阅读说明：本技术 用于灌装抑燃剂容器的方法和系统 (Method and system for filling a container with a flame retardant ) 是由 T·布劳顿 A·埃尔德 J·沃尔斯 于 2017-10-04 设计创作，主要内容包括：用于使用液态抑燃剂和氮气对容器进行灌装和增压的系统和方法。最初以转变压力提供氮气的增压接收容器,并随后将液态抑燃剂添加到增压接收容器中。转变气体压力提供足够的氮气量以使所添加的液态抑燃剂饱和,并且在接收容器内提供可操作顶部空间压力、而不需要对氮气和液态抑燃剂溶液进行机械化混合。(Systems and methods for filling and pressurizing a container with a liquid flame suppressant and nitrogen. A pressurized receiving vessel that is initially supplied with nitrogen at a transition pressure and then a liquid flame suppressant is added to the pressurized receiving vessel. The transition gas pressure provides a sufficient amount of nitrogen to saturate the added liquid flame suppressant and provides an operable headspace pressure within the receiving vessel without the need for mechanized mixing of the nitrogen and liquid flame suppressant solutions.)

1. A method of filling a container of a flame suppression system without a mechanized mixing process, the method comprising:

providing a pressurized container containing nitrogen at a transition pressure for a fill quantity of a liquid flame suppressant; and

the charged amount of liquid fire suppressant is added to the pressurized container from a pressurized source of the liquid suppressant.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the transition pressure comprises a nominal operating headspace pressure ranging from at least 25 bar to less than 45 bar.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the nominal operating headspace pressure is 25 bar.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the receiving container is filled and pressurized to the nominal operating headspace pressure within thirty minutes.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the adding comprises: the liquid suppressant is delivered into the vessel from a supply vessel of the liquid suppressant to define an intermediate headspace pressure during the delivery.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the pressurized container comprises: the container is pressurized with a predetermined weight of nitrogen gas based on the internal volume of the container, the weight of the filled amount of liquid flame suppressant, and the ambient temperature.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the pressurized receiving vessel comprises: the transition pressure of the nitrogen is determined based on the calculated weight of nitrogen to saturate the fill weight with liquid flame suppressant and the target operating headspace pressure at ambient temperature.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the target operating headspace pressure is nominally 25 bar.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein adding the liquid flame suppressant comprises: the liquid flame suppressant is delivered from a supply vessel and the loss in weight of the supply vessel is measured until the measured loss equals a predetermined weight value.

10. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the adding comprises: the liquid suppressant is delivered from a pressurized source to a receiving vessel using a high pressure delivery pump having an inlet side, the delivering including equalizing pressure between the inlet side and the pressurized source of liquid suppressant prior to operating the pump.

11. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the liquid flame suppressant is pressurized to 25 bar at ambient temperature by a nitrogen source.

12. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein saturating the liquid flame suppressant comprises saturating an amount of NOVEC^TM1230 fire extinguishing agent is delivered to the container.

13. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein saturating the liquid flame suppressant defines a fill density within a container of one kilogram per liter (1 kg/L).

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring a headspace pressure within the container, and inverting the container when the headspace pressure exceeds 45 bar.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising manually inverting the container for fill densities above 1 kg/L.

16. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein adding the liquid flame suppressant comprises adding liquid flame suppressant to the pressurized vessel, the vessel being on-site of the flame suppression system, the adding comprising delivering the liquid flame suppressant from a remote site of the flame suppression system.

17. A system for filling and pressurizing a container with a liquid fire suppressant for fire protection, the system comprising:

a receiving container defining an interior volume;

a nitrogen gas supply source coupled to the receiving vessel for positively pressurizing an interior volume of the vessel to an internal pressure;

a pressurized supply of liquid suppressant; and

a delivery pump coupled to the receiving vessel and the supply of liquid suppressant for delivering the liquid suppressant to the receiving vessel against the internal pressure and defining a headspace pressure.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the liquid suppressant supply is a supply container having a fixed volume of liquid suppressant.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the nitrogen supply source is a first nitrogen source, the system further comprising a second nitrogen source coupled to the liquid suppressant supply vessel, the supply vessel pressurized by the second nitrogen source.

