KR101137280B1 - Methods and apparatus for extinguishing fires - Google Patents

Abstract

A fire control system (100) according to various aspects of the present invention includes an extinguishant (112) having a suppresant (210) and a thermal absorbant (212). The suppressant (210) is configured to suppress the fire. The thermal absorbant (212) is configured to absorb heat from the fire. In one embodiment, the thermal absorbant (212) is configured to absorb thermal radiation from the fire and inhibit reflection of thermal radiation from the suppressant and/or other surfaces back into the fire. In additional and alternative embodiments, the thermal absorbant (212) may be configured to transfer heat into the surface and/or interior of suppressant particles or droplets to promote activation of the suppressant.

Description

Fire-fighting methods and apparatus {METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRES}

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for controlling fire and combustible materials.

Combustibles Other dangerous substances play an important role in the daily lives of most people. Most people encounter flammables such as gasoline, engine oil and natural gas without risk. Since combustible materials are constrained, they generally do not present any problems with those in the vicinity.

However, when the combustible material is not constrained, such as when the container is damaged and the flammable material escapes, the combustible material may cause injury or kill people. The digestive system plays a major role in controlling and extinguishing the fire. Many substances offer various properties for extinguishing and are applied to a variety of extinguishing systems, including dry powders, liquids and foams. Most of these substances directly attack the epicenter of fire. In particular, the materials are intended to interfere with the chemical combustion process of directly cooling the fire, removing fuel or oxygen from the fire, or otherwise sustaining the fire.

A fire control system according to various aspects of the present invention includes a digest having an inhibitor and a heat absorber. Inhibitors are made to suppress fire. Heat absorbers are made to absorb heat from fire. In one embodiment, the heat absorber is made to absorb radiant heat from the fire and prevent it from reflecting heat radiation from the inhibitor and / or other surfaces back to the fire. In other embodiments, the heat absorber may be made to transfer heat to and / or inside the inhibitor particles or droplets to enhance the activity of the inhibitor.

A complete understanding of the invention may be obtained by referring to the detailed description in view of the drawings below. Like reference numerals in the drawings below indicate similar elements and steps.

The elements and steps in the figures are shown for simplicity and clarity and need not be given in any particular order. For example, the drawings that help to improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention illustrate steps that may be performed concurrently or in a different order.

The present invention is described in part in terms of functional components and various processing steps. Such functional components may be realized by a large number of components designed to perform specific functions to achieve various results. For example, the present invention may perform various functions by adopting various elements, materials, inhibitors, heat absorbers, heat conductors, neutralizers, and the like. In addition, the present invention may be practiced in connection with a number of applications, environments, hazardous materials and digests, and the described system is merely a mere embodiment for the present invention. In addition, the present invention may employ a number of traditional techniques for fabrication, assembly, distribution, and the like.

Referring to FIG. 1, a fire control system 100 for controlling and turning off fire in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure may include a dispenser 110 containing a digest 112. The dispenser 110 sprinkles the package 112 on or near the fire. Digestion 112 weakens the intensity of the fire and / or helps extinguish the fire.

The dispenser 110 may include any system suitable for spraying the package 112. Dispenser 110 may also store digest 112 until it is sprayed on or near fire. For example, the dispenser 110 may include traditional fire extinguishing systems such as hand held fire extinguishers, building fire extinguishing systems, vehicle fire extinguishing systems, industrial fire extinguishing systems, and the like. In this embodiment, the dispenser 110 traditionally includes a hand held fire extinguisher, which has a tank 114 for storing the package 112 and a nozzle 116 for sending the package 112. have. In another embodiment, the dispenser comprises a fire panel of the vehicle, which panel is substantially filled with the package and is made to open in response to a stimulus, such as an impact, to spray the package.

