There is provided a fuel tank system comprising a fuel tank; and a lattice in the fuel tank for impeding the propagation of a flame front within the fuel tank, the lattice defining a plurality of openings to allow a fluid to pass through.

An oil, water, and gas separator assembly connects a fire extinguishing assembly. When the extinguisher assembly is in operation, sensors indicate an indication to a processor system. If the indication, after processing by the processor system, indicates an unwanted fire condition, the processor actuates the movement of fire extinguishing agent or suppressant from a source of supply to and through a distribution network and into the various hollows delimited by the separator assembly and to the external environment.

A foam production method includes mixing liquid nitrogen with a foaming material to produce foam. A gas is produced in situ from liquid nitrogen. As the ratio of the volume of the gas produced by gasification of liquid nitrogen to the volume of the liquid nitrogen is relatively high, when a large gas supply flow is needed to generate a large foam flow, a liquid nitrogen storage device of a small volume can be used instead of bulky air supply devices such as high-pressure gas cylinders, air compressors, air compressor sets and the like, reducing the volume of the air supply device. In addition, the liquid nitrogen used in foaming will release nitrogen gas after the foam blast, such that the nitrogen is also able to inhibit combustion on the surface of burning materials, accelerating the extinguishing of the fire.

A system includes a turbo pump to convert compressed gas into power, a storage tank to store the compressed gas, and a fire suppression control valve having a closed position in which the compressed gas is prevented from flowing to the cargo compartment and an open position in which the compressed gas is ported to the cargo compartment to suppress a fire. The system also includes a pump control valve having a closed position in which the compressed gas is prevented from flowing to the turbo pump and an open position in which the compressed gas is ported to the turbo pump to cause the turbo pump to convert the compressed gas into the power. The system also includes an OBIGGS to convert bleed air from a gas turbine engine into an inert gas to provide low rate discharge (LRD) fire suppression to the cargo compartment.

An inert gas distribution system nozzle 1 including an inlet 10 to receive fluid from a fluid supply, a chamber 32 to receive the fluid from the inlet and dimensioned relative to the inlet to permit the fluid to expand to form a mist, and at least one passage 34 to receive the fluid from the chamber and dimensioned relative to the chamber to promote condensing of the mist, wherein the, or each, passage comprises an outlet 40 to emit the fluid from the nozzle. A cross-sectional area of the passage is less than a cross-sectional area of the chamber.

A system is disclosed for providing inerting gas to a protected space, and also providing electrical power. The system includes an electrochemical cell comprising a cathode and an anode separated by a separator comprising a proton transfer medium. Inerting gas is produced at the cathode. A fuel source comprising methanol or formaldehyde or ethanol and a water source are each in controllable operative fluid communication with the anode. A controller is configured to alternatively operate the system in a first mode of operation where water is directed to the anode fluid flow path inlet and electric power is directed from a power source to the electrochemical cell, and in a second mode of operation in which the fuel is directed from the fuel source to the anode fluid flow path inlet and electric power is directed from the electrochemical cell to the power sink.

Multiple robotic monitors are located in a hydrocarbon storage or transport facility. Each robotic monitor is communicably coupled to other robotic monitors and includes a heat sensor configured to detect heat emitted by a hydrocarbon tank of the hydrocarbon storage or transport facility. A controller is communicably coupled to the heat sensor and configured to generate a heat signature based on the heat detected by the heat sensor. A pump is communicably coupled to the controller and configured to exert pressure on a fire retardant, responsive to the generation of the heat signature by the controller. An outlet is mechanically coupled to the pump and configured to discharge the fire retardant at the hydrocarbon tank.

Ignition-quenching covers are configured to quench an ignition event in a combustible environment triggered by an ignition source associated with an ignition-risk structure. Ignition-quenching covers comprise a porous body that includes two or more porous elements and are configured to cover the ignition-risk structure, wherein the ignition-risk structure is associated with a potential ignition source that may produce the ignition event in the combustible environment. The porous body defines passages sized to quench the ignition event. Methods comprise installing a porous ignition-quenching cover over an ignition-risk structure to prevent bulk combustion, e.g., of a fuel vapor in a fuel tank, due to an ignition event associated with the ignition-risk structure.

A fire protection containment unit for protection of an intermediate bulk container (IBC) having an internal flame and drain barrier disposed above a basin portion of the containment unit. The barrier includes pans having an impact surface that is angled to drain toward a central grid of the barrier to direct escaped liquid from the IBC into the basin portion of the containment unit. The basin portion includes a base surface on an incline to define a pooling region of the containment unit to collect escaped liquid from the IBC. The containment unit includes containment walls which define various configurations of the containment unit including an open configuration, partially open configuration, a completely contained configuration and a packaged configuration.

A method for preventing fires in tank systems and tank systems for methanol fuels comprising a fire protection apparatus are disclosed. The method can be effectively implemented to prevent vehicle fires, and to provide tank systems for methanol fuel with an appropriate fire protection apparatus. The method for preventing fires in tank systems is used, for example, in vehicles having a drive using a methanol-based fuel. An incombustible mixture of methanol and water being produced in an emergency. The tank systems contain at least one double-layer tank and/or at least one bell tank and/or at least one bellows-type tank.