20. The system of claim 17, further comprising a weight scale for measuring weight loss in the supply vessel during liquid suppressant delivery.

21. The system of any one of claims 17-20, further comprising a pressure gauge for determining the internal pressure, the internal pressure comprising a headspace pressure within the interior volume of the receiving vessel during delivery of the liquid flame suppressant.

22. The system of any one of claims 17-21, wherein the delivery pump delivers the liquid fire suppressant to the receiving vessel against the headspace pressure, which is in the range of 25-45 bar.

23. The system of any one of claims 17-22, wherein the liquid flame suppressant is NOVEC^TM1230 fire extinguishing agent.

24. The system of any one of claims 17-23, wherein the liquid fire suppressant is recovered.

25. The system of any one of claims 17-24, further comprising a plurality of fittings for isolating any one of the receiving vessel, nitrogen gas supply, liquid suppressant supply or delivery pump.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the plurality of fittings comprise quick disconnect couplings for coupling the nitrogen supply to the receiving container.

Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to fire suppression systems and fire suppressant supply systems therefor. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods and systems for providing a container of liquid suppressant under operable pressure for a fire suppression system.

Background

Known fire suppression systems for fire fighting employ a liquid agent or suppressant that is vaporized to extinguish the fire. One flame suppressant used in these known flame suppression systems is 3M^TM3M of company^TMNovec^TM1230 fire protection fluids ("Novec 1230"). Novec 1230 is a liquid at room temperature, which facilitates handling, storage, and transport. To use Novec 1230 in these known fire suppression systems, Novec 1230 was stored as an ultra-high pressure suppressant at 25 bar (360psi) in one or more container assemblies at 21 degrees celsius using nitrogen. In use, the container is connected to a system conduit for dispensing the suppressant in vapor form through one or more nozzles. By super-pressurizing the suppressant, the agent is discharged as a gas in the actuation response of the system to a fire. The vaporized flame suppressant extinguishes the fire primarily by absorbing heat. Therefore, for such systems to function properly, it is critical that the reagent be maintained in an ultra-high pressure state. The size of the containers of these known systems may range from about 5 liters (5L) to 180 liters (180L) or more. For example, the container may be any of 4.5L, 34L, 80L, 120L, 140L, or 180LOne of them. Thus, for a fully filled 180L container, the final weight is approximately 337 kilograms (743lbs.), with the volume including the appropriate amount of head space provided above the liquid level.

There is a known conventional method of filling and super-pressurizing (i.e., filling) a cylindrical container. A liquid flame suppressant, such as Novec 1230, is first added by weight to the vessel and then super-pressurized with the addition of nitrogen to an operable headspace pressure of 25 bar. The container may be initially pressurized with nitrogen to dry the container, but the nitrogen is vented to the atmosphere just prior to filling with the liquid fire suppressant. Thus, initially a liquid flame suppressant is added to the vessel at substantially atmospheric pressure. Nitrogen is then fed into the vessel to supersaturated the liquid flame suppressant and to establish a target operable headspace pressure within the cylindrical vessel. If the liquid suppressant is not sufficiently saturated, i.e., not supersaturated, the nitrogen in the vessel will continue to dissolve in the suppressant over time and the head pressure in the vessel will drop below the operable range.

