Fire emergency, sprinkling control system and method thereof

A flow control valve system for controlling flow of extinguishing fluid into a sprinkler system which is monitored by pressurized air, said system is connected to a sprinkling control module for commanding said flow of fluid into said sprinkler system upon detection of a fire emergency, said flow control valve system comprises:

• a main valve having an inlet for receiving said fluid, and an outlet;
• a flow control valve having an inlet connected to the outlet of said main valve, and an outlet for connection to said sprinkler system by means of a check valve restricting flow of said pressurized air from said sprinkler system to said flow control valve, said control valve having a body forming a passage between the inlet and the outlet of said control valve, said control valve including movable clapper having a first position in which said passage is blocked, and a second position in which said passage is open, said clapper having a first surface forming with said body a chamber having an inlet and an outlet receiving and exiting respectively pressurized fluid, said clapper having a second opposite surface forming with said body said inlet of said flow control valve, said first surface being at least four times greater than said second surface, said clapper being moved from its second position to its first position by means of said pressurized fluid entering said inlet of said chamber, said clapper being moved from its first position to its second position by releasing pressurized fluid from said outlet of said chamber;
• a pressurized air channel having an inlet for connection to a pressurized air source, and an outlet for connection to said sprinkler system by means, respectively, of a pressure operated release valve and a check valve for restricting fluid from circulating from the sprinkler system to the air channel;
• a normally closed valve having an end connected to said chamber of said control valve for depressurizing said chamber when activated, said normally closed valve is controlled by said module;
• a fluid releasing circuit connected to said chamber, including a normally open valve and a pneumatic actuator which is controlled by air pressure inside the air channel which is connected to said pneumatic actuator, said actuator being closed when said air channel is pressurized and opened when pressure drops inside said air channel, said normally open valve is controlled by said module;
• a priming system including a priming valve having an inlet connected to a source of fluid and an outlet connected to said chamber by means of a channel having a portion with a reduced cross-section;
• a fluid flow detector and activating means for detecting fluid flow at the outlet of said control valve and activating said pressure operated release valve upon fluid flow detection;
• and
• an air pressure detector for indicating to said module that air pressure has dropped under a predetermined level inside said air channel, said normally open and closed valves are connected to said module for controlling said flow control valve upon detection of a fire emergency by said module, whereby upon complete electrical power loss and air pressure drop inside said sprinkler system, said chamber is depressurized thus allowing introduction of extinguishing fluid inside said sprinkler system.

Method of controlling a flow control valve system that controls flow of extinguishing fluid into a sprinkler system which is monitored by pressurized air, said system is connected to a sprinkling control module which commands said flow of fluid into said sprinkler system upon detection of a fire emergency, comprising steps of:

• receiving said fluid by means of a main valve;
• sending said fluid from said main valve to an inlet of a flow control valve, an outlet of said flow control valve being connected to said sprinkler system by means of a check valve restricting flow of pressurized air from said sprinkler system to said flow control valve, said flow control valve having a first position in which said fluid is blocked, and a second position in which said fluid is free to flow, said flow control valve being moved from its second position to its first position by means of a pressurized controlling fluid sent to said flow control valve, said flow control valve being moved from its first position to its second position by releasing said pressurized controlling fluid from said flow control valve;
• pressurizing said sprinkler system by means of a pressurized air channel including, respectively, a pressure operated release valve for depressurizing said air channel when a flow of said extinguishing fluid is detected at said outlet of said flow control valve, and a check valve for restricting fluid from circulating from the sprinkler system to the air channel;
• depressurizing said flow control valve by activating a normally closed valve that releases said pressurized controlling fluid when said fire emergency is detected;
• depressurizing said flow control valve by means of a normally open valve connected in series with a pneumatic actuator that is open only when pressure drops inside said air channel, said normally open valve being closed when a reset has been done after said fire emergency;
• pressurizing said flow control valve by means of a priming system including a priming valve to send said pressurized controlling fluid to said flow control valve by means of a channel having a portion with a reduced cross-section;
• and
• detecting fluid flow at the outlet of said control valve and depressurizing said air channel upon fluid flow detection, whereby upon complete electrical power loss and air pressure drop inside said sprinkler system, said flow control valve is depressurized, thus allowing introduction of extinguishing fluid inside said sprinkler system.