Fire-Extinguishing Facility, Fire-Extinguishing System Comprising Same, and Method for Determining the Extent of a Fire

Abstract

The invention relates to a fire-extinguishing facility (1) comprising an extinguishing fluid line (13,15) for transporting an extinguishing fluid, a plurality of sprinklers (3, 3) connected to the extinguishing fluid line in a fluid-guiding manner which are closed in a standby state and open in an extinguishing state in order to supply the extinguishing fluid, and a flow-measuring device (5) associated with the extinguishing fluid line (13, 15).

According to the invention, the flow-measuring device (5) is designed to approximately detect a volume flow of the extinguishing fluid transported in the extinguishing fluid line (13, 15), and an evaluation unit (7) is provided and designed to assign a number of open sprinklers (3) to the approximately detected volume flow.

Claims

1. A fire-extinguishing facility comprising at least one extinguishing fluid line for transporting an extinguishing fluid, a plurality of sprinklers connected to the extinguishing fluid line in a fluid-guiding manner which are closed in a standby state and open in an extinguishing state in order to supply the extinguishing fluid, a flow-measuring device associated with the extinguishing fluid line, the flow-measuring device designed to approximately detect a volume flow of the extinguishing fluid transported in the extinguishing fluid line, and an evaluation unit which is designed to assign a number of open sprinklers to the approximately detected volume flow.

2. The fire-extinguishing facility as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flow-measuring device comprises a rotor element and is designed to detect the speed of the rotor element driven by the extinguishing fluid.

3. The fire-extinguishing facility as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flow-measuring device has a pressure sensor for detecting a dynamic pressure in the extinguishing fluid line or multiple pressure sensors at different points along the extinguishing fluid line for detecting pressure differences between the points.

4. The fire-extinguishing facility as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flow-measuring device has a thermo-anemometry sensor and is designed to detect temperature changes in a heating element which has extinguishing fluid flowing round it.

5. The fire-extinguishing facility as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flow-measuring device comprises an ultrasound flow meter and is designed to detect the speed of at least one partial flow of the extinguishing fluid by means of the transmission and receiving of acoustic waves.

6. The fire-extinguishing facility as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flow-measuring device has a voltmeter sensor for measuring a voltage induced by a generator, wherein the generator is driven by a rotor element which has extinguishing fluid flowing around it.

7. The fire-extinguishing facility as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flow-measuring device has a flow resistance element in the form of a paddle, which is designed to have extinguishing fluid flowing around it and, as a result of the circulation, to be deflected, and wherein the flow-measuring device is designed to detect the deflection of the flow resistance element in qualitative or quantitative terms by detecting the force acting on the flow resistance element or by detecting the deflection amount.

8. The fire-extinguishing facility as claimed in claim 1, wherein the association between the approximately detected volume flow and the number of open sprinklers depends on one, several, or all of the following parameters: a predetermined relationship between the actual volume flow of the extinguishing fluid and the volume flow detected by the flow-measuring device, K-factors of the sprinklers in each case, and/or the extinguishing fluid pressure in the extinguishing fluid line.

9. The fire-extinguishing facility as claimed in claim 1, wherein the evaluation unit is designed to log the course of the approximate detection of the volume flow transported in the extinguishing fluid line over time, and to deposit it in a readable data record.

10. The fire-extinguishing facility as claimed in claim 2, wherein the rotor element of the flow-measuring device is coupled with a generator for producing electrical energy.

11. The fire-extinguishing facility as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flow-measuring device has a transmitting and/or receiving device for wireless or wired data transmission and is designed to transmit the values of the approximately detected volume flow to the evaluation unit.

12. The fire-extinguishing facility as claimed in claim 10, further comprising an energy store for the electrical energy produced by the generator, wherein the energy store is connected to the transmitting and/or receiving device for the energy supply thereof.

13. The fire-extinguishing facility as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one display unit which communicates with the evaluation unit and is designed to indicate the number of open sprinklers associated with the detected volume flow.

14. The fire-extinguishing facility as claimed in claim 2, wherein the rotor element of the flow-measuring device is arranged peripherally in the extinguishing fluid line.

15. The fire-extinguishing facility as claimed in claim 1, wherein in the wherein the flow-measuring device is arranged in a bypass line which branches off from the extinguishing fluid line.

16. The fire-extinguishing facility as claimed in claim 15, wherein the bypass line branches off from the extinguishing fluid line at a first branch and opens back into the extinguishing fluid line downstream at a second branch.