Mixing the solution may increase the rate at which nitrogen dissolves in the flame suppressant. Thus, in conventional filling processes, the suppressant solution is mixed in a mechanized process to maximize the rate of dissolution of the nitrogen gas to ensure supersaturation of nitrogen gas in the suppressant, which also minimizes the time to completely fill the container. The conventional filling process for a 180L cylindrical container is in the range from fifteen to thirty minutes. The mechanized mixing process uses a mechanical mixer to turn, shake, and flip or invert the container, taking into account the size and weight of the cylinder. As used herein, a mechanical mixer is a powered machine that is dedicated to manipulating a container for purposes of mixing the contents therein, rather than merely supporting or positioning the container. Known methods include repeated or repeated additions of nitrogen and mixing of the solution during the mechanization process until the desired headspace pressure is reached and becomes stable. When the top pressure did not drop after the mechanized mixing, the pressure had stabilized. One known mechanical mixer is a large and heavy mechanical mixing inverter with its own support frame, which requires sufficient pneumatic and electrical power supply and space in which to safely position, manipulate, secure and manipulate the heaviest containers. Therefore, filling of containers for new installation or for refilling of refurbished containers is often performed at a fixed location, such as a filling plant, where the mixing inverter may be properly installed, set up, and protected from personal injury or property damage. Adding to the complexity of current filling systems and methods is the need for a very accurate weight scale to weigh the amount of nitrogen used to saturate and pressurize the flame suppressant. Scales that are capable of such accuracy are easily damaged without adequate protection and isolation from shock or vibration. Furthermore, the gas pressure during the filling process can cause the liquid flame suppressant to move within the container, which can produce undesirable excessive fluctuations in the weighing scale reading.

Cylindrical containers require regular maintenance and inspection to detect leaks and to conduct periodic hydrostatic testing of the containers. In the event of a leak or a hydraulic test, the container must be taken out of service and replaced or refurbished with a fully filled ultra high pressure suppressant container. Therefore, it is necessary to disconnect the containers and transport the partially or fully filled containers from the system site to the filling site for filling. In order to put the system back into service, the fully filled containers must be transported, repositioned and reconnected to the system. The fire suppression system may be installed in data processing centers, magnetic tape storage facilities, offshore platforms, marine vessels such as Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) carriers, and many other facilities. Due to the size and weight of the containers, it may be difficult to disconnect or install the suppressant container and move it into and out of the system site. However, servicing the vessel is particularly difficult in offshore applications because of the tight spaces in which the vessel is often located. Furthermore, for LNG carriers and most other marine vessels, regulatory regulations require that in the event of a detected leakage from a pressure-relieved pressurized vessel or system, the vessel must travel to a port, dock and repair its fire suppression system. The vessel is not allowed to leave the port until the system is restored to compliance with the sea code regulations. The lost time in unplanned port berthing and system maintenance can be very expensive for LNG carriers.

There is a need for a method and system for reliably filling a fire suppressant container without the need for a mechanized mixing process to avoid the need to transport the container into and out of a filling plant. Moreover, there remains a need and desire to carry out the filling process (filling on site) or a portion thereof at the system installation site (particularly for marine applications) to reduce movement of the containers and avoid the hazards and hazards associated with transporting the suppressant containers. By providing a field charging process that can be completed in commercially acceptable time, fire protection system down time can be reduced and service disruption can be minimized.

Disclosure of Invention

The preferred method and system provide a container of saturated liquid fire suppressant (e.g., Novec 1230) at an operable pressure for use in a fire suppression system. The preferred methods and systems provide for filling the container to a preferred operable headspace pressure without the need for mechanized mixing. By eliminating mechanized mixing from the filling process, the preferred systems and methods can provide on-site filling and pressurization of the liquid flame suppressant in a time comparable to or better than conventional methods. In addition, the preferred system uses a calibrated pressure gauge without the need for a weighing scale at the filling or receiving container.

One preferred method of filling and pressurizing a container with a liquid fire suppressant includes providing a pressurized receiving container containing nitrogen at a transition pressure for saturating a filling amount of the liquid suppressant and establishing an operable top pressure in the container; and subsequently a filling quantity of liquid flame suppressant is added to the receiving container. A preferred embodiment of the filling method includes first filling the receiving vessel with nitrogen gas and finally adding liquid fire suppressant to the vessel from a pressurized liquid fire suppressant source.

