Antifreeze formulation and sprinkler systems comprising improved antifreezes

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11110311-B2
Application number	US-201815993004-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 30, 2018
Priority date	May 31, 2017
Publication date	Sep 7, 2021
Grant date	Sep 7, 2021

Abstract

Antifreezes are provided for deployment in wet sprinkler systems located in cold environments. The antifreezes allow for the wet sprinkler system to be actuated under temperatures below 32° F. Wet sprinklers, sprinkler systems, methods of providing for the control, suppression and/or extinguishment of a fire that occur in a cold environment, and methods of preventing wet sprinklers from freezing also are provided. The sprinklers, sprinkler systems and methods can be used in residential, commercial and storage settings.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An antifreeze to be deployed in a wet sprinkler system, wherein the antifreeze is produced from ingredients which comprise
water having a conductivity of no more than 500 μSiemens/cm 2 (μS/cm 2 ) at a temperature of 68 to 79° F. (20 to 26° C.);
glycerol; and
at least 0.1 wt. % of one or more organic acid salts, each salt having one or more carboxylic acid groups, wherein glycerol is present in a volume percentage of 35% to 48%; and
wherein the antifreeze has a conductivity of no more than 2500 μS/cm 2 at a temperature of 68 to 79° F. (20 to 26° C.); and the antifreeze contains no more than 1.5 wt. % of the one or more organic acid salts.

2. The antifreeze according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more organic acid salts comprise a potassium and/or sodium salt of one or more organic acids selected from the group consisting of formic acid (methanoic acid), acetic acid (ethanoic acid), propionic acid, butyric acid (butanoic acid), valeric acid (pentanoic acid), caproic acid (hexanoic acid), lactic acid (2-hydroxypropanoic acid), malic acid (2-hydroxybutanedioic acid), citric acid (2-hydroxypropane-1,2,3-tricarboxylic acid), benzoic acid (benzenecarboxylic acid), oxalic acid (ethanedioic acid), malonic acid (propanedioic acid), succinic acid (butanedioic acid), glutaric acid (pentanedioic acid), adipic acid (hexanedioic acid), pimelic acid (heptanedioic acid), suberic acid (octanedioic acid), azelaic acid (nonanedioic acid), sebacic acid (decanedioic acid).

3. The antifreeze according to claim 1 , wherein the antifreeze further comprises at least one buffer.

4. The antifreeze according to claim 3 , wherein the buffer is selected from the group consisting of citrate buffers, carbonate buffers, phosphate buffers, bicarbonate buffers, triethanolamine, and combinations thereof.

5. The antifreeze according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more organic acid salts is potassium acetate, potassium formate, potassium succinate, or a combination of two or more thereof.

6. The antifreeze according to claim 1 , wherein the antifreeze has a pH of about 6 to about 8.

7. The antifreeze according to claim 1 , where the antifreeze has a conductivity of no more than 1500 μS/cm 2 at a temperature of 68 to 79° F. (20 to 26° C.).

8. A wet sprinkler system for use in a cold environment, wherein the system comprises the antifreeze of claim 1 .

9. The wet sprinkler system according to claim 8 , wherein the wet sprinkler system can limit temperatures measured 2 to 3 inches below a ceiling to less than 600° F. (316° C.) during a fire.

10. The wet sprinkler system according to claim 8 , wherein the wet sprinkler system during a fire limits the temperature to no more than 200° F. (93° C.) at 5.25 feet (1.6 m) above a floor space.

11. The wet sprinkler system according to claim 8 , wherein the wet sprinkler system during a fire limits the temperature to no more than 130° F. (54° C.) at 5.25 feet (1.6 m) above a floor space over a continuous 2-minute period.

12. The wet sprinkler system according to claim 8 , wherein during a fire the temperature of a ceiling material ¼ inch (6.4 mm) behind a surface of a ceiling composed of the ceiling material is no more than 500° F. (260° C.).

13. The wet sprinkler system according to claim 8 , wherein the antifreeze has a heat release rate of no more than 10% higher than a heat release just prior to discharge of the antifreeze solution for any consecutive 15 second period throughout the discharge of the antifreeze.

