WO2014012686A2

WO2014012686A2 - Device for the propulsion of a dual-phase mixture

Info

Publication number: WO2014012686A2
Application number: PCT/EP2013/058989
Authority: WO
Inventors: Stéphane BEUCHER; Guillaume DELEUZE; Nicolas Giraud
Original assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
Priority date: 2012-07-19
Filing date: 2013-04-30
Publication date: 2014-01-23
Also published as: EP2874712B1; WO2014012686A3; EP2874712A2

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for the propulsion of a dual-phase mixture (GL) having at least one gas (G) and one liquid (L), including: at least a first module (M1) having a pressurized gas inlet (E1) and a first gas outlet (SU) toward the inlet (ECA) of a chamber (CA) containing a liquid (L), said first module including a second gas outlet (S12) toward a first inlet (E21) of a second module (M2) for the mixture (T) of gas (G) and liquid (L), said the second module including a second liquid inlet (E22) coupled to a liquid outlet (SCA) of the chamber, the second module (M2) including at least one outlet (S2) for the dual-phase mixture (GL). The device according to the invention is characterized in that the first and second modules (M1, M2) form a single-block capsule that can be connected to the inlet (ECA) and the outlet (SCA) of the chamber (CA).

Description

A propulsion device for a diphasic mixture The present invention relates to a propulsion device for a two-phase mixture according to the preamble of ^¬ CLAIMS 1.

In particular in the field of extinguishing fire or cooling of various elements, ^propulsion devices of a two-phase mixture are well suited. As a rule, but without restriction, such a diphasic mixture ^¬ consists of at least a gas and a liquid, such as air and water.

Figure 1 shows a known device for propelling a mé ^¬ lange two-phase (GL) with at least one gas (G) and a liquid (L), comprising mainly:

at least a first module (M) having an inlet (El) of gas under pressure and a first outlet (SU) of gas to an inlet (ECA) of a cavity (CA) containing a liquid (L),

said first module (M) comprising a second gas outlet (S12) coupled to a first input (E21) of a

second mixing module (T) of the gas (G) and the liquid (L), said second module (T) comprising a second inlet (E22) of liquid coupled to a liquid outlet (SCA) of the cavity (CA),

the second module (T) comprising at least one output (S2) of the two-phase mixture (GL).

In the example of Figure 1, the output (S2) of mé ^¬ lange two-phase (GL) is coupled to at least one (here three) an extinction branch (OUT1, OUT2 ...), each comprising one or several nozzles and / or ejection nozzles (EXT1, EXT2, EXT3) of the two-phase mixture (GL). Thus it is possible to distribute the propulsive quenching of the two-phase mixture at various predefined locations.

The cavity (CA) usually comprises a piston (P) which under the action of the gas at the inlet (ECA) moves and allows by mechanical push the ejection of the liquid (L) to the inlet (E22) of the second mixing module (T). Other principles of liquid thrust are of course also possible. The inlet (E1) of pressurized gas is also currently cou ^¬ cated to a bottle of pressurized gas such as nitrogen. Other gas supplies and other gases are natural ^¬ possible. Such a device is well suited for extinguishing or re ^¬ cooling in a building, because it integrates easily in a modular way in service rooms or other ^¬ rights even delocalised (eg false ceilings, attic, etc.). However, it has two aspects that still require improvement:

it is its weight, in particular very high for uses of the device on embedded systems such as public transport or any other means of transport by air / sea / land;

- And it turns out that to ensure its reliability, it requires a fairly extensive / complex maintenance, since it includes a large number of modules to control also including many pipes and their couplings between the various main compo ^¬ sante (module M, CA cavity, mixing module T).

An object of the present invention is to provide a device for propulsion of a more compact two-phase mixture, particu ^¬ lly making the device lighter, easier to maintain and therefore more reliable. Such a propulsion device for a diphasic mixture is moved through claim 1. From a propulsion device of a diphasi mixture ^¬ from / consists of at least a gas and a liquid, include an ^¬ nant:

at least one first module having a gas inlet under pressure and a first gas outlet to an inlet of a cavity containing a liquid,

- said first module comprising a second gas outlet to a first input of a second gas mixing module and liquid, said second module comprising a ^¬ count is liquid inlet coupled to a liquid outlet of the cavity,

the second module comprising at least one output (S2) of the diphasic mixture,

the device according to the invention is characterized in that the first and the second modules form a single-piece capsule being integral (eg plug-in / screw-on / etc.) on the inlet and the outlet of the cavity.