Digestion 112 is a material made to control or turn off a fire in a suitable manner, such as, for example, to take heat, oxygen, or fuel from the fire, or otherwise interfere with the chemical processes required to sustain it. In the present embodiment, the extrudate 112 includes an inhibitor and a heat absorber. Inhibitors are made to suppress fire, for example, traditional fire suppressors are designed to cover the fire, cut off fuel supply, or cool the fire below the combustible temperature. The heat absorber is suitably made to absorb heat from the fire, for example to reduce the reflection of heat radiation by the digest 112 and / or other surfaces, and / or to enhance the activity of the inhibitor.

Inhibitors are made to attenuate fire, for example, through traditional techniques. For example, the inhibitor may comprise sodium bicarbonate or potassium bicarbonate, ammonium phosphate, monophosphate, potassium chloride, potassium salt carbon dioxide, HFC-227ea, halon or halotrone-I, water, or water fog. However, the inhibitor may include any substance suitable for suppressing fire.

1 is a diagram of a digestive system according to various aspects of the present invention.
2 is a diagram of inhibitor particles or droplets mixed with heat absorber particles or droplets.
3A and 3B are cross-sectional views of inhibitor particles having colored and coated sides, respectively.
4 is an illustration of inhibitor particles with partially marked residues of heat absorber particles.
5 is a cross-sectional view of the inhibitor particles in which the heat absorber has penetrated into the inhibitor particles.
6 is a cross-sectional view of inhibitor particles having heat absorber particles attached to and / or embedded in the inhibitor surface.

In the first embodiment, the heat absorber is made to reduce the heat, in particular radiant heat, reflected by the extrudate 112 or other surfaces and returned to the fire or other heat source. Fire, in particular two-dimensional fires formed on a liquid pool of fuel, has various mechanisms for sustaining the fire as well as dissipating the heat energy of the fire, including heat radiation. Heat radiation contributes to the persistence and spread of fire. In particular, the heat radiation emitted by the fire sustains the fire by transferring heat under the liquid pool to improve the vaporization and introduction of the steam into the reaction zone. However, because radiation is emitted in all directions, energy is also emitted from fuel and fire. To keep enough heat to sustain the fire, lost heat must be replaced by heat from the fire.

Radiant heat may also contribute to the spread of fire from the source of the fire. The role played by the radiative effect and heat radiation of the fire is complex, for example, the complexity of the direction and degree of heat loss, the heat radiation onto the surrounding structure and the reradiation back to the fire, within the hot ambient air itself. This is due to the complexity of radiation loss and generation, and the complexity of each ratio of radiation, absorption and reflection from each component. In addition, radiation-based heat applied to flammable surrounding structures such as walls and curtains may cause the structures to ignite and sustain a fire. As a result of this mechanism, fire may spread from the epicenter of the fire to these surrounding structures and may not be able to control the state of the fire spreading.

In addition, radiant heat may affect the activity of the dry chemical fire particles that are sprayed into the fire zone. Various types of extinguishing particles can function as a place where the heat released by the fire is discarded to cool the fire below its fire temperature. In addition, chemically reactive dry chemicals, such as sodium bicarbonate and potassium bicarbonate, decompose upon exposure to heat, releasing carbon dioxide and metal ions, thus not only covering the fire, but chemically hindering the fire's reaction. Smaller particles are more effective because the particles must evaporate quickly for optimal effect.

However, most traditional dry chemical digests are white or close to white within the range visible to the naked eye. Whiter surfaces tend to reflect heat from each particle back to the fire zone or fuel source and reduce heat absorption by the particles themselves. When heat is reflected, the flame tends to be strong, and the lower the heat absorption, the less the rate of heat escape from the fire. In addition, low absorption tends to lower the rate of degradation of the extinguishing particles themselves and the corresponding rate of generation of corresponding inhibitory degradation products (mixed into the reaction zone), so that particles in or above the fire zone will not degrade. It may be. These particles are practically useless and accumulate in or around the atmosphere.

