Man-rated fire suppression system and related methods

A method of suppressing a fire in a defined space, the method comprising:

• igniting a solid gas generant composition of each of a plurality of gas generators, each gas generator of the plurality of gas generators comprising a separate pressure controlling orifice, to generate a flow of gas through the separate pressure controlling orifice of each gas generator of the plurality of gas generators and into a defined space from each of the plurality of gas generators independent of generation of gas by any other of the plurality of gas generators, and igniting the respective solid gas generant composition of at least one gas generator of the plurality of gas generators and the respective solid gas generant composition of at least one other gas generator of the plurality of gas generators in a predetermined time-based sequence to achieve and substantially maintain pressure within a range of from about 0 psig to about 0.2 psig within the defined space during gas generation and to suppress a fire within the defined space.

The method of 19, further comprising selecting the predetermined time-based sequence to achieve and substantially maintain the pressure within a range of from about 0 psig to about 0.1 psig within the defined space during gas generation.

A fire suppression system comprising:

• a plurality of gas generators, each gas generator of the plurality of gas generators having a solid gas generant composition positioned within a combustion chamber separate from any other combustion chamber of any other gas generator of the plurality of gas generators, the combustion chamber having walls capable of withstanding a maximum working pressure, each combustion chamber having a separate pressure controlling orifice from any other combustion chamber of any other gas generator, and each gas generator of the plurality of gas generators configured to generate a flow of gas into a defined space upon ignition of its respective solid gas generant composition;
• and
• at least one initiating device configured to ignite each of the respective solid gas generant compositions of each gas generator of the plurality of gas generators, and to ignite the respective solid gas generant composition of at least one gas generator of the plurality of gas generators independent of ignition of the respective solid gas generant composition of at least one other gas generator of the plurality of gas generators in a predetermined, time-ordered sequence selected to achieve and substantially maintain pressure within a range of from about 0 psig to about 0.2 psig within the defined space during gas generation.