Inerting intermittent suppression system
A method of operating a suppression system includes opening a discharge valve associated with a pressurized vessel containing suppression agent in response to detection of a hazardous condition within an area being monitored, releasing suppression agent into the area being monitored via a discharge nozzle, and detecting that the hazardous condition is no longer present in the area being monitored. The discharge valve is closed by the actuator in response to detecting that the hazardous condition is no longer present in the area being monitored.
1 . A suppression system for an area being monitored, the area including a combustible component and a ventilation system, the ventilation system including a vent and a fan, wherein the vent is operable to open and close and opens in response to a detection of a presence of a predetermined gas and the fan is actuated in response to the detection of the presence of the predetermined gas, the system comprising:
a source of suppression agent having an outlet;
a discharge nozzle;
a delivery piping system fluidly connecting the source of suppression agent and the discharge nozzle;
a discharge valve operably coupled to the outlet of the source of suppression agent, the discharge valve being movable between a closed position and an open position;
an actuator operably coupled to the discharge valve, the actuator being operable to transform the discharge valve from the open position to the closed position to stop a flow of suppression agent to the discharge nozzle;
a first sensor configured to detect one of a position or movement of the vent and an operational state of the fan; and
a controller configured to process the detection of the first sensor, wherein the controller is configured to actuate the actuator to place the discharge valve in the open position when the fan is actuated energized and the vent is open or opening, and actuate the actuator to place the discharge valve in the closed position when the fan is not energized and the vent is closed or closing.
2 . The suppression system of claim 1 , wherein the discharge valve is a pressure regulating valve.
3 . The suppression system of claim 1 , wherein the discharge valve is integrated into the outlet of the source of suppression agent.
4 . The suppression system of claim 1 , wherein the discharge valve is arranged downstream from the outlet of the source of suppression agent, within the delivery piping system.
5 . The suppression system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a detection device for monitoring a parameter of the area being monitored; and
the controller is operably coupled to the detection device and to the actuator, wherein the controller is further configured to adjust the discharge valve in response to the parameter monitored by the detection device.
6 . The suppression system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to adjust the discharge valve in response to the position of the vent between the open and closed position.
7 . The suppression system of claim 6 , wherein the combustible component includes at least one lithium ion battery and the ventilation system is operable to exhaust off-gasses of the at least one lithium ion battery.
8 . A method of operating a suppression system for an area being monitored, the area including a combustible component and a ventilation system, the ventilation system including a vent, a fan, a source of suppression agent having an outlet, a discharge nozzle, a delivery piping system fluidly connecting the source of suppression agent and the discharge nozzle, and a discharge valve operably coupled to the outlet of the source of suppression agent, the discharge valve being movable between a closed position and an open position, wherein the vent is operable to open and close and opens in response to a detection of a presence of a predetermined gas and the fan is actuated in response to the detection of the presence of the predetermined gas, the method comprising:
detecting one of a position or movement of the vent and an operational state of the fan;
opening, using an actuator, the discharge valve in response to the detection of the position and or movement of the vent and/or fan; and
actuating the discharge valve to the open position when the vent is open or opening and/or the fan in operating as to release the fire suppression agent through the discharge nozzle, and actuate the discharge valve to the closed position when the vent is closed and/or the fan is not operating.
9 . The method of claim 8 , further including providing a sensor to detect the operational state of the fan and/or the position and/or movement of the vent.
10 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising controlling a flow rate of suppression agent provided to the discharge nozzle via the discharge valve.
11 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the discharge valve is a pressure regulating valve.