17. The fire-extinguishing facility as claimed in claim 15, wherein the bypass line branches from the extinguishing fluid line at a common branch and opens back into the extinguishing fluid line, viewed in the flow direction of the extinguishing fluid.

18. A fire-extinguishing system comprising a fire-extinguishing facility as claimed in claim 11; and one or more mobile, display units which communicate with the flow-measuring device and/or the evaluation unit and are designed to display the number of open sprinklers associated with the volume flow detected.

19. A method for determining the propagation of a fire in the case of a property or area protected by a fire-extinguishing facility comprising the steps: transportation of an extinguishing fluid through an extinguishing fluid line in the fire-extinguishing facility to multiple sprinklers connected to the extinguishing fluid line in a fluid-conducting manner, which sprinklers are closed in a standby state and open in an extinguishing state in order to supply the extinguishing fluid, approximate detection of a volume flow of the extinguishing fluid transported in the extinguishing fluid line by a flow-measuring device, and establishing of an association between the approximately detected volume flow and a number of open sprinklers.

Description

[0061] The invention is described below with reference to the attached figures with the help of a plurality of preferred exemplary embodiments.

[0062] In the drawing:

[0063] FIG. 1: shows a schematic representation of a fire-extinguishing system according to a preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention,

[0064] FIG. 2: shows a variant of the fire-extinguishing system according to FIG. 1,

[0065] FIG. 3: shows a first variant of the flow-measuring device for the fire-extinguishing facility according to FIG. 1 or 2,

[0066] FIG. 4: shows a further variant of a flow-measuring device for the fire-extinguishing facility according to FIG. 1 or FIG. 2,

[0067] FIG. 5: shows a further variant of a flow-measuring device for the fire-extinguishing facility according to FIG. 1 or 2,

[0068] FIG. 6: shows a further variant of a flow-measuring device for the fire-extinguishing facility according to FIG. 1 or 2,

[0069] FIG. 7: shows a further variant of a flow-measuring device for the fire-extinguishing facility 1 according to FIG. 1 or 2, and

[0070] FIG. 8: shows a further variant of a flow-measuring device for the fire-extinguishing facility 1 according to FIG. 1 or 2.

[0071] The fire-extinguishing facility 1 depicted in FIG. 1 comprises an extinguishing fluid line with a main line 13 which is connected to a valve station 11. The valve station 11 creates the fluid-conducting connection between the extinguishing fluid supply (not shown) and the pipeline network of the fire-extinguishing facility 1. Starting from the main line 13, the extinguishing fluid line is divided into two or more secondary distributor lines 15, a first of which leads into a first zone Z.sub.1 and a second into a second zone Z.sub.2. The secondary distributor lines 15 are further used within their respective zones as an extinguishing fluid line for the lines with sprinklers 3 departing from them in the manner of a network. Multiple sprinklers 3 are arranged in the two zones Z.sub.1,2. If one of the sprinklers, for example through the triggering of a thermal activation element, is moved from its standby state into the extinguishing state, as with the sprinkler 3 depicted by way of example, extinguishing fluid L flows from the sprinkler towards a fire 100. The extinguishing fluid flow which feeds the activated sprinkler(s) 3 is supplied by the valve station 11.

[0072] The fire-extinguishing facility 1 also has a flow-measuring device 5 which is designed for the approximate detection of the volume flow which moves through the extinguishing fluid line 13,15 and for mapping the number of sprinklers 3 activated in the fire-extinguishing facility 1 depending on the volume flow detected. As indicated in FIG. 1, one or multiple flow-measuring devices are provided for each zone, in order to make the localization of the fire easier for any emergency personnel. The flow-measuring device 5 is connected to an electronic evaluation unit 7 in a signal-conducting manner, wherein the electronic evaluation unit 7 performs the evaluation function of the measured values determined by the flow-measuring device 5. Both components may, however, also be integrated in a unit.

[0073] The flow-measuring device 5 is, in addition, connected in a signal-conducting manner (either directly or indirectly via the evaluation unit 7) to a display unit 9 which may be arranged as a stationary display, for example at access points to the property protected by the fire-extinguishing facility 1 or in a central fire alarm system and/or central fire-extinguishing systems. Alternatively or in addition, one or multiple mobile display units may be provided which are in the form of tablets or smart phones, for example, and run an app which is programed to display the assignment number of open sprinklers determined by the flow-measuring device 5 with the help of the evaluation unit 7. The app is preferably programed to display the number and arrangement of the open sprinklers in a graphic representation, for example by means of indicators of the zone of the protected property or area in a site plan.

