries the liquid.
  • the automatic apparatus reduces the damage on the burning construction.
  • the water damage on the burning construction is huge.
  • the fire is extinguished in a simple manner and with very small quantities being poured into the construction.
  • the term 'under-pressure inlet' shall be understood as an opening in the construction through which air is supplied to the fire, i.e. through which air flows from the outside environment and into the construction.
  • the term 'over-pressure outlet' shall be understood as an opening in the construction through which gasses and/or smoke from the fire exit the construction.
  • the room will typically be divided in to an upper zone and a lower zone which is defined below the upper zone.
  • the temperature In the upper zone the temperature is very high, as the very hot smoke and un-combusted gasses are collected in this area.
  • the temperature In the lower zone, the temperature is significantly lower as fresh and relatively cool air (containing oxygen) flows toward to the fire in the lower zone.
  • the transition between the two zones is often very distinct and may easily be seen with the naked eye or with an infrared camera.
  • the pressure in this transition zone corresponds to the atmospheric pressure outside the construction. If the lower zone is filled with a mist of an inflammable liquid or gas or powder, the fire is extinguished.
  • the inflammable substance is an inflammable liquid such as water.
  • An inflammable powder and/or an inflammable gas may be added to the inflammable substance.
  • the inflammable powder and/or the inflammable gas is added to an inflammable liquid.
  • the inflammable powder discharged by the discharge compartment constitutes 5 percent of the total volume of what is expelled by the discharge compartment, or 10 percent or 15 percent or 20 percent or 25 percent or 30 percent or 35 percent or 40 percent or 50 percent.
  • the inflammable gasses discharged by the discharge compartment constitutes 5 percent of the total volume of what is expelled by the discharge compartment, or 10 percent or 15 percent or 20 percent or 25 percent or 30 percent or 35 percent or 40 percent or 50 percent.
  • the inflammable liquid discharged by the discharge compartment constitutes 5 percent of the total volume of what is expelled by the discharge compartment, or 10 percent or 15 percent or 20 percent or 25 percent or 30 percent or 35 percent or 40 percent or 50 percent.
  • the automatic fire extinguishing apparatus may be adapted to discharge the inflammable substance 360 degrees about a vertical axis extending through the automatic fire extinguishing apparatus, such as 300 degrees about the vertical axis, such as 270 degrees about the vertical axis, such as 240 degrees about the vertical axis, such as 210 degrees about the vertical axis, such as 180 degrees about the vertical axis, such as 150 degrees about the vertical axis, such as 120 degrees about the vertical axis, such as 90 degrees about the vertical axis, such as 60 degrees about the vertical axis, such as 30 degrees about the vertical axis.
  • the discharge compartment comprises one or more inlets each of which may comprise a separate inlet valve.
  • one inlet is used for supplying the inflammable liquid to the discharge compartment
  • another inlet is used for supplying an inflammable gas to the discharge compartment
  • a third inlet may be used for supplying an inflammable powder to the discharge compartment.
  • the discharge compartment comprises one single inlet through which the inflammable liquid and/or the inflammable gas and/or the inflammable powder are supplied.
  • the discharge compartment may comprise a plurality of outlet valves, e.g. for discharging the inflammable substance in different directions.
  • the discharge unit comprises a sensor adapted to determine one or more predetermined thermodynamic conditions in the compartment.
  • the predetermined thermodynamic conditions may comprise a predetermined temperature and/or a predetermined pressure in the compartment.
  • the stand may be a tripod like structure or any other suitable means for supporting the discharge unit according to the present invention.
  • the stand is adapted to stand on or be inserted into the ground.
  • the stand may comprise means for securing the stand to the ground such that it may remain in the same position even in the event of a backdraf.
  • the stand comprises fastening means for fastening the stand to a structure., such as a clamp.
  • the controller unit is provided for remotely controlling one or more parameters of the automatic fire extinguishing apparatus.
  • one of the controllable parameters is one or more of the thermodynamic parameters such as the temperature of the inflammable liquid inside the discharge compartment.
  • one of the controllable parameters is a pressure in the discharge unit.
  • the temperature and/or the pressure at which the outlet valve(s) open is/are controllable.
  • the apparatus according to the present invention is adapted to emit or eject the mist of the inflammable liquid to a position which is at least 0.5 meters away from the apparatus, such as 1 meter away from the apparatus, such as 2 meters away from the apparatus, such as 5 meters away from the apparatus, such as 10 meters away form the apparatus, such as 15 meters away from the apparatus.
  • the controller unit is adapted to control the discharge units position relative to the stand by operating at least one of the one or more actuators.
  • the discharge unit is adapted to generate a mist of the inflammable liquid at a pressure which is below twice an ambient atmospheric pressure in the area of the automatic fire extinguishing apparatus.
  • any droplet of the inflammable liquid in the mist of the inflammable liquid is below 0.1 mm, such as below 0.09 mm, such as below 0.08 mm, such as below 0.07 mm, such as below 0.06 mm, such as below 0.05 mm, such as below 0.04 mm, such as below 0.03 mm, such as below 0.02 mm, such as below 0.01 mm.
  • the controller unit is adapted to operate the discharge unit and or the stand by means of a wired or wireless connection.
  • the apparatus is self-propellable and thus comprises a propelling means for propelling the automatic fire extinguishing apparatus via the controller unit.
  • a propelling means for propelling the automatic fire extinguishing apparatus via the controller unit.
  • the apparatus may comprise a motor for propelling the apparatus.
  • this motor is an electrical motor.
  • the motor is a hydraulic motor which uses the pressurized the inflammable liquid to cause the hydraulic motor to rotate.
  • the invention according to the first aspect may comprise any combination of features and/or elements of the invention according to the second aspect.
  • the apparatus may be adapted to generate a mist of an inflammable liquid in which the pressure inside the mist is at a predetermined pressure level.
  • the predetermined pressure level may be substantially at the level of the atmospheric pressure in the surroundings of the construction.
  • the automatic fire extinguishing apparatus is adapted to discharge between 0 and 30 liters per minute, such as between 0 and 15 liter per minute.
  • the size of the droplets discharged by the automatic fire extinguishing apparatus may be between 0.001 millimetres and 0.1 millimetres, such as between 0.01 and 0.5 millimetres.
  • the present invention relates to a method of extinguishing a fire in a construction which defines an under-pressure inlet at which the fire defines an under-pressure by means of which oxygen is sucked into the fire and an over-pressure outlet through which smoke is expelled during the fire; the method comprising the step of:
  • the method has the same advantages as the apparatus according to the first aspect of the invention. Additionally, the method may comprise any combination of features and/or elements as the invention according to the first aspect.
  • the step of 'generating at the under-pressure inlet a mist of an inflammable liquid' comprises the step of providing a mist in which any droplet of the inflammable liquid is below 0.1 mm, such as below 0.09 mm, such as below 0.08 mm, such as below 0.07 mm, such as below 0.06 mm, such as below 0.05 mm, such as below 0.04 mm, such as below 0.03 mm, such as below 0.02 mm, such as below 0.01 mm.
  • the step of 'generating at the under-pressure inlet a mist of an inflammable liquid' comprises the step of generating a mist of an inflammable liquid in which the pressure inside the mist is at a predetermined pressure level.
  • the predetermined pressure level is substantially at the level of the atmospheric pressure in the surroundings of the construction and/or in the surroundings of the under-pressure inlet.
  • the predetermined pressure level is below twice the pressure in the area of the under-pressure inlet and/or in the surroundings of the under-pressure inlet (i.e. below two times the pressure), such as below 1.5 times the pressure in the area of the under-pressure inlet, such as below 1.25 times the pressure in the area of the under-pressure inlet, such as below 1.2 times the pressure in the area of the under-pressure inlet, such as below 1.1 times the pressure in the area of the under-pressure inlet, such as below 1.05 times the pressure in the area of the under-pressure inlet.
  • Fig. 1 discloses a construction 100 defining an under-pressure inlet 102 and an over-pressure outlet 104.
  • a fire 106 is burning in the construction 100, whereby a lower part 108 and an upper part 110 are defined.
  • the fire 106 needs oxygen in order to continue, the fire 106 creates an under pressure which causes air containing oxygen to be sucked into the under-pressure inlet 102 and towards the fire 106. This is indicated by arrows 112 and 114.
  • cold air relative to the temperature of the fire 106 and relative to the temperature in the upper part 110
  • the fire 106 exhausts smoke and gasses - often also combustible gasses - which enters the upper part 110 and exits the construction 100 through the over-pressure outlet 104. This is indicated by arrows 116 and 118. It will be appreciated that as the upper part 110 comprises exhaust smoke from the fire, the temperature in the upper part 110 is significantly higher than in the lower part 108. It will also be appreciated that depending on the size of the under-pressure inlet 102 and the size of the over-pressure outlet 104, the transition 120 between the lower part 108 and the upper part 110 may be positioned at different vertical positions.
  • Fig. 2 discloses use of the apparatus and the method according to the present invention and it is noted that reference numbers which are identical with the reference numbers of Fig. 1 refer to identical elements.
  • an automatic fire extinguishing apparatus 122 is provided at the vicinity of the under-pressure inlet 102.
  • the automatic fire extinguishing apparatus 122 is operated such that a mist 124 of an inflammable liquid is generated. Due to the under-pressure (relative to the atmospheric pressure in the surroundings of the construction 100) at the under-pressure inlet 102, the mist 124 is sucked into under-pressure inlet 102 and further into the lower part 108. This causes oxygen to be expelled from the lower part 108 whereby the fire 106 cannot continue. Thus with the use of limited amounts of liquid, the fire is extinguished.

