Kidde IP Holdings Limited

Kidde IP Holding Limited

Simon James Davies

Robert G Dunster

Robert James Lade

Thomas Dahl Andersen

Peter O Jensen

Robert George Dunster

A fire and explosion suppression system comprises a source () of high pressure water which is fed to a misting nozzle () at one input of a mixing unit (), and a source () of high pressure inert gas, such as nitrogen, which is fed along a pipe () to another input of the mixing unit (). Inside the mixing unit (), water mist, in the form of an atomized mist of very small droplet size is mixed with the pressurized gas and exits the mixing unit () at high pressure and high velocity along a pipe () and is thence discharged through spreaders (). The source () of the water is pressurized by a feed () from the source of pressurized inert gas. The mass flow rate of the water will therefore reduce as the pressure of the gas decays. This tends to maintain the ratio of the mass flow rate of the water to the mass flow rate of the gas constant. This is found to produce and maintain an advantageous distribution of droplet size in the discharged unit. A control unit () adjusts a metering valve () in dependence on the mass flow rate or the pressure of the gas in order to adjust the ratio as necessary to maintain its value constant.

Fire and explosion suppression

A system for discharging inert gas for extinguishing or suppressing a fire is disclosed. A fluid discharge control arrangement is positioned in a fluid flow path between a pressurised gas supplyA,B,C and the target fire suppression zone. The fluid discharge control arrangement reduces the pressure in the fluid flow path downstream thereof. This may allow the downstream pipework to be selected to withstand a lower pressure than in a conventional system in which the fluid discharge control device was not provided, thereby reducing costs. The fluid discharge control device may comprise a first valveand first restrictorin the first flow pathand a second valveand a second restrictorprovided in the second flow path. Fluid from the containersA,B,C flows initially through flow pathand restrictor. Subsequently flow pathmay be closed by optional valve, and flow pathis opened by valve. Fluid flow then passes through restrictor. This reduces the peak pressure in the downstream pipework. In another embodiment the discharge of inert gas from the containersA,B andC is staggered to reduce the peak pressure in pipeline. A further embodiment provides a restrictor in the inletA,B,C from each of the containersA,B,C to the manifold, thereby also reducing the peak pressure in the pipeline

Fire suppression system

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Staines, United Kingdom

Simon James Davies