In another preferred aspect, a system for filling and pressurizing a container with a liquid fire suppressant is provided. The preferred system comprises: a receiving container defining an interior volume; a nitrogen gas supply source coupled to the receiving vessel for positively pressurizing an interior volume of the vessel to an internal pressure; a pressurized supply of liquid suppressant; and a delivery pump coupled to the receiving vessel and the supply of liquid suppressant for delivering the liquid suppressant to the receiving vessel against the internal pressure to preferably define a nominal headspace pressure. By monitoring the headspace pressure in the vessel, mechanical mixing of the receiving vessel is no longer required.

Drawings

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and constitute part of this specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention and, together with the general description given above and the detailed description given below, serve to explain the features of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a flow diagram of a first embodiment of a preferred method of filling and pressurizing a container with a liquid flame suppressant and nitrogen.

Fig. 2 is a flow diagram of a second embodiment of the preferred method of filling and pressurizing a container with a liquid flame suppressant and nitrogen.

Fig. 3 is a flow diagram of a third embodiment of a preferred method of filling and pressurizing a container with a liquid flame suppressant and nitrogen.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a preferred system for performing the method of FIGS. 1-3.

Detailed Description

Shown in fig. 1 is a preferred method 10 of filling and pressurizing (i.e., "filling") a receptacle for storage or installation in a fire suppression system (not shown) using a liquid fire suppressant for fire protection, preferably a Novec 1230 fire suppressant from 3M company (American Society of Heating, refiring and air Conditioning Engineers, ASHRAE) designation FK-5-1-12. Alternative fire-fighting fluids may be used, such as other halocarbon agents or other halocarbon halon substitutes. The preferred method comprises a first step 12 of providing a pressurized receiving vessel pressurized with nitrogen at a transition pressure of a fill quantity of liquid flame suppressant. As used herein, a "transition pressure" is a pressure at least sufficient to saturate a fill quantity of liquid suppressant and to otherwise pressurize the fill quantity of liquid suppressant to an operable headspace pressure within the container. As used herein, "operational headspace pressure", or "operational headspace pressure" is defined as the final stable pressure within the container above the fill quantity of liquid suppressant, preferably at ambient temperature sufficient to store the pressurized liquid and operate in the fire suppressant system. Preferably, the operating headspace pressure varies directly with the ambient temperature, and is preferably a nominal pressure that may vary within a defined range. As used herein, the ambient temperature is preferably in the range of from 20 to 25 degrees celsius, and may be in the range of from 21 to 23 degrees celsius, and more preferably is 21 degrees celsius. Preferably, the operating headspace pressure is at least 25 bar (363psi), preferably less than 45 bar (653psi) and more preferably ranges between 22psi and 28psi to define a nominal operating headspace pressure of 25 bar at a preferred ambient temperature of 21 degrees celsius. The ambient temperature may be higher or lower depending on operating or storage conditions, and the nominal operating headspace pressure may vary accordingly. For example, where the ambient temperature is above 25 degrees celsius, the nominal operating headspace pressure may be in the range of from 26 bar to 30 bar for temperatures that may range from 30 degrees celsius to 55 degrees celsius. In the case of ambient temperatures below 20 degrees celsius, the nominal operating headspace pressure may be in the range of from 20 bar to 25 bar for temperatures that may range from-20 degrees celsius to less than 20 degrees celsius.

The subsequent second step 14 of the preferred method comprises filling, adding or delivering a filling amount of the liquid fire suppressant to the pressurized receiving container to preferably define a desired, more preferably desired, filling density of the container. The fill density preferably fills the container with an amount of liquid suppressant sufficient to operate the fire suppressant system to effectively extinguish the fire. The preferred fill density of the liquid fire suppressant used to fill the receiving container is preferably from 0.5 kilograms per liter to about 1 kilogram per liter (kg/L). Other fill densities outside this range are also possible. The container is pressurized by initially using the nitrogen transition pressure of a given charge of flame suppressant, saturating the flame suppressant with nitrogen 14a, and establishing the desired operating headspace pressure 14a within the container. Because the vessel is pressurized with nitrogen to the preferred transition pressure, the liquid flame suppressant is preferably delivered into the vessel at a pressure sufficient to resist the internal gas pressure and to assist in saturating the nitrogen into the liquid flame suppressant. As described herein, preferred embodiments of the filling process may pressurize the conveyed liquid suppressant by a transfer pump alone or in combination with a pressurized source of liquid suppressant. With the first 12 and second 14 steps completed, the pressurized container may be stored for future use or otherwise installed for use in a fire suppression system in a preferred finishing step 16 of the preferred method.

