EP3031497A1 - Procédé et agencement pour l'utilisation, la régulation de l'écoulement et la décharge de mousse à air comprimé dans des systèmes d'arrosage - Google Patents

Procédé et agencement pour l'utilisation, la régulation de l'écoulement et la décharge de mousse à air comprimé dans des systèmes d'arrosage Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3031497A1
EP3031497A1 EP14306980.5A EP14306980A EP3031497A1 EP 3031497 A1 EP3031497 A1 EP 3031497A1 EP 14306980 A EP14306980 A EP 14306980A EP 3031497 A1 EP3031497 A1 EP 3031497A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
caf
pressure
valve
pipe
air
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Withdrawn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
EP14306980.5A
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German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Dorau Günter
Vetter Mario
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.)
SOGEPI SA
Original Assignee
SOGEPI SA
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 SOGEPI SA filed Critical SOGEPI SA
Priority to EP14306980.5A priority Critical patent/EP3031497A1/fr
Publication of EP3031497A1 publication Critical patent/EP3031497A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current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
    • A62C99/0036—Methods of extinguishing or preventing the spread of fire by cooling down or suffocating the flames using foam
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A62—LIFE-SAVING; FIRE-FIGHTING
    • A62C—FIRE-FIGHTING
    • A62C35/00—Permanently-installed equipment
    • A62C35/58—Pipe-line systems
    • A62C35/62—Pipe-line systems dry, i.e. empty of extinguishing material when not in use
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A62—LIFE-SAVING; FIRE-FIGHTING
    • A62C—FIRE-FIGHTING
    • A62C5/00—Making of fire-extinguishing materials immediately before use
    • A62C5/02—Making of fire-extinguishing materials immediately before use of foam
    • A62C5/022—Making of fire-extinguishing materials immediately before use of foam with air or gas present as such