The extrudate 112 according to various aspects of the present invention includes a heat absorber that absorbs heat, such as heat transferred by heat radiation. The heat absorber may also be made to absorb heat transferred by convection and / or conduction. For example, heat absorbers are made to modify the exterior and / or interior of the inhibitor to absorb more radiant heat. As a result, the heat reflected back to maintain the fire tends to be less. In addition, more heat may be transferred to the inhibitor, causing the thermally reactive inhibitor to decompose faster to release the chemical ions and degradation products of the inhibitor that chemically interfere with the fire. In addition, heat absorbers that are not in the immediate vicinity of the fire extract additional heat from the fire, potentially reducing the ignition of surrounding combustible materials by reducing the transfer of heat radiation to the surroundings.

In one embodiment, the heat absorber relates to the inhibitor by providing a thermally absorbable surface, such as at least in part by changing the surface to pure black, and / or providing a thermal conductor inside the inhibitor particle. Provide color. Absorbent surfaces tend to absorb instead of reflecting heat. Heat absorbers tend to enhance the extraction of heat from the environment and / or the decomposition of inhibitors. In addition, the use of heat absorbers facilitates the use of larger inhibitor particles to maintain desirable throw distance properties. The heat absorber inhibits the transport and / or reflection of heat to the fuel source and allows the digest 112 to decompose in a zone far from the center of the reaction zone, producing more concentrated metal ions and inert gas molecules that are induced by fire.

Heat absorbers may be made in any manner suitable to reduce heat back reflection and heat transfer to other combustible materials, and / or to enhance the activity of the inhibitor. In this embodiment, the heat absorber is made to absorb heat transferred through, for example, heat convection, conduction and / or radiation. The heat absorber may be made in any manner suitable for absorbing heat, for example by providing the digestion 112 with thermally absorbing colors or other properties.

For example, in one embodiment, the heat absorber may provide a suitable color that tends to absorb heat energy instead of reflecting heat energy to the digestion 112. Thermal absorbers can be made to absorb as much of the radiation as possible, such as pure black, or they can be applied to specific wavelengths and temperatures, such as those corresponding to carbon-based radiation spectra or those associated with specific combustible materials found in a given environment. It may be made to absorb. In addition, the heat absorber may exhibit any other effective or desirable color, such as grey, one or more colors mixed in the heat absorber, or various shades of different configurations. The heat absorber may be selected according to appropriate criteria such as cost, durability, efficiency of absorbing the selected wavelength of interest, coloration efficiency, flow performance, fire extinguishing performance, and the like of the digest 112. In addition, the heat absorber may be selected according to other criteria such as different extinguishing capacity, improved handling, lower toxicity, easier cleaning, or other relevant criteria.

The heat absorber may act with respect to the inhibitor in any suitable manner. For example, the heat absorber is suitably disposed near the inhibitor, such as mixed with, attached to, or integrated with the inhibitor. Referring to FIG. 2, in one embodiment, the digest 112 includes a liquid, gas, or liquefied compressed gas inhibitor 210 mixed with a liquid or solid heat absorber 212. Inhibitor 210 and heat absorber 212 may be premixed or mixed during dispensing.

The heat absorbent 212 may increase the heat absorbing power of the extrudate 112 in any suitable manner, for example by providing mixed particles with a darker surface to darken the gas or liquid inhibitor 210 or to absorb radiant heat. Can be. For example, the heat absorber 212 may include dyes, a plurality of small particles, or other colorants to enhance the heat absorption of the digest 112. The combination of dark heat absorber 212 and inhibitor 210, such as pure black, tends to reduce the reflectivity of digest 112. Liquid heat absorbent 212 may act as a dye or other colorant to render the total digest 112 thermally absorbable and of a selected material. When the gas, liquid, or solid inhibitor 210 is mixed with a plurality of small black particles or solid heat absorbers 212, such as beads, the overall reflectivity of the digest 112 is reduced.

