METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PREVENTING AND/OR EXTINGUISHING A FIRE

Abstract

A system for preventing and/or extinguishing a fire in an enclosed target area in a vehicle. The system having a central compressed air source for supplying compressed air to a load circuit. A supply of compressed air is provided in a compressed air buffer tank is supplied to a gas separation device from the compressed air buffer tank. A nitrogen-enriched gas mixture is provided at an outlet of the gas separation device, and introduced into the target area. An inlet of the compressed air buffer tank is at least temporarily fluidically connected to an outlet of a central compressed air source, wherein compressed air can be supplied to the compressed air buffer tank. A fluidic connection is provided between the central compressed air source and the compressed air buffer tank if a load circuit is not drawing any compressed air from the central compressed air source.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. A method for preventing and/or extinguishing a fire in an enclosed target area in a vehicle, particularly in a railway vehicle, wherein the vehicle comprises a central compressed air source for supplying compressed air to a load circuit, and wherein the method comprises steps of: providing a supply of compressed air in a compressed air buffer tank; supplying compressed air from the compressed air buffer tank to a gas separation device as needed; performing a gas separation in the gas separation device and providing a nitrogen-enriched gas mixture at an outlet of the gas separation device; and introducing the nitrogen-enriched gas mixture into the enclosed target area as needed, wherein in order to provide the supply of compressed air, an inlet of the compressed air buffer tank is at least intermittently fluidly connected to an outlet of the central compressed air source wherein the compressed air can be supplied to the compressed air buffer tank, and wherein a fluid connection between the central compressed air source and the compressed air buffer tank is provided when the load circuit is not drawing any of the compressed air from the central compressed air source.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein an initial lowering of an oxygen concentration in the enclosed target area begins upon and/or subsequent an activation of the vehicle, terminates prior to and/or subsequent a start of travel, and further comprises steps of: determining the oxygen concentration in the enclosed target area; comparing the oxygen concentration determined in the enclosed target area to a preset control concentration/control range; supplying the compressed air from the compressed air buffer tank to the gas separation device as needed; providing the nitrogen-enriched gas mixture at the outlet of the gas separation device; and introducing the nitrogen-enriched gas mixture into the enclosed target area as needed until the preset control concentration/control range is reached in the enclosed target area.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein at least one fire characteristic can be detected in the enclosed target area by a fire detection device, and the oxygen concentration in ambient air of the enclosed target area can be reduced from a full inerting level upon the at least one fire characteristic being detected if the at least one fire characteristic detected exceeds a predefined threshold, wherein the full inerting level corresponds to a preset oxygen concentration and/or an oxygen concentration range.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the fire detection device is an aspirative fire detection device.

20. The method according to claim 16, wherein the load circuit is a main load circuit with an ancillary load circuit being further provided, wherein the fluid connection is also provided between the central compressed air source and the compressed air buffer tank when the ancillary load circuit draws the compressed air from the central compressed air source.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein upon a fire characteristic being detected, there is no fluid connection provided to the ancillary load circuit, or an existing fluid connection to the ancillary load circuit is disconnected, if the detected fire characteristic exceeds a predefined threshold.

22. The method according to claim 16, wherein a pressure in the compressed air buffer tank is kept at and/or above a minimum pressure.

23. The method according to claim 16, wherein a control device controls a need-based supply of the compressed air from the compressed air buffer tank to the gas separation device, wherein the method further comprises steps of: determining an oxygen concentration in the enclosed target area; comparing the oxygen concentration determined in the enclosed target area to a preset control concentration/control range; and controlling a valve for the need-based supply for supplying of the compressed air to the gas separation device, wherein the need-based supply is regulated as a function of the comparing the oxygen concentration determined in the enclosed target area to the preset control concentration/control range.

24. A system implementing a method according to claim 23, the system for preventing and/or extinguishing a fire in the enclosed target area in the vehicle, particularly in the railway vehicle, wherein the vehicle comprises the central compressed air source for supplying the compressed air as needed to the load circuit, the system comprising: the compressed air buffer tank at least intermittently fluidly connected to the central compressed air source; the gas separation device at least intermittently fluidly connected to the enclosed target area; and the valve, wherein the control device is provided which implements the method in accordance with claim 23.

25. The system according to claim 24, wherein the control device comprises at least one valve station, at least one pressure gauge and/or a flowmeter device, and a control unit, wherein the control unit controls the at least one valve station, subject to the pressure gauge and/or flowmeter device.

26. The system according to claim 24, wherein a check valve is provided between the central compressed air source and the compressed air buffer tank.