14. The wet sprinkler system according to claim 13 , wherein the heat release rate is determined using pendent sprinklers having a nominal K-factor of 4.2 and 8.0 gpm/(psig) 1/2 on a supply piping arrangement comprising nominal 2-inch diameter steel pipe or larger connected to a pump system capable of providing the required test pressure and flow.

15. The wet sprinkler system according to claim 13 , wherein the heat release rate is determined using a line-burner assembly with four spray nozzles arranged to discharge heptane at a total flow rate of 1.6 gpm (6.0 l/min) resulting in a fire having a nominal total heat release rate of 1,400 to 3,000 kW.

16. The wet sprinkler system according to claim 15 , wherein the spray nozzles are to be spaced 24 inches (610 mm) apart on the supply line and 24 inches (610 mm) above a floor.

17. A method of preventing a wet sprinkler from freezing comprising the step of filling the wet sprinkler with the antifreeze according to claim 1 .

18. A method of preventing a wet sprinkler system from freezing comprising the step of filling at least a portion of the wet sprinkler system that is exposed to a cold environment with the antifreeze according to claim 1 .

19. The antifreeze according to claim 1 , wherein the antifreeze has a freezing point below −10° F. (−23° C.).

20. The antifreeze according to claim 1 , wherein the antifreeze has a conductivity of no more than about 2,500 μSiemens/cm 2 (μS/cm 2 ) at a temperature of 68 to 79° F. (20 to 26° C.); a freezing point below −15° F. (−26° C.); and a pH of about 6 to 8.

21. A method of controlling a fire that occurs in a cold environment, wherein the method comprises the steps of: providing a wet sprinkler system that is at least partially located in the cold environment; and deploying in the wet sprinkler system the antifreeze of claim 1 , wherein the wet sprinkler system can limit temperatures in a ceiling space to under 600° F. (316° C.) during a fire.

22. The method according to claim 21 , wherein deploying the antifreeze in the wet sprinkler system comprises completely filling the wet sprinkler system with the antifreeze.

23. The method according to claim 21 , wherein deploying the antifreeze in the wet sprinkler system comprises completely filling a portion of the wet sprinkler system that is exposed to the cold environment with the antifreeze.

24. The method according to claim 21 , wherein the wet sprinkler system can limit temperatures measured inches 3 inches below a ceiling to under 600° F. (316° C.) during a fire.

25. The method according to claim 21 , wherein the wet sprinkler system during a fire limits the temperature to no more than 200° F. (93° C.) at 5.25 feet (1.6 m) above a floor space.

26. The method according to claim 21 wherein the wet sprinkler system during a fire limits the temperature to no more than 130° F. (54° C.) at 5.25 feet (1.6 m) above a floor space over a continuous 2-minute period.

27. The method according to claim 21 , wherein the wet sprinkler system is deployed proximate a ceiling composed of ceiling material, and wherein during a fire the temperature of the ceiling material ¼ inch (6.4 mm) behind a surface of the ceiling is no more than 500° F. (260° C.).

28. The method of claim 21 , wherein the wet sprinkler system can limit temperatures in a ceiling space to no more than 1400° F. (760° C.) during a fire.

29. A method according to claim 28 , herein the wet sprinkler system can limit temperatures to no more than 1,400° F. (760° C.) at 15 feet 7 inches (4.80 m) above the floor space during a fire.

30. A method according to claim 29 , wherein the wet sprinkler system can limit temperatures to no more than 1200° F. (649° C.) at 15 feet 7 inches (4.80 m) above the floor space over a continuous 10-minute period during a fire.

31. An antifreeze having a condu

Assignees

• Tyco Fire Products Lp

Inventors

• Hernandez Hayden Erik
• Cogswell Jeremy Tyler
• Cutting Sean E
• Gelinas Jacob

Classifications

• A62C3/004 Primary

  for freezing warehouses and storages · CPC title

• A62D1/0035

  Aqueous solutions · CPC title

• A62C35/64

  pressurised · CPC title

• C09K5/20

  Antifreeze additives therefor, e.g. for radiator liquids (for application to surfaces C09K3/18; inhibiting corrosion by liquids C23F11/00) · CPC title

• A62C35/60

  wet, i.e. containing extinguishing material even when not in use · CPC title