The inventors have determined that by initially filling the receiving container with a sufficient amount of nitrogen gas and then subsequently filling the pressurized container with a liquid fire suppressant, the receiving container can be filled to an operative fill density and headspace pressure without the need for a mechanized mixing process, thereby overcoming the disadvantages of previously known filling processes that require mechanized mixing. The inventors have determined that the preferred methods described herein provide stable operable headspace pressures for two or more days. In addition, by eliminating the need for mechanized mixing, the time required to transport and position the container to a mechanical mixer, such as the mechanical inverter previously described, as well as the actual mixing time, may be eliminated.

Fig. 2 shows a preferred embodiment 100 of the filling method. Providing a pressurized vessel preferably includes determining a nitrogen pressure as the amount of nitrogen for delivery to the receiving vessel, the nitrogen pressure preferably being sufficient to saturate the liquid flame suppressant subsequently fed to the vessel and establish an operating headspace pressure within the vessel after completion of the second step 14 of adding the liquid flame suppressant. More specifically, the preferred method 100 includes predetermining the transition pressure of the nitrogen gas 105 prior to pressurizing the receiving vessel with the nitrogen gas 112. The preferred step 105 of predetermining the nitrogen pressure comprises: the weight of nitrogen gas to be supplied to the receiving vessel is calculated based on the internal volume of the receiving vessel, the target operational headspace pressure, the expected ambient temperature of the vessel in operation or storage, and the total weight of liquid flame suppressant to be supplied to the vessel in the second step 114 to meet the desired fill density. The predetermined step 105 preferably includes converting the calculated nitrogen weight to a preferred transition pressure 105a to be delivered to the receiving vessel to provide the pressurized vessel in step 112.

The preferred filling method 114 includes a step 114a of monitoring headspace pressure throughout the steps of filling the container with the liquid fire suppressant. More specifically, the preferred process includes determining the intermediate headspace pressure continuously or intermittently in the steps of filling with the liquid flame suppressant until the operating headspace pressure. During filling of the container with the liquid flame suppressant, the intermediate headspace pressure within the container may vary as the nitrogen mixes and dissolves in the liquid flame suppressant. If the measured headspace pressure is below the operating headspace pressure value, for example, below 25 bar, the filling step 114 is repeated or continued to fill the receptacle with the liquid fire suppressant. If the headspace pressure is at or within an acceptable range of the operating headspace pressure, the filling step 114 is complete and the receiving container may be stored or placed into service 116 to end the filling process 100. Again, the preferred filling method 100 is performed and completed without mechanical mixing of the solutions. In the preferred filling method 100, the headspace pressure preferably does not exceed a threshold pressure of 45 bar or higher; and finally, the nominal operating headspace pressure is preferably at least 25 bar at 21 degrees celsius.

In an alternative preferred embodiment of the filling method 200 shown in fig. 3, the receiving container is manually inverted to facilitate mixing of the gas and liquid if the headspace pressure exceeds a threshold value before completing filling of the receiving container to the desired fill density using the liquid fire suppressant. As used herein, "manually inverting" a container is tilting and/or rotating the container such that the internal mixture moves and the rate at which nitrogen dissolves in the liquid flame suppressant is increased. Furthermore, "manually inverting" the container is a process that does not require inverting and shaking the container. Thus, "manual inversion" does not require and eliminates the use of a motorized mixer in the motorized mixing process.

