Scouring method and system for suppressing fire in an enclosed area

A system for combatting fire in a fire suppression sector of an enclosed area that is defined by an enclosing structure, said area containing air and having an upper region, an intermediate region, and a lower region, said system comprising:

• a. plenum means;
• b. a means for supplying a fire retardant material to said plenum means;
• c. a discharge means through which said material is able to be discharged from said plenum means, said system being arranged to form in said upper region a layer of at least a minimum concentration of said material which is sufficient to suppress flame, said layer extending substantially continuously across said sector, said material having a density and a particle size such that said layer is able to descend through said air by gravity;
• d. said enclosing structure and said discharge means being arranged so that said air in said sector is sufficiently still to permit said layer of at least said minimum concentration while descending from said upper region through said intermediate and lower regions to extend substantially continuously across said sector, whereby said sector is traversed by said layer and flame is suppressed within said sector, while wastage of said material is alleviated.

A system for combatting fire in an enclosed area which has an upper region, an intermediate region, and a lower region, said system comprising:

• a. plenum means;
• b. means connected to said plenum means for supplying fire retardant material to said plenum means;
• c. discharge means positioned in said upper region connected to said plenum means and through which said material can be dispersed from said plenum means to form a layer of said material in air in said upper region, said material have a weight, density, and particle size such that said material descends through air by gravity, said layer maintaining a concentration of said material sufficient to repress flame within said layer, said material being dispersed in a manner such that said layer descends from said upper region through said intermediate and lower regions to suppress flame within said area.
• d. said discharge means comprising:
• i. nozzle means having aperture means for releasing said material in a first path in said upper region, said first path being downward;
• ii. means fixed to said nozzle means and positioned below said aperture means, for deflecting said first path into at least one horizontal path, said deflection means being generally perpendicular to said first path, said material being dispersed at velocities controlled by said discharge means which are sufficiently low to prevent said dispersion from forming air currents that would impede said suppression of fire by said layer but sufficiently high to enable said layer to form and descend.

A system for combatting fire in an enclosed area which has an upper region, and intermediate region, and a lower region, said system comprising:

• a. plenum means;
• b. means connected to said plenum means for supplying fire retardant material to said plenum means;
• c. discharge means positioned in said upper region connected to said plenum means and through which said material can be dispersed from said plenum means to form a layer of said material in air in said upper region, said material have a weight, density, and particle size such that said material descends through air by gravity, said layer maintaining a concentration of said material sufficient to repress flame within said layer, said material being dispersed in a manner such that said layer descends from said upper region through said intermediate and lower regions to suppress flame within said area.
• d. said discharge means comprising:
• i. means connected to said conduit means which contain first passageway means communicating with said conduit means, said first passageway means having an opening in said upper region which extends parallel to said conduit means, said conduit means having longitudinal and vertical axes and a locating plane containing said axes, said first passageway means deflecting the path of travel of said first retardant material and dispensing said material into said upper region in a first generally horizontal direction away from said locating plane;
• ii. means connected to said conduit means which contain second passageway discharge means communicating with said conduit means, said second passageway means having an opening in said upper region which extends parallel to said conduit means, said second passageway means deflecting the path of travel of said material and dispersing said material into said upper region in a second generally horizontal direction away from said locating plane, said material being dispersed at velocities controlled by said discharge means which are sufficiently low to prevent said dispersion from forming air currents that would impede said suppression of fire by said layer but sufficiently high to enable said layer to form and descend.