High nitrogen and other inert gas anti-corrosion protection in wet pipe fire protection system

A venting assembly for use with a fire protection sprinkler system, said system having a pipe network, a source of water for said pipe network, at least one sprinkler head connected with said pipe network, a drain valve for draining said pipe network and an inert gas source connected with said pipe network, said venting assembly comprising:

• an air vent and an airflow regulator;
• said air vent adapted to be connected with the pipe network and adapted to vent gas, but not water;
• and
• said airflow regulator connected with said air vent and adapted to control gas flow between said air vent and ambient.

A fire protection sprinkler system, comprising:

• a sprinkler system comprising at least one sprinkler, a source of pressurized water, and a piping network that is coupled with a gas vent, the piping network coupling the at least one sprinkler to a riser, wherein the riser is coupled to the source of pressurized water;
• a water reuse tank coupled to the piping network;
• a source of inert gas;
• and
• a circulation line coupled to the water reuse tank, coupled to a water fill/drain line, and coupled to the source of nitrogen.

A method of reducing corrosion in a fire protection system comprising at least one sprinkler, a source of pressurized water, and a piping network that is coupled with a gas vent, the piping network coupling the at least one sprinkler to a riser, a water reuse tank coupled to the piping network and a source of inert gas, wherein the riser is coupled to the source of pressurized water;

• said method comprising:
• circulating water through a circulation line to and from the water reuse tank while providing inert gas from the source of inert gas into the circulation line to deoxygenate the water;
• and
• pumping the deoxygenated water from the water reuse tank through a water fill/drain line, through the riser, and into the piping network.