Fire suppression system using high velocity low pressure emitters

A method of operating a fire suppression system, said system having an emitter comprising:

• a nozzle having an unobstructed bore positioned between an inlet and an outlet, said nozzle inlet being connected in fluid communication with a pressurized gas source, said outlet having a diameter;
• a duct, separate from said nozzle and connected in fluid communication with a pressurized liquid source, said duct having an exit orifice positioned adjacent to said nozzle outlet;
• a deflector surface positioned facing said nozzle outlet in spaced relation thereto, said deflector surface comprising a flat surface oriented substantially perpendicularly to said nozzle, said flat surface having a wetted area defined by a minimum diameter approximately equal to said outlet diameter;
• said method comprising:
• discharging said liquid from said exit orifice;
• discharging said gas from said nozzle outlet, said gas achieving supersonic speed;
• establishing a first shock front between said outlet and said deflector surface wherein said gas slows to subsonic speed and then impinges on said wetted surface;
• establishing a second shock front proximate to said deflector surface, said gas moving across said wetted area and increasing to supersonic speed between said first shock front and said second shock front, and decreasing in speed after passing through said second shock front;
• entraining said liquid in said gas at at least one of said shock fronts to form a liquid-gas stream;
• and
• projecting said liquid-gas stream from said emitter.

A fire suppression system, comprising:

• a source of pressurized gas;
• a source of pressurized liquid;
• at least one emitter for atomizing and discharging said liquid entrained in said gas on a fire;
• a gas conduit providing fluid communication between said pressurized gas source and said emitter;
• a piping network, separate from said gas conduit, said piping network providing fluid communication between said pressurized liquid source and said emitter;
• a first valve in said gas conduit controlling pressure and flow rate of said gas to said emitter;
• a second valve in said piping network controlling pressure and flow rate of said liquid to said emitter;
• a pressure transducer measuring pressure within said gas conduit;
• a fire detection device positioned proximate to said emitter;
• said emitter comprising:
• a nozzle having an inlet and an outlet and an unobstructed bore therebetween, said inlet being connected in fluid communication with said first valve, said outlet having a diameter;
• a duct, separate from said nozzle and connected in fluid communication with said second valve, said duct having an exit orifice separate from and positioned adjacent to said nozzle outlet;
• a deflector surface positioned facing said nozzle outlet, said deflector surface being positioned in spaced relation to said nozzle outlet and having a first surface portion comprising a flat surface oriented substantially perpendicularly to said nozzle and a second surface portion comprising an angled surface surrounding said flat surface, said flat surface having a wetted area defined by a minimum diameter approximately equal to said outlet diameter;
• and
• a control system in communication with said first and second valves, said pressure transducer and said fire detection device, said control system receiving signals from said pressure transducer and said fire detection device and opening said valves in response to a signal indicative of a fire from said fire detection device.

A fire suppression system, comprising:

• a source of pressurized gas;
• a source of pressurized liquid;
• at least one emitter for atomizing and discharging said liquid entrained in said gas on a fire;
• a gas conduit providing fluid communication between said pressurized gas source and said emitter;
• a piping network, separate from said gas conduit, said piping network providing fluid communication between said pressurized liquid source and said emitter;
• a first valve in said gas conduit controlling pressure and flow rate of said gas to said emitter;
• a second valve in said piping network controlling pressure and flow rate of said liquid to said emitter;
• a pressure transducer measuring pressure within said gas conduit;
• a fire detection device positioned proximate to said emitter;
• said emitter comprising:
• a nozzle having an inlet and an outlet and an unobstructed bore therebetween, said inlet being connected in fluid communication with said first valve, said outlet having a diameter;
• a duct, separate from said nozzle and connected in fluid communication with said second valve, said duct having an exit orifice separate from and positioned adjacent to said nozzle outlet;
• a deflector surface positioned facing said nozzle outlet, said deflector surface being positioned in spaced relation to said nozzle outlet and having a first surface portion comprising a flat surface oriented substantially perpendicularly to said nozzle and a second surface portion comprising a curved surface surrounding said flat surface, said flat surface having a wetted area defined by a minimum diameter approximately equal to said outlet diameter;
• and
• a control system in communication with said first and second valves, said pressure transducer and said fire detection device, said control system receiving signals from said pressure transducer and said fire detection device and opening said valves in response to a signal indicative of a fire from said fire detection device.