US 5,685,376 A · System and method utilizing low-pressure nozzles for extinguishing fires

Abstract

It is possible to more effectively extinguish fires in confined spaces such as engine rooms of ships. General nozzles are disposed above and/or on the sides of the confined space to be protected for general fire extinguishment in the confined space. Spot nozzles may be disposed around specific objects which are susceptible to fire in the confined space, such as engines in an engine room. At least some of the nozzles are low pressure nozzles having wings from which extinguishing water is sprayed at a pressure less than twelve bar, e.g., between 2-12 bar, having water droplets of various size. Due to rotating action of the wings, the water droplets are distributed in the water spray so that the frequency of drops having larger diameters is greater at the periphery of the water spray than in the inner part of the spray, and correspondingly, the frequency of drops having smaller diameters is greater in the inner part of the spray than at the periphery.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A system for extinguishing a fire in a confined space containing at least one object in or on which the fire may occur, said system comprising:

at least one of:
a plurality of general nozzles to spray into said space for bringing about general fire extinguishment in said space;
and a plurality of spot nozzles disposed around said at least one object for extinguishing the fire on or in said object;
and
extinguishing liquid supplied to said nozzles to be sprayed thereby, including 0.5-1.5% of a reignition-preventing substance;
wherein at least one of said nozzles comprises a low-pressure nozzle for spraying the extinguishing liquid in a fog spray substantially about an axis outwardly of said low-pressure nozzle at a pressure of less than twelve bar, and said low-pressure nozzle comprising guide wings for guiding said fog spray out of said low-pressure nozzle and rotating said fog spray substantially about said axis, said fog spray having a periphery and an interior with drops of the extinguishing liquid having relatively large diameters distributed in a greater frequency at said periphery than in said interior, and with drops of the extinguishing liquid having relative smaller diameters distributed in a greater frequency in said interior than at said periphery.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System and method utilizing low-pressure nozzles for extinguishing fires

Life of this patent

System and method utilizing low-pressure nozzles for extinguishing fires

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20