There are three main advantages: - It is no longer necessary to have pipes, pipes or other pipes and their connectors ^{¬ be} the three following elements: first and second modules as well as the cavity that intercommunicate ^di¬¬¬ directly by through their connectable inputs and outputs. This therefore results in a reduced maintenance effort and therefore increased reliability of said device ^¬ tif;

- Also, the removal of pipes lighten the device considerably; - Finally, the one-piece encapsulation allows to make the most compact available ^¬ operative part and thus significantly reduce the size and weight of a modular device known as the one shown in Figure 1.

Advantageously, the monoblock capsule can also form at least a lid portion of the cavity. This highly compact embodiment makes it possible to provide a single unit that contains the liquid such as a bottle / reservoir with its removable propulsion cap (= monoblock capsule formed by the first and second modules). Thus, it is extremely easy to change the bottle if it is empty or Alté ^¬ SOE. The securing of said plug can be done by plugging, screwing, or any other conventional means of closing / opening respecting sealing standards and pres ^¬ tion.

Of these aspects and those which will be presented in the remainder of the document, it is particularly apparent that it is possible to propose a device for propelling a two-phase mixture allowing a considerable reduction in weight as well as an increase in reliability of such devices adap ^¬ side to extinguishing systems and / or fire suppression or cooling, mainly for mobile applications (trains, vehicles of all kinds) and accessories; ^¬ surely for fixed applications (buildings , infrastructu ^¬ res).

A set of subclaims also has advantages of the invention.

Examples of implementation and application are provided using the figures described: FIG. 2 Diagrammatic view of a device for propelling a two-phase mixture according to the invention,

Figure 3 Schematic example of a device with three outputs - front view,

Figure 4 Schematic example of the device according fi ^¬ Figure 3 - top view,

Figure 5 Alternative monoblock capsule configuration.

Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a pro ^¬ pulsion device of a diphasic mixture according to the invention. Primarily, the propulsion device of a di ^¬ phasic mixture (GL) formed with at least one gas (G) and a liquid (L) comprises:

at least a first module (Ml) having an inlet (El) of gas under pressure and a first outlet (SU) of gas to an inlet (ECA) of a cavity (CA) containing a liquid

(L),

said first module comprising a second gas outlet (S12) to a first inlet (E21) of a second gas mixture module (M2) (T) and liquid (L), said second module comprising a second inlet (E22) of liquid coupled to a liquid outlet (SCA) of the cavity,

- The second module (M2) comprising at least one output (S2) of the two-phase mixture (GL), said device provides according to the invention that the first and second modules (M1, M2) form a one-piece capsule being integral with the input (ECA) and the output (SCA) of the cavity (CA). The device shown clearly shows that the one-piece capsule (Ml, M2) forms at least one lid portion of the cavity (CA), such as a cap on a bottle. Means of soli- darisation between the capsule and the cavity, and the pressurized gas supply and external propulsion attractions in the capsule, however, not shown for clarity rai ^¬ sounds.

The operating principle of the device according to the invention is the same as that of FIG. 1 if the first module (M1) is associated with the module problem (M) of FIG. 1 and the second module (M2) with the second module of FIG. mixture (T) of Figure 1. The considerable difference consists in that the first and second modules are associable to ultimately form a monobloc capsule or are even obtained direc ^¬ ment in a monobloc form. A figure 5 will present more precise aspects on this point.

The first and second modules (Ml, M2) comprise internal channels in a precise configuration. The first module

(Ml) comprises a gas inlet channel (G) under pressure ( ^¬ trea El) which is subdivided (Y) into two channels, one going to the cavity (CA) for a thrust effect and the other (via the output S12) going to the input (E21) of the second module (M2). The second module (M2) also comprises a first gas supply channel coming from the first module (Ml) and a second water inlet channel from the cavity (CA) output (SCA), said two channels having a coupling point (T) in which the gas and the liquid are mixed. Finally, the coupling point of the second module (M2) has a single-channel output terminating on a preferred output nozzle (EXT) ^{¬ when} propelling the two-phase mixture downstream of said coupling point (T). The nozzle is here placed at the output (S2) of the second module (M2), but could be arranged between the coupling point and the output (S2) or even outside the second module (M2) via an external pipe. Aspects of emulsification / atomization quality, flow rate, range of Propulsion, etc. of the second module (M2) as well as quality or final properties of the two-phase mixture are not discussed here because it goes beyond the main subject of the invention. Tou ^¬ tefois, according to the arrangements and geometrical characteristics of the coupling point (T), the internal channels of said second module (M2) and the nozzle (EXT) integrated or not said module, it is possible to optimize properties ^¬ re quired mixture of gas and liquid to result in ex ^¬ tinctions or desired cooling downstream of the device according to the invention. Finally, it is possible to provide a plurality of two-phase mixing propulsion outlets by demul ^¬ tipliant in the second module the output channels downstream of the coupling point (T). Depending on the configurations of these output channels, pro ^¬ pulses of two-phase mixtures can have individual properties and adapted to the conditions

