Active fire and explosion suppression system employing a recloseable

Abstract

The fire and explosion suppression system is mounted external to a tank and injects a suppressant medium into the tank via a preformed opening in the tank wall. The fire and explosion suppressant system includes a container for housing a suppressant medium which includes an opening removably connected to the predefined opening in a tank wall. The fire and explosion suppressant system also includes an actuator, such as a detonator, for activating the suppressant medium upon detection of a fire or explosion within the tank. The fire and explosion suppressant system further includes a reclosable valve for sealing the predefined opening in the tank wall. The valve includes a valve housing having at least one port and mounted over the opening in the tank wall. The valve further includes a piston disposed within the valve housing for sealing the tank wall opening. In the absence of an explosion or fire within the tank, the piston is disposed in a closed position against or within the opening in the tank wall, thereby sealing the tank wall and preventing leakage. Upon detecting a fire or explosion within the tank, however, the actuator initiates a reaction involving the suppressant medium which increases the pressure within the container and unseats the piston from the opening in the tank wall such that the suppressant medium is delivered to the tank via the ports defined by the valve housing in order to extinguish the fire or explosion.