Liquid-augmented, generated-gas fire suppression systems and related methods

摘要

Fire suppression apparatuses include a housing with gas generant material disposed therein, an initiator for igniting the gas generant material, and a cooling system. The cooling system includes a first chamber with a coolant material disposed therein and a second chamber. The coolant material is caused to flow from the first chamber into the second chamber to cool gas formed by the ignition of the gas generant material upon exiting from the housing under pressure. The cooling system may further include a piston disposed within the first chamber and movable responsive to gas pressure. Methods for cooling a fire suppressant gas and methods for suppressing a fire include flowing a fire suppressant gas into first and second chambers of a cooling system, flowing a coolant material from the first chamber into the second chamber, and contacting the fire suppressant gas with the coolant material to cool the fire suppressant gas.

主权项

1. A fire suppression apparatus, comprising:
a housing having gas generant material disposed therein; an initiator operatively associated with at least a portion of the gas generant material and configured to ignite at least a portion of the gas generant material to form gas upon actuation of the initiator; and a cooling system disposed adjacent to the housing, the cooling system including a first housing defining a first chamber therein and a second housing defining a second chamber therein, the first housing and the second housing having respective first openings proximate the housing having a gas generant material disposed therein and respective second openings opposite the housing having a gas generant material disposed therein, the first chamber having a coolant material disposed therein, wherein upon actuation responsive to pressure of gas exiting the housing having the gas generant material disposed therein, at least a portion of the coolant material is caused to flow from the first chamber into the second chamber by a piston movably disposed within the first chamber, extending from an interior surface of the first housing to an exterior surface of the second housing, wherein the piston is movable relative to the first housing and the second housing, and responsive to the pressure of the gas exiting the housing having the gas generant material disposed therein, wherein the housing having the gas generant material disposed therein, the first housing, and the second housing are configured to provide a substantially axial flow pathway for gas formed upon ignition of the gas generant material, the substantially axial flow pathway extending in a substantially axial direction from the housing having gas generant material disposed therein, in the substantially axial direction into the first housing of the cooling system through the first opening thereof and against the piston, in the substantially axial direction into the second housing of the cooling system through the first opening thereof, and in the substantially axial direction out of the second housing of the cooling system through the second opening of the second housing.