extinguishing / cooling desired to one or another ^¬ right. This aspect is represented in FIG. 3 by a schematic example of a device according to FIG. 2 comprising a second module (M2) with three outputs (EXT1, EXT2, EXT3) in front view. Figure 3 also comprising the external modules of the device according to the invention (N2, OUT1, OUT2) is also to be compared with FIG. 1 to see that the modular device (CA, M, T) of the prior art has has been considerably compacted by means of the device according to the invention with a cavity shape and one-piece capsule (CA, Ml, M2). Also, Figure 4 shows a schematic example of the dispo ^¬ operative part according to Fig 3 in top view, which allows to recognize the input (El) of gas (G) (from a bottle N2) to the first module of the one-piece cap and three outputs (EXT1, EXT2, EXT3) of two-phase mixing (GL) of the second module of the one-piece capsule. More generally, according to at least one of the figures 2 to 4, the device of the invention thus also provides some interesting or even advantageous aspects: - the cavity (CA) comprises either a piston (P) is a mem brane which ^¬ under gas inlet from the first ^¬ mo dule, acts as a mechanical expelling the liquid through the liquid outlet of said cavity. In the case of the one-piece capsule cover over the cavity, the piston running after triggering of the device according to the invention a vertical movement from top to bottom of the cavity, the capsule being located at the top of ca vity ^¬ such lid. A pipe (TUB) internal to the cavity connects the lower cavity with the inlet (E22) of the second module (M2) by means of which the liquid (L) is pushed and led to the said inlet. This downward piston configuration and liquid rising pipe is particularly well suited for the cavity assembly and monoblock capsule.

- The second mixing module (M2) comprises a gas-liquid mixture outlet coupled to at least one ejection nozzle, the nozzle being in particular integral with the capsule. This therefore extends the monobloc form to more than the first and second modules if one or the nozzles were originally external to said modules. Eventual ^¬ LEMENT, the nozzle can also be machined and, in the outlet channel of the second module.

the inlet (E1) of the first module (M1) is couplable to either a gas cylinder (G) under pressure or to a compressed gas outlet, the said gas being able to be in particular a neutral gas such as nitrogen (N2), a mixture of gases, or compressed air. A single and simple input connector is therefore necessary instead of mul ^¬ multiple connectors according to Figure 1 having a multiplicity of modules interconnected by pipes and therefore inevitable mating elements. at least one (or more) propulsion trip system such as an electrically operated opening system such as a system based on the principle of a permanent magnet, a solenoid valve or a propellant trigger is (are) arranged at the output

(S2) of the second module (M2) of gas-liquid mixture is inside thereof, downstream of the coupling point

(T) or the nozzle. This allows to block or ^¬ clencher propulsion simply and centrali ^¬ SEE / compact for every device.

a plurality of nozzles (EXT1, EXT2, EXT3) or at least a plurality of outputs (S2) of the second module (M2) bit ^¬ wind have different directions of ejection of the gas-liquid mixture. Thus, even locally compact and located, the device can flexibly switch off or re ^¬ froidir adjacent or remote areas,

like the previous paragraph, several nozzles, (EXT1, EXT2, EXT3) or at least a plurality of outlets (S2) of the second module (M2) may have flow rates that are identical or different from the ejection of the gas-gas mixture. liquid.

the liquid (L) may comprise at least partially an extinguishing agent or even a liquid-solid agent such as a potassium-based solution as long as the second mixing module (M2) allows it.

Of course, all these aspects are applicable even if the second mixing module comprises several two-phase liquid outlets, each being coupled to at least one ejection nozzle in order to selectively reduce the extinguishing or cooling zones,

the one-piece capsule has (or at least ^for¬¬ even includes) a thermal protection sufficient to propel, under stable flow conditions, a two-phase gas and liquid mixture in a variable temperature environment, the temperature of which fluctuates especially between -25 ° C and + 60 ° C. This aspect is further strengthened intrinsically by the compacting / securing aspect of the two modules (Ml, M2) in one piece as well as with the cavity (CA). As a result, the device according to the invention may be configured or embar ^¬ cated in environments with ex ^¬ treme climatic conditions (airplane, boat, train, etc.)