27. The system according to claim 26, wherein the check valve is a non-return valve.

28. The system according to any one of claim 24, wherein a fire detection device is provided in the enclosed target area configured to detect at least one fire characteristic in ambient air.

29. The system according to claim 28, wherein the fire detection device is an aspirative fire detection device.

30. The system according to any one of claim 24, wherein at least one oxygen measuring device is provided in the enclosed target area.

31. The system according to any one of claim 30, wherein the control device is connected to the at least one oxygen measuring device in the enclosed target area and to the valve for controlling the valve.

32. The system according to any one of claim 24, wherein an auxiliary compressor is provided for the need-based supplying of the compressed air to the gas separation device, particularly for effecting extended flooding in the enclosed target area.

33. A vehicle comprising the system according to claim 24.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0046] The following will reference the accompanying drawings in describing example embodiments of the present invention.

[0047] Shown are:

[0048] FIG. 1 a schematic view of the basic structure of an example embodiment of the inventive system for preventing and/or extinguishing fire;

[0049] FIG. 2 a schematic view of the control device employed in the system according to FIG. 1 having fluid connections to the main load circuit, the auxiliary load circuit and the compressed air buffer tank.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0050] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of the basic structure of an example embodiment of the inventive vehicle 100 having a central compressed air source 102 and a target area 101 as well as the inventive system for preventing and/or extinguishing fire. Included among the essential components of the inventive system in FIG. 1 are in particular a control device 110, a compressed air buffer tank 130, a control device 121 for controlling a valve 124 and a gas separation device 140.

[0051] The following will assume that nitrogen or a nitrogen-enriched gas mixture is used as the inert gas in the example embodiments of the inventive system depicted in the drawings, whereby, however, this is not to be regarded as a limitation. Of course, other inert gases or inert gas mixtures or extinguishing gases respectively can also be used for the preventing and/or extinguishing of fire.

[0052] In the schematically depicted embodiment of the inventive system shown in FIG. 1, the outlet 102a of the central compressed air source 102 of the vehicle 100 is fluidly connected to the control device 110. A load circuit 114, preferably comprising a main load circuit 114a and an auxiliary load circuit 114b, is connected to the control device 110, as is the inlet 130a of compressed air buffer tank 130 so that compressed air from the central compressed air source 102 can be routed to these components.

[0053] It is thereby in particular provided for the central compressed air source 102 to supply the compressed air buffer tank 130 with compressed air when no compressed air is being drawn from the central compressed air source 102 or when compressed air is being drawn from the central compressed air source 102 for only at least one load of the auxiliary load circuit 114b. To be understood in this context by the withdrawal of compressed air for a load is compressed air being supplied to a load, or the load drawing compressed air from a reservoir respectively, so that it can perform its intended function. Whenever a load of the main load circuit 114a draws, respectively uses, compressed air from the central compressed air source 102, the control device 110 disconnects or blocks the fluid connection between the central compressed air source 102 and the compressed air buffer tank 130 so that no further compressed air can be conducted to the compressed air buffer tank. Thus, according to the inventive method, the compressed air buffer tank can be intermittently supplied with compressed air from the central compressed air source 102 without thereby limiting vehicle safety functions during the operation of the vehicle 100.

[0054] A check valve 132, for example in the form of a non-return valve, is provided between the control device 110 and the compressed air buffer tank 130 in a first compressed air line 131 for preventing a return flow of compressed air from the compressed air buffer tank 130. Accordingly, a volume of compressed air within the compressed air buffer tank 130 is preferably unable to flow back into the vehicle's compressed air system and is thus exclusively reserved for fire prevention and/or fire extinguishing in the enclosed target area.

[0055] After the initial lowering of the oxygen concentration in the enclosed target area 101, leakages in the enclosed target area 130 can result in nitrogen-enriched gas mixture subsequently escaping from the target area, thus yielding an associated unwanted increase in the oxygen concentration. In order to prevent such an inerting level deficiency subsequent the initial lowering of the oxygen concentration in the target area 130, replenishing of a nitrogen-enriched gas mixture may be necessary as required. On the basis of such sustained flooding, an inertization level can also be maintained in an enclosed target area 101 having one or more leakages.

[0056] An auxiliary compressor 134 is preferably used for the sustained flooding in the sense of the present invention. This auxiliary compressor 134 is designed to supply compressed air as needed to the gas separation device 140 and, in so doing, maintain an inertization level in the enclosed target area 101. In the same way, the present invention does not exclude also using the auxiliary compressor 134 to initially lower the oxygen concentration in the target area 101, particularly when the main load circuit 114a is drawing compressed air from the central compressed air source 102. To that end, the auxiliary compressor can feed compressed air as needed to the gas separation device 140 with the aid of a control device 121, by using a comparable independent control means and/or manually from the driver's compartment, preferably by the vehicle driver.