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a method and arrangement for firefighting using compressed air foam (CAF).
  • CAF compressed air foam
  • Sprinkler systems are the oldest and most widely used type of stationary extinguishing systems. They are automatic water extinguishing systems especially suitable for fighting fires in stationary materials which form burning embers.
  • Sprinkler systems are as regards their function, design and dimensioning, technically developed and standardized systems.
  • water as an extinguishing agent means that sprinkler systems are not suitable, or are less suitable, for firefighting of flammable liquids, oils, greases, rubber, plastics, and insulation materials, among others.
  • Compressed air foam systems allow the fighting of fires presenting a specific fire risk or, respectively, involving materials which cannot be extinguished, or only extinguished with difficulty using water as mentioned above.
  • compressed air foam Through the use of compressed air foam, one can achieve, during extinguishing, a variety of extinguishing effects operating in synergy such as a cooling effect, a smothering effect and an isolating effect. This results in the higher effectiveness and efficiency of extinguishing using compressed air foam when compared to water which is reflected, when compared to conventional sprinkler systems, in a reduced requirement for water in compressed air foam systems.
  • Compressed air foam systems require on average only one-third of the required amount of firefighting water or volumetric flow of the stream of water in sprinkler systems.
  • the water is under pressure at the sprinkler.
  • the bursting of a sprinkler glass bulb usually under thermal stress leads to a pressure drop in the piping system, and thus sets the sprinkler system in operation, i.e. the sprinkler pump starts and the open sprinkler is supplied via the piping network at a predetermined flow rate with water which is thereby applied and distributed.
  • Compressed air foam is, when compared with water, compressible and unstable.
  • the compressed air foam segregates over time and breaks down into its components - water and air. Briefly, this means that the discharge procedure used for the water is, in the case of compressed air foam, not possible.
  • the object of the present invention is to alleviate at least partly the above mentioned drawbacks and to overcome said technical prejudice.
  • the invention aims to combine, in an extinguishing installation, said benefits of sprinkler system technology with those of compressed air foam (CAF) techniques by
  • the step of feeding the pressure actuated valve with CAF comprises:
  • the step of controlling the degree of opening of the pressure actuated valve comprises:
  • the invention also concerns an arrangement for firefighting using compressed air foam (CAF), comprising
  • said arrangement comprises
  • Fig. 1 shows schematically the arrangement for system release and CAF flow control for firefighting purposes, according to the present invention.
  • At least one of the arrangements for firefighting using CAF according to the invention can be present in a practical CAF-sprinkler system, but more generally several such arrangements will be present depending on the size of the complete protection zone.
  • This arrangement comprises means for detecting a fire and a CAF generator 8.
  • the CAF generator 8 is connected, via a CAF pipe 13, to means for projecting CAF on a fire.
  • the means for projecting the produced CAF on the fire are at least one conventional sprinkler 2.
  • the valve arrangement described below is particularly suitable for feeding several sprinklers 2 covering a defined floor surface.
  • Such conventional sprinklers 2 are adapted to open under the effect of heat.
  • conventional sprinklers 2 comprise a glass bulb adapted to close said sprinklers and to burst under the effect of heat.
  • the CAF pipe 13 has, from the sprinkler 2 to the CAF generator 8, a first and a second air filling pressure switch 3 and 4 respectively, means 5 for measuring a pressure exerted by CAF in said CAF pipe, a two-way pressure actuated flow regulator valve 6, and a CAF inlet pressure switch 7.
  • the means 5 for measuring CAF flow pressure are a CAF flow pressure switch 5 and all the pressure switches 3, 4, 5 and 7 are electrical pressure switches. All pressure switches 3, 4, 5 and 7 are pre-set to or adjustable to certain target/threshold pressures.
  • a predetermined CAF flow pressure target of pressure switch 5 is set to the standard flow pressure of the sprinklers 2. At this flow pressure, the sprinklers will each spread out the designed nominal flow rate of CAF.
  • the arrangement for firefighting further comprises an air compressor 12 connected to the CAF pipe 13 in order to fill it with compressed air. More precisely, a first compressed air pipe 22 starting from the air compressor 12 divides, at a node 23, into a second 32 and a third 42 compressed air pipes leading respectively to a node 33 of the CAF pipe 13 and to the pressure actuated valve 6. At this pressure actuated valve 6, a spring loaded pneumatic cylinder 60 is mounted. When fire is not detected, the pressure actuated valve 6 is kept closed by the force of this spring. When a fire is detected, the pressure actuated valve 6 is opened to a known extent by compressed air acting against the force of the spring. The node 33 is between the sprinkler 2 and the first air filling pressure switch 3.
  • the second compressed air pipe 32 comprises a magnetic two-way filling valve 1 and the third compressed air pipe 42 comprises a magnetic two-way control valve 10.
  • the magnetic control valve 10 comprises a vent port (not shown) which permits to evacuate compressed air out of the spring loaded pneumatic cylinder 60 when said valve 10 is closed.
  • a vent port (not shown) which permits to evacuate compressed air out of the spring loaded pneumatic cylinder 60 when said valve 10 is closed.
  • an adjustable throttle valve in combination with a silencer is mounted to avoid a sudden evacuation or respectively to allow the evacuation to proceed more gently.
  • the arrangement for firefighting further comprises a control unit 9 for controlling, by the pressure actuated valve 6, a degree of opening of the magnetic control valve 10 and so a degree of opening of the pressure actuated valve 6 in order to produce CAF, on the basis of the measured value of CAF flow pressure in CAF pipe 13.
  • the magnetic filling valve 1 and the CAF flow pressure switch 5 are adapted to receive a control voltage from the control unit 9.
  • Magnetic valve 1 is opened when putting the sprinkler system into operation and closed in case of leakage when the air filling pressure sinks below a predetermined high air filling pressure threshold detected by the pressure switch 3.
  • the magnetic valve 1 is controlled by the control unit 9 and will be opened to fill/pressurize or to refill the CAF line 13 between valve 6 and the sprinklers 2 with compressed air supplied from the compressor 12.
  • the solenoid valve 1 will be shut off.