In other embodiments, the inhibitor 210 is a solid or semisolid material and the heat absorber 212 may be attached to the inhibitor 210. Inhibitor 210 may include any suitable material that suppresses fire and other hazards, such as, for example, traditional dry chemical fire inhibitors. The heat absorber 212 reduces the reflection of heat from the inhibitor 210 or other surfaces, and / or absorbs heat and transfers any suitable material, such as pure black or other, to the inhibitor 210. It may be a material having a desirable color or characteristic.

For example, referring to FIG. 3A, the heat absorber 212 may be located on the surface of some or all of the inhibitor 210 particles, such as in a form that substantially coats the outer surface of the inhibitor 210. have. Alternatively, referring to FIG. 3B, the heat absorber 212 may include surface coloring on the inhibitor 210. Treating only the surface of the inhibitor 210 particles helps to minimize the amount of heat absorber 212 needed and maintains increased heat absorption until the coating or modified surface evaporates upon melting.

The heat absorber 212 may be attached to the inhibitor 210 particles in any suitable manner. For example, the heat absorber 212 may be added using a drying process, such as by dyeing or otherwise coloring the inhibitor 210 particles. However, any suitable technique may be used to attach the heat absorber 212 to the inhibitor 210, such as lamination, soaking, spray drying, electrostatic techniques, and the like.

Referring to FIG. 4, the inhibitor 210 particles may also be partially covered by a heat absorber. Partial covering of the inhibitor 210 particles may be performed in any suitable manner, such as heat absorber 212 (eg, activated charcoal particles or properly colored gel), leaving residue on the surface of the heat inhibitor 210 particles. By positioning it in contact with In this embodiment, the inhibitor 210 particles may be mixed with the char particles 410 and circulated to optimize the residue 412 carried by the char or other heat absorbent 212.

In yet another embodiment, the heat absorber 212 is penetrated or buried into the inhibitor 210. For example, referring to FIG. 5, the heat absorber 212 suitably includes materials that may penetrate into the inhibitor 210, such as liquid dyes or materials added to the inhibitor during or after fabrication. Or by forming the inhibitor 210 from a thermally absorbent material, for example, by using a wet treatment (eg, by dissolving the inhibitor 210 particles to which the dye has been added to form the desired digest particles by subsequent grinding and processing). The heat absorber 212 may be incorporated into the inhibitor 210.

Alternatively, referring to FIG. 6, the heat absorber 212 may include particles formed, embedded in, or attached to the inhibitor 210, or vice versa. Heat absorber 212 includes any suitable heat absorber such as, for example, a material made to absorb radiant heat and / or to transfer heat to the surface and / or inside of inhibitor 210.

For example, iron oxide 610 or other heat absorber particles may be attached to the surface of the inhibitor 210 particles. Iron oxide particles 610 are moderately smaller than inhibitor 210 particles and may be attached or embedded in inhibitor 210 particles in a suitable manner. Iron oxide is typically an effective heat radiation absorber and may conduct heat to the inhibitor surface. Iron oxide is generally considered to be inert in a hot atmosphere, but when transported by the inhibitor 210 particles into a flame or other hot zone, the iron oxide particles 610 decompose to provide iron ions that are highly effective at chemically suppressing fire. You may.

In addition, the heat absorber 212 may not only increase the heat absorbing power of the extrudate 112 but may also perform other functions. For example, inhibitor 210 may include a thermally activated inhibitor such as sodium bicarbonate, and heat absorber 212 may be made to enhance the activity of inhibitor 210. As mentioned above, the heat absorber 212 may be attached to or integrated with the inhibitor 210. To enhance the activity of the inhibitor 210, the heat absorber 212 is suitably made to conduct or supply heat to the inhibitor 210 to promote the activity of the inhibitor 210.

For example, the heat absorber 212 may include a material that reacts while generating heat such as activated charcoal when sufficiently exposed to high temperature. Upon exposure to fire, the heat absorber may generate additional heat locally to enhance the activity of the inhibitor 210, thereby helping to digest faster.