- the device of the invention has a shape and / or includes fixing means to make embarqua- ble in a vehicle, such a transport vehicle could ^¬ blic or freight, a construction machine, a vehicle mili ^¬ silent , the vehicle being a means of transport on land, sea and / or air. The device according to the invention is indeed of reduced size, more reliable and robust under various environmental conditions: it is therefore suitable for use as an on-board means, without restriction to a means intended for a fixed use such as in a building or an infrastructure, where it will also take a minimum of space to be installed.

FIG. 5 shows an alternative configuration of a monoblock capsule with respect to the diagram of FIG. 2. In FIG. 2, a device according to the invention is shown "schematically", for which the monoblock capsule comprises "physically" several compartments. ble désolidarisa- / removable and re-assembled, in the configuration sui ^¬ boasts: a first compartment comprising the first module (Ml), a second compartment comprising the second module (M2) and at least one outlet-ejection nozzle (EXT ).

However, there may be alternative configurations to this first physical partitioning configuration, in particular according to at least the following configuration: a first compartment comprising the first module (Ml) and the second module (M2), a second compartment (M3) comprises ^¬ ing at least one nozzle (EXT). It is this configuration ternative presented in Figure 5. Of course, depending on the conditions of manufacture or maintenance, other alternative configurations offering another compartimen ^¬ physical floor of the one-piece capsule are possible.

Claims

Device for propelling a two-phase mixture (GL) with at least one gas (G) and a liquid (L), comprising:

at least a first module (Ml) having an inlet (El) of gas under pressure and a first outlet (SU) of gas to an inlet (ECA) of a cavity (CA) containing a liquid (L),

said first module comprising a second gas outlet (S12) to a first inlet (E21) of a

second module (M2) mixture (T) of the gas (G) and li ^¬ quide (L), said second module comprising a second input (E22) of liquid coupled to an output (SCA) of liquid from the cavity,

the second module (M2) comprising at least one output (S2) of the diphasic mixture (GL),

characterized in that

the first and the second modules (Ml, M2) form a one-piece capsule being integral with the inlet (ECA) and the outlet (SCA) of the cavity (CA).

Device according to claim 1, wherein the one-piece capsule forms at least one lid portion of the cavity.

Device according to one of claims 1 to 2, for the ^¬ which the cavity comprises either a piston (P) or mem ^¬ brane which, under gas inlet from the first mo ^¬ dule, acts as a mechanical expeller of the liquid through the liquid outlet of said cavity.

Device according to claim 3, wherein the piston (P) running after a triggering of the device MOTION ^¬ vertical from top to bottom of the cavity, the cap sule ^¬ being located at the top of the cavity and a duct (TUB) connects the lower cavity with the input (E22) of the second module (M2).

5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the second mixing module comprises a gas-liquid mixture outlet coupled to at least one ejection nozzle, the nozzle being in particular integral with the capsule.

6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the inlet of the first module is coupled to either a pressurized gas cylinder or a compressed gas outlet, said gas may in particular be a neutral gas such as nitrogen (N2), a mixture of gases, or compressed air.

7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one) propulsion trigger system such as an electrically controlled opening system such as a system based on the principle of a permanent magnet, a solenoid valve or a a trigger of the propellant type, is (are) disposed either at the outlet of the gas-liquid mixing module (M2) or inside thereof, downstream of a coupling point (T) of ca ^¬ nal of the second module (M2) or of the nozzle.

8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a plurality of diphase mixing outlet nozzles.

9. Device according to claim 8, wherein the tuyè ^¬ res have separate directions of ejection of the gas-liquid mixture. Device according to one of claims 8 or 9, for the ^¬ which the nozzles have flow rates that are identical or separate ejection of the gas-liquid mixture.

Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the liquid comprises at least partially an extinguishing agent or even a liquid-solid agent such as a potassium-based solution.

Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the second mixing module comprises plu ^¬ siors outputs of two-phase liquid, each being cou ^¬ ple at least one ejection nozzle.

Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the one-piece capsule has a thermal protection sufficient to propel, under stable flow conditions, a two-phase gas and liquid mixture in a variable temperature environment, whose temperature fluctuates especially between -25 ° C and + 60 ° C.

Device according to one of the preceding claims, having a shape and / or having attachment means for making the embeddable in a vehicle, such as a vee ^¬ vehicle of public transport or freight, a machine of chan ^¬ tier, a military vehicle, vehicle being a means of transport on land, sea and / or air.

Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the one-piece capsule comprises several com ^¬ separable compartments, in particular according to at least one of the following two configurations:

a first compartment comprising the first module (Ml), a second compartment comprising the second module (M2) and at least one ejection nozzle (EXT1); - a first compartment comprising the first module (Ml) and second module (M2), a second compartments ^¬ comprising at least one nozzle (EXT1).