  • the pressure switch 3 When the first air filling pressure switch 3 detects a crossing of a predetermined high air filling pressure threshold, said pressure switch issues an electrical air filling pressure threshold-crossing detected signal to the control unit 9.
  • the second air filling pressure switch 4 is adapted to detect an air pressure loss in the CAF pipe 13, i.e. a crossing of a predetermined low air filling pressure threshold, in case of opening of said at least one sprinkler 2 and to issue an electrical fire-detected signal to the control unit 9.
  • the magnetic control valve 10 is adapted to receive the control voltage switched by the CAF flow pressure switch 5 and adapted to open itself to another known extent in order to open, via the control cylinder 60, the pressure actuated valve 6 to its known extent using compressed air when the second air filling pressure switch 4 signals a pressure drop in the CAF pipe 13, i.e. when at least one sprinkler 2 opens due to the influence of a fire.
  • the pressure actuated valve 6, connecting the CAF pipe 13 and the second compressed air pipe 42, is adapted to control the discharge of CAF and to regulate the flow rate of CAF in said CAF pipe 13, depending on the number of connected and opened sprinklers 2.
  • the CAF inlet pressure switch 7 is adapted to detect a crossing of some predetermined high and low CAF inlet pressure thresholds and to issue an electrical CAF inlet pressure threshold-crossing detected signal to the control unit 9.
  • the CAF flow pressure switch 5 is adapted to detect a crossing of the predetermined CAF flow pressure target and to issue an electrical CAF flow pressure target-crossing detected to the control unit 9.
  • the control unit 9 is adapted to receive electrical signals from the second air filling pressure switch 4 and to, upon detection of a pressure collapsing, control a supplying of the at least one sprinkler 2 with CAF.
  • the control unit 9 is also adapted to receive electrical signals from the first air filling pressure switch 3, from the CAF inlet pressure switch 7 and from said CAF flow pressure switch 5.
  • filling with compressed air via the first compressed air pipe 32, of the CAF pipe 13 continues until air filling pressure reaches the predetermined high air filling pressure threshold, and restarts when said air filling pressure falls below said predetermined threshold.
  • a fire is detected by the arrangement according to the invention when, under the effect of heat, the glass bulb of the sprinkler 2 bursts and, thereby, air pressure falls in the CAF pipe 13.
  • Such an air pressure loss corresponding to a crossing of the predetermined low air filling pressure threshold, is detected by the second air filling pressure switch 4 which issues an electrical fire-detected signal to the control unit 9.
  • the control unit 9 Upon reception of this electrical fire-detected signal, the control unit 9 closes the magnetic filling valve 1, opens the magnetic control valve 10 and starts the CAF generation. It should be noted that CAF inlet pressure in the CAF pipe 13, is measured upstream the valve 6 by the CAF inlet pressure switch 7.
  • the CAF generation continues until the CAF inlet pressure reaches the predetermined high CAF inlet pressure threshold, and restarts when said CAF inlet pressure falls below the predetermined low CAF inlet pressure threshold.
  • the CAF generator 8 is dimensioned to generate more CAF than all the sprinklers 2 connected to the valve 6 can simultaneously eject at the standard flow pressure. This is done on the one hand, to make sure the CAF pipe 13 between the CAF generator 8 and the valve 6 is always kept filled with a small overpressure in comparison with the flow pressure measured by pressure switch 5 in order to have sufficient CAF available in case of opening of further sprinklers 2. On the other hand it was found that pressurized CAF is more stable with reduced segregation of the CAF when stored in lines.
  • pressure switch 7 is arranged at the inlet of valve 6. If the CAF pressure at the inlet of valve 6 increases the predetermined high air filling pressure threshold of pressure switch 7 the CAF generator 8 will be stopped by the control unit 9 until the CAF pressure sinks below the predetermined low air filling pressure threshold of pressure switch 7 again. In this way, here also, a two points pressure regulated CAF flow is installed.
  • the CAF flow pressure switch 5 can't measure any CAF flow pressure because the pressure actuated valve 6 is still closed.
  • the control unit 9 opens said pressure actuated valve 6 and CAF leaving the latter traverses the CAF pipe 13 to be projected, by the sprinkler 2, on the fire.
  • control unit 9 issues a control voltage to the CAF flow pressure switch 5, the latter powers the solenoid of the magnetic control valve 10, i.e. switches said control voltage to the magnetic control valve 10 which opens to its known extent.
  • the pressure exerted by the CAF in the CAF pipe 13 is measured by the CAF flow pressure switch 5.
  • the control unit 9 controls the degree of opening of the pressure actuated valve 6 on the basis of the measured values of said CAF flow pressure.
  • control unit compares measured values of CAF flow pressure to a predetermined CAF flow pressure target.
  • the control unit 9 orders on the one hand, via the CAF flow pressure switch 5, switching off of the solenoid of the magnetic control valve 10, i.e. closing of the valve 10, and, as a result, closing of the pressure actuated valve 6, and on the other hand venting, via the vent exit, of the second compressed air pipe 42 and the spring loaded pneumatic cylinder 60 of said pressure actuated valve 6. More precisely, through the vent port and the connected throttle valve in combination with a silencer, the compressed air will be evacuated out of the control cylinder 60 gently. As a result, the valve 6 closes slowly under the force of the spring in interaction with the dwindling compressed air pressure.
  • control unit 9 orders reopening of the magnetic control valve 10, as described before.
  • a degree of opening of the pressure actuated valve 6, the predetermined CAF inlet pressure thresholds and the CAF flow pressure target depend on the diameter of the CAF pipe 13 and on the number of sprinklers 2 terminating the CAF pipe 13.
  • the magnetic control valve 10, the spring loaded pneumatic cylinder 60 and a position signal switch of pressure actuated valve 6 enable to control precisely the degree of opening of said pressure actuated valve.
  • the CAF generator 8 is stopped before the air compressor 12 in order to clean the CAF pipe 13 by the effect of compressed air.
  • the complete sprinkler system can only be reset manually by authorized persons.
EP14306980.5A 2014-12-09 2014-12-09 Procédé et agencement pour l'utilisation, la régulation de l'écoulement et la décharge de mousse à air comprimé dans des systèmes d'arrosage Withdrawn EP3031497A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP14306980.5A EP3031497A1 (fr) 2014-12-09 2014-12-09 Procédé et agencement pour l'utilisation, la régulation de l'écoulement et la décharge de mousse à air comprimé dans des systèmes d'arrosage