[0074] The flow-measuring device 5 is only schematically depicted in FIG. 1. Different preferred exemplary embodiments for the flow-measuring device 5 are depicted in FIGS. 3 to 8.

[0075] The fire-extinguishing facility 1 in FIG. 2 substantially corresponds to the one in FIG. 1, which is why the same reference numbers are used for identical or functionally identical elements. Reference is made to the comments on the other figures in relation to those elements. The fire-extinguishing facility 1 shown in FIG. 2 differs from FIG. 1 in that only one flow-measuring device 5 is provided and directly assigned to the main line 13 instead of the secondary distributor line 15.

[0076] FIG. 3 initially shows a flow-measuring device 5 which comprises a sensor 21 according to a preferred embodiment generally described above which is arranged in a bypass line 18. The bypass line 18 branches from the extinguishing fluid line 15 at a first point 17 (first branch) and opens back into the extinguishing fluid line 15 at second point 19 (second branch) arranged downstream of the first point 17.

[0077] In order to support the flow discharge or flow return from/into the extinguishing fluid line 13, 15, flow-conducting elements 23 are arranged at each of the branches 17, 19, configured as guide plates for example. The flow diverted from the extinguishing fluid line 13, 15 represents only a partial flow of the total volume flow in the extinguishing fluid line 13, 15. The flow speed in the vicinity of the wall of the extinguishing fluid line 13, 15 is smaller in practice than in the middle of the extinguishing fluid line 13, 15. Within the framework of preliminary tests, a characteristic curve is therefore preferably determined which defines the correlation between the volume flows measured in the bypass line 18 and the volume flow actually flowing in the extinguishing fluid line 5 which may be specified in the preliminary tests. The characteristic curve may also have a non-linear course and ensure in each case that the volume flow in the extinguishing fluid line 13, 15 can be approximately detected with sufficient accuracy, in order to establish an association between the volume flow and the number of open sprinklers.

[0078] At the same time, the extinguishing fluid can furthermore flow through the extinguishing fluid line 13, 15 largely unimpeded, as a partial flow is removed only in the periphery of the flow.

[0079] FIG. 4 shows by comparison with FIG. 3 an alternative embodiment of the bypass line 18. Unlike the embodiment according to FIG. 3, two different branches 17, 19 are not provided, but instead a common branch 25 at which both a discharging branch line 29 and also a returning branch line 27 (opening-out branch line) of the bypass line 18 are connected to the extinguishing fluid line 15. The discharging branch line 29 (branching-off line) is preferably conducted back through the returning branch line 27 (opening-out branch line) and the bypass line 18 loops before it opens out into the returning branch line 27 (opening-out branch line), particularly on the side. The embodiment according to FIG. 4 advantageously combines reduced equipment expenditure and minimized installation space with one another.

[0080] FIG. 5 shows a detail view of a fire-extinguishing facility according to FIG. 1 or 2, in which the flow-measuring device 5 is not arranged in a bypass, as is the case in FIGS. 3 and 4. Instead of this, the flow-measuring device 5 in FIG. 5 is placed directly in the periphery of the extinguishing fluid line 13, 15. The flow-measuring device 5 has a rotor element 31 which comprises multiple rotor blades 33 that are mounted in a manner rotating about the rotary axis 35. The rotor element 31 is preferably inserted by means of an insert 39 into the periphery of the extinguishing fluid line 15, wherein the insert 39 can be screwed into a fitting 37. In this way, the insertion depth and the angular alignment of the rotor element remain adjustable. The fitting 37 is preferably configured as a T-piece or a saddle clamp.

[0081] The sensor 21 depicted in FIG. 5 is preferably configured as a Hall effect sensor. One, multiple, or all rotor blades 33 are then preferably configured partially or completely magnetically, in order to respond to the Hall sensor.

[0082] The flow-measuring device 5 in FIG. 5 is connected to the display unit 9 shown in FIG. 1 or 2 and/or the evaluation unit 7 by means for data transmission in a signal-conducting manner, indicated here by one or multiple cable lines 41. Alternatively, the flow-measuring device is set up for wireless communication with the display unit(s). In this case, the means for data transmission comprise a transmitting and/or receiving device, preferably with a WiFi module, as shown schematically in the following figures.

