Tunnel fire suppression system and methods for selective delivery of breathable fire suppressant directly to fire site

A fire suppression system and a method for selective delivery of a breathable fire-suppressive gas directly to a fire location inside a transportation tunnel, said system and method comprising:

• a gas generation device producing said fire-suppressive gas from ambient atmospheric air;
• a gas storage station consisting of multiple high-pressure containers receiving said fire-suppressive gas from said gas generation device and storing it for immediate release when needed;
• an addressed gas delivery hose communicating with said gas storage station and said gas generation device and, when in use, receiving said fire-suppressive gas from said station and/or device;
• said hose installed throughout a tunnel and having multiple gas discharge means located at required intervals from each other;
• fire detecting and alarm system having multiple detectors installed throughout a tunnel at desired intervals and, in case of a fire, providing a corresponding signal to a central control station having a computerized processing and control equipment that allows to initiate said fire suppression system automatically or manually, by a dispatcher;
• when a fire is detected inside a tunnel, the initiation of said fire suppression system follows by a release of said fire-suppressive gas from said storage unit into said addressed gas delivery hose and simultaneously, by a signal from the central control station, one of said gas discharge means opens at a location closest to the fire site allowing selective release of the fire-suppressive gas and flooding of a section of the tunnel affected by fire;
• at the same moment said gas generation device starts producing more fire-suppression gas and sending it into the gas delivery hose allowing to keep a fire-suppressive atmosphere inside the tunnel for as long as needed;
• inflatable tunnel blocking devices or a plugs may be installed additionally in deflated form inside a tunnel tube, preferably near both exits, in order to provide a supplementary control over the direction of the gas flow inside the tunnel;
• such a tunnel plug, when inflated, is capable to block a tunnel tube and obstruct the air movement;
• in order to direct the flow of the fire-suppressive gas in the required direction, a tunnel plug should be inflated on the side opposite to the desired flow direction.