[0057] A second compressed air line 133 fluidly connects the compressed air buffer tank 130 to the inlet 140a of the gas separation device 140. A valve 124 able to be controlled by control device 121 is further provided in said second compressed air line 133. The controlling of the valve 124 is thereby effected as a function of the oxygen concentration determined in the target area 101 by the oxygen measuring device 122. An additional display means 123 adjacent the target area 101 and/or in the vehicle driver's compartment 103 can provide the user, preferably the vehicle driver, with information such as e.g. the concentration of oxygen in the target area 101.

[0058] When the control device 121 actuates the valve 124 for the as-needed supply of compressed air from the compressed air buffer tank 130 to the gas separation device 140, compressed air flows via the second compressed air line 133 to the inlet 140a of gas separation device 140. Subsequent to the effected gas separation, oxygen (O.sub.2) as well as further components if applicable can be discharged into the environment from the second outlet 140c of the gas separation device via O.sub.2 discharge 143. The gas mixture enriched with nitrogen (N.sub.2) is conducted to the target area 101 via the first outlet 140b of the gas separation device 140 by fluid connection 141 and introduced into the target area 101 through a nozzle 142. The oxygen concentration in the target area 101 is in this manner lowered as needed.

[0059] A fire detection device 150 can furthermore be provided in the target area 101 in accordance with FIG. 1, same preferably being realized as an aspirative fire detection device. Regardless of the exact location of a potential fire, at least one fire characteristic can thus be sensitively detected throughout the entire volume of the target area 101 by the extraction and analysis of representative air samples.

[0060] FIG. 2 further shows a schematic representation of the structure of the control device 110 preferably having at least one pressure gauge and/or flowmeter device 113, one valve station 111 and a control unit 112. A data connection between the pressure gauge and/or flowmeter device 113 and the control unit 112 permits the valve station 111 to be controlled on the basis of the measurement data obtained. A control device 110 can also be used without a pressure gauge and/or flowmeter device 113. The control unit 112 can thus control the valve station 111 without utilizing measurement data from a pressure gauge and/or flowmeter device 113, e.g. on the basis of stored compressed air consumption volumes for various loads. It is moreover provided for the inventive system to be able to be manually controlled, preferably by the vehicle driver or other person authorized thereto, using suitable input means.

[0061] In accordance with FIG. 2, compressed air is fed to the valve station 111 from the central compressed air source by means of a fluid connection. As a function of the control command from control unit 112, compressed air can be relayed as needed from there to the compressed air buffer tank 130. In accordance with the depicted example embodiment, the valve station 111 comprises three valves thereto, each having a respective outlet 111a; 111b; 111c. Fluid connections run from two of these outlets 111a; 111b to the loads of the main load circuit 114a and the auxiliary load circuit 114b. Depending on the valve position of valve station 111, it is correspondingly possible to exclusively supply the load of the main load circuit 114a in order to ensure the safety-relevant functions of the vehicle 100. Alternatively, compressed air can be fed from the central compressed air source 102 to the loads of the auxiliary load circuit 114b and the compressed air buffer tank 130.

[0062] The invention is not limited to these example embodiments depicted schematically in the drawings but rather yields from an integrated consideration of all the features disclosed herein in context.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0063] 100 track-guided vehicle [0064] 101 target area [0065] 102 central compressed air source [0066] 102a central compressed air source outlet [0067] 103 vehicle driver compartment [0068] 110 control device [0069] 111 valve station [0070] 111a first outlet [0071] 111b second outlet [0072] 111c third outlet [0073] 112 control unit [0074] 113 pressure gauge and/or flowmeter device [0075] 114 load circuit [0076] 114a main load circuit [0077] 114b auxiliary load circuit [0078] 121 control device [0079] 122 oxygen measuring device [0080] 123 display means [0081] 124 valve [0082] 130 compressed air buffer tank [0083] 130a compressed air buffer tank inlet [0084] 131 first compressed air line [0085] 132 non-return valve [0086] 133 second compressed air line [0087] 134 auxiliary compressor [0088] 140 gas separation device [0089] 140a gas separation device inlet [0090] 140b first outlet of gas separation device [0091] 140c second outlet of gas separation device [0092] 141 fluid connection with target area [0093] 142 nozzle [0094] 143 O.sub.2 discharge [0095] 150 fire detection device