[0083] FIG. 6 shows a modification of the measuring arrangement from FIG. 5. The variant of the flow-measuring device 5 depicted in FIG. 6 likewise comprises a sensor 21 configured as a Hall effect sensor for detecting the speed of the rotor element. This sensor 21 is, however, arranged within the housing of the insert 39 and the rotor blades 33 (cf. FIG. 5) are not used to respond to the sensor 21, but instead an exciter element 51 is operatively connected to the rotor element 31 on the rotor axis 35 thereof, the rotation of which is detected by the sensor 21. The exciter element is at least partially designed as a magnet, in particular as a magnetic ring.

[0084] In embodiments in which the housing of the insert 39 is not of ferromagnetic design, the sensor 21 could also be arranged, alternatively, outside the insert 39, as has already been shown in FIG. 5, for example.

[0085] The flow-measuring device for the fire-extinguishing facility 1 according to FIG. 1 or 2 depicted in FIG. 7 is also based on a rotor element 31 which is set in motion as a result of the extinguishing fluid flow. Unlike the embodiments according to FIGS. 5-6, the rotor axis 35 of the rotor element 31 is oriented substantially radially relative to the flow direction in the extinguishing fluid line 15. In order to support the movement of the rotor element 31 and protect it from negative flow effects, the flow-measuring device 5 according to FIG. 7 also has a screening element 43 which partially surrounds the rotor element 33. The flow-measuring device 5 according to FIG. 7 is preferably screwed in. Reference is made to the embodiments in FIGS. 5 and 6 in this respect.

[0086] The flow-measuring device 5 according to FIG. 7 has, in addition, a generator 45 which is designed to convert the rotational movement of the rotor element 31 into electrical voltage. The sensor 21 which is built into the flow-measuring device 5 according to FIG. 7 is preferably configured as a voltmeter sensor and taps the voltage produced by the generator. Alternatively, the sensor 21 is configured as a Hall effect sensor, as in FIGS. 5, 6 or in the following FIG. 8, for example, and designed to record the speed of the rotor element 31 and pass it on as a measured variable.

[0087] The flow-measuring device 5 according to FIG. 7 comprises a transmitting and/or receiving device 47 as means for data transmission to the evaluation unit 7 (cf. FIG. 1, 2) and/or one or multiple display units 9 (cf. FIGS. 1, 2), and is particularly preferably supplied with electrical energy by means of the voltage produced by the generator 43. It may be preferable for the generator 43, or else the flow-measuring device 5, also to have an energy store 49 for the (temporary) storage of electrical energy which is generated starting from the driving of the rotor element 31. The flow-measuring device 5 preferably has a connection for an external power supply.

[0088] The flow-measuring device 5 according to FIG. 8 differs from the one in FIG. 7 only in that the sensor 21, as in FIGS. 5, 6, is depicted as a Hall effect sensor and is arranged immediately adjacent to the rotor element 31. The rotor element 31 is operatively connected to an exciter element 51 for responding to the sensor 21, wherein the exciter element 51 is at least partially designed as a magnet, for example as a magnetic ring. Otherwise, reference is made to the above comments on FIG. 7 in relation to FIG. 8.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0089] 1 Fire-extinguishing facility [0090] 3 Sprinkler, standby state [0091] 3 Sprinkler, extinguishing state [0092] 5 Flow-measuring device [0093] 7 Electronic evaluation unit [0094] 9 Display unit [0095] 11 Valve station [0096] 13 Main line, part of the extinguishing fluid line [0097] 15 Secondary distributor line, part of the extinguishing fluid line [0098] 17 First branch [0099] 18 Bypass line [0100] 19 Second branch [0101] 21 Sensor [0102] 23 Flow-conducting element [0103] 25 Common branch [0104] 27 Opening-out branch line [0105] 29 Branching-off line [0106] 31 Rotor element [0107] 33 Rotor blade [0108] 35 Rotor axis [0109] 37 Fitting [0110] 39 Insert [0111] 41 Means for data transmission: signal line [0112] 43 Screening element [0113] 45 Generator [0114] 47 Means for data transmission: Transmitting and/or receiving device (wired, wireless) [0115] 49 Energy store [0116] 51 Exciter element [0117] 100 Fire [0118] L Extinguishing fluid [0119] Z.sub.1, Z.sub.2 Zones