Controlled discharge gas vent
AssigneesEngineered Corrosion Solutions, LLC, Holtec Gas Systems
InventorsDavid J. Burkhart, Jeffrey T. Kochelek, Kenneth Jones, Thorstein Holt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fire protection system includes a dry pipe system and a controlled discharge gas vent. The dry pipe system and controlled discharge gas vent operate using a breathing cycle to displace oxygen and/or water vapor from within the piping network of the dry pipe system. The controlled gas discharge vent allows displacement of pressurized air with nitrogen, for example, using manual or automated processes that can employ one or more sensors. Corrosion resulting from oxygen, water, and/or microbial growth is reduced or nearly eliminated.
Claims42
A controlled discharge gas vent for a dry pipe or preaction fire sprinkler system, the controlled discharge gas vent comprising:
- a liquid sensing valve;
- an adjustable back pressure regulator having an adjustable threshold pressure;
- and
- an orifice operable to provide a flow rate of gas therethrough;
- wherein the liquid sensing valve is adapted to allow gas discharge but not liquid discharge from a piping network when the liquid sensing valve is coupled to the piping network;
- and
- wherein the adjustable back pressure regulator is operable to open when a pressure in the piping network exceeds the adjustable threshold pressure and close when the pressure in the piping network is below the adjustable threshold pressure.
A water-based fire protection system comprising:
- a dry pipe or preaction sprinkler system comprising at least one sprinkler, a source of pressurized water, a piping network connected to the at least one sprinkler, and a dry pipe or preaction valve coupling the source of pressurized water to the piping network;
- a source of pressurized nitrogen coupled to the piping network, the source of pressurized nitrogen operable to pressurize the piping network with nitrogen until the water-based fire protection system is actuated;
- and
- at least one controlled discharge gas vent positioned within the piping network, the at least one controlled discharge gas vent operable to allow gas including oxygen displaced by the nitrogen to exit the piping network while preventing liquid from exiting the piping network and maintaining enough pressure within the system to prevent the dry pipe or preaction valve from opening until the water-based fire protection system is actuated to thereby increase the concentration of nitrogen and decrease the concentration of oxygen in the piping network to reduce or eliminate the rate of corrosion in the piping network.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.