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP14306980.5A EP3031497A1 (fr) 2014-12-09 2014-12-09 Procédé et agencement pour l'utilisation, la régulation de l'écoulement et la décharge de mousse à air comprimé dans des systèmes d'arrosage

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3031497A1 true EP3031497A1 (fr) 2016-06-15

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EP14306980.5A Withdrawn EP3031497A1 (fr) 2014-12-09 2014-12-09 Procédé et agencement pour l'utilisation, la régulation de l'écoulement et la décharge de mousse à air comprimé dans des systèmes d'arrosage

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EP (1) EP3031497A1 (fr)

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5284174A (en) * 1992-08-18 1994-02-08 Chubb National Foam, Inc. System and method for producing and maintaining predetermined proportionate mixtures of fluids
US20070114046A1 (en) * 2005-11-18 2007-05-24 Munroe David B Fire suppression system
US20070209807A1 (en) * 2004-06-28 2007-09-13 Gimaex-Schmitz Fire And Rescue Gmbh Method And Arrangement For Producing Compressed Air Foam For Fire-Fighting And Decontamination
US20090200045A1 (en) * 2008-01-03 2009-08-13 Hosfield Robert L Foam Proportioning System with Low-End Controller

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5284174A (en) * 1992-08-18 1994-02-08 Chubb National Foam, Inc. System and method for producing and maintaining predetermined proportionate mixtures of fluids
US20070209807A1 (en) * 2004-06-28 2007-09-13 Gimaex-Schmitz Fire And Rescue Gmbh Method And Arrangement For Producing Compressed Air Foam For Fire-Fighting And Decontamination
US20070114046A1 (en) * 2005-11-18 2007-05-24 Munroe David B Fire suppression system
US20090200045A1 (en) * 2008-01-03 2009-08-13 Hosfield Robert L Foam Proportioning System with Low-End Controller

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