The heat absorber 212 may also act as a supplemental inhibitor, for example by helping to remove oxygen or fuel from the fire. For example, the heat absorber 212 may include a thermally absorbent material having an inhibitory material. The heat absorber 212 may also include a material that is activated by exposure to heat to become the inhibitor 210. In one embodiment, the heat absorber 212 includes a material embedded in the inhibitor 210 to enhance the activity of the inhibitor 210, and as the inhibitor 210 is activated and the heat absorber 212 is heated, The absorbent 212 turns into a material having inhibitory properties.

For example, the extrudate 112 may include a sodium bicarbonate inhibitor 210 having iron oxide that is a heat absorber 212 particle embedded in the inhibitor particles. The heat absorber 212 particles exposed to heat transfer heat to the inhibitor 210 particles (including the interior of the inhibitor 210 particles) to enhance the activity of the inhibitor 210. The heat absorber 212 particles also react to heat by generating iron ions, which provide additional inhibitory properties for suppressing fire.

Digestion 112 may also be made to reduce or neutralize combustible components. For example, the heat absorber 212 may include a porous material (eg, activated charcoal) that is likely to absorb flammable gases. Alternatively, the materials added to the heat absorber 212, the inhibitor 210, or the digest 112 may include materials that help to neutralize or reduce the flammability of one of the more combustible components.

In order to use the fire control system 100 and the package 112 according to various aspects of the present invention, for example, the fire 112 or fire hazard in response to detecting fire, either visually or automatically through a fire detection system. Scattered through dispenser 110 above or near the zone. As the digestion 112 approaches and contacts the fire, for example, by removing fuel and / or oxygen from the fire, the inhibitor 210 helps to weaken the fire. In addition, the heat absorber 212 helps to absorb heat from the fire. In particular, the heat absorber 212 reduces heat radiation being reflected back to fire and / or other surfaces. Even the digestion 112 that failed to contact the fire absorbs heat and reduces the reflection or transfer of heat from the digestion 112 and other surfaces, helping to suppress the spread or growth of the fire.

In addition, the heat absorber 212 may aid in the activity of the inhibitor 210. As digest 112 approaches fire, inhibitor 210 and heat absorber 212 absorb heat, which helps to activate inhibitor 210. The heat absorber 212 absorbs heat faster than the inhibitor 210, which is transferred to the inhibitor 210 to enhance the faster activity of the inhibitor 210. An inhibitor 210 having a heat absorber 212 penetrating the outer surface of the inhibitor 210 may further improve its activity, so the heat absorber 212 may transfer heat directly into the inhibitor 210. .

Heat absorber 212 may also be used as a supplemental inhibitor. As the heat absorber 212 absorbs heat from the fire, the heat absorber 212 may be turned into a material having inhibitory properties. In addition, the heat absorber 212 can absorb and / or neutralize the surrounding combustible material by, for example, absorbing the combustible gas into the hole of the heat absorber.

Particular means described in the present invention do not limit the scope of the present invention in any way. For brevity, the traditional fabrication, connection, preparation and other functional aspects of the system may not be described in detail. Furthermore, the components shown in the various figures are intended to represent exemplary functional relationships and / or physical couplings between the various components. In a real system, there may be many alternative or additional functional or physical connections.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above. However, many variations and modifications may be made to the preferred embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. Such variations and modifications are included within the scope of the present invention.

Claims (1)

Adjacent to the inhibitor and the inhibitor and disposed to cover the inhibitor,
A heat absorber adapted to absorb radiant heat and conduct heat to the inhibitor, the heat absorber having a surface modification function for the inhibitor,
The inhibitor comprises sodium bicarbonate or potassium bicarbonate, wherein the heat absorber is selected from the group consisting of charcoal, iron oxide and activated charcoal.

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