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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)
EP12150087.0A 2012-01-03 2012-01-03 Automatische Feuerlöschvorrichtung und Verfahren zu deren Betrieb Withdrawn EP2612694A1 (de)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP12150087.0A EP2612694A1 (de) 2012-01-03 2012-01-03 Automatische Feuerlöschvorrichtung und Verfahren zu deren Betrieb

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP12150087.0A EP2612694A1 (de) 2012-01-03 2012-01-03 Automatische Feuerlöschvorrichtung und Verfahren zu deren Betrieb

Publications (1)

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EP2612694A1 true EP2612694A1 (de) 2013-07-10

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP12150087.0A Withdrawn EP2612694A1 (de) 2012-01-03 2012-01-03 Automatische Feuerlöschvorrichtung und Verfahren zu deren Betrieb

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Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3583637A (en) * 1969-04-14 1971-06-08 Stang Hydronics Inc Airport runway fire-fighting system and apparatus
US4949794A (en) * 1988-05-31 1990-08-21 Premier Industrial Corporation Remotely controlled firefighting apparatus and control means
WO1997026048A1 (de) * 1996-01-16 1997-07-24 Andreas Vigh Verfahren und vorrichtung zur brandbekämpfung

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3583637A (en) * 1969-04-14 1971-06-08 Stang Hydronics Inc Airport runway fire-fighting system and apparatus
US4949794A (en) * 1988-05-31 1990-08-21 Premier Industrial Corporation Remotely controlled firefighting apparatus and control means
WO1997026048A1 (de) * 1996-01-16 1997-07-24 Andreas Vigh Verfahren und vorrichtung zur brandbekämpfung

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