The filling process 200 preferably includes the previously described steps of: the nitrogen pressure 205, 205a is predetermined, nitrogen is provided to the pressurized receiving vessel 212, and the container is then subsequently filled with a liquid fire suppressant 214 while the headspace pressure 214aa is measured continuously or intermittently. Additionally, if the headspace pressure is not at the operating value, a preferred method includes determining whether the headspace pressure exceeds a threshold 214ab, e.g., 45 bar, before the fill density is reached. If the headspace pressure is above the threshold, the filling step 214 is preferably stopped and the receiver vessel is preferably manually inverted in step 214ac to further dissolve the nitrogen in the liquid flame suppressant and reduce the headspace pressure. As the headspace pressure decreases, the filling step 214 continues until the fill density and operating headspace pressure are reached. Once reached, the process 200 is completed by storing the receiving container or placing the container in service 216.

The preferred second step of delivering the liquid fire suppressant to fill the receiving container 14, 114, 214 preferably delivers the liquid fire suppressant from a supply of the liquid fire suppressant of known initial weight. The filling step 14, 114, 214 may include monitoring the weight loss of the liquid supply until a predetermined weight value is reached and indicating that a desired amount of liquid fire suppressant has been delivered from the supply to the receiving container. For the preferred embodiments described herein, the liquid suppressant supply is preferably pressurized, for example to a target nominal operating top pressure of 25 bar or greater. Alternatively, the liquid supply of flame suppressant may be pressurized below 25 to define a lower operating top pressure.

Shown in fig. 4 is a preferred system 300 for carrying out the previously described processes 10, 100, 200 for filling and pressurizing containers with liquid fire suppressant. The preferred system 300 includes a receiving vessel 302 defining an interior volume that is filled and pressurized with nitrogen and a liquid fire suppressant in the manner described herein. The container 302 is preferably configured for storage and connection to a fire protection system employing a pressurized liquid suppressant. Thus, the preferred system is configured to be filled at the site of a fire protection system or a suppressant storage device.

The preferred system 300 also includes a nitrogen gas supply 304 coupled to the receiving vessel 302 for positively pressurizing the internal volume of the vessel 302 to a preferred predetermined internal pressure. The system 300 also includes a liquid suppressant supply 306, and a delivery pump 308 coupled to each of the receiving vessel 302 and the liquid suppressant supply 306 for delivering liquid suppressant to the receiving vessel 302 against the internal pressure to define a headspace pressure in the space 302a above the liquid within the receiving vessel 302, and more preferably to establish a preferred operating headspace pressure. In a preferred embodiment of the delivery pump 308, the liquid suppressant is delivered to the receiving vessel 302 against a headspace pressure in excess of 25 bar, more preferably in the range of 25-45 bar, and may be delivered more preferably against a headspace pressure greater than 45 bar. To measure the headspace pressure in the receiving vessel 302 and/or the pressure change in the headspace 302a, the system 300 preferably includes a pressure gauge 305, which is preferably calibrated and disposed in the pipe or hose connection between the receiving vessel 302 and the transfer pump 308.

In a preferred embodiment of the systems and methods described herein, the preferred liquid fire suppression agent employed may include, but is not limited to, Novec 1230 fire suppression agent from 3M company. The liquid suppressant may be a newly supplied material, or may be recovered, for example, from a fire protection system that is identified as meeting the original specifications for the liquid suppressant. Also, the preferred liquid suppressant supply 306 is a supply container of liquid suppressant having a fixed volume. For example, the supply of liquid flame suppressant 306 is implemented as a fifty-five gallon drum of flame suppressant. Also, the liquid suppressant supply 306 is preferably pressurized using a nitrogen source. Thus, in a preferred embodiment of the system 300, the nitrogen supply 304 is a first nitrogen source for pressurizing the receiving vessel 302. The preferred system 300 includes a second nitrogen source or nitrogen supply 310 that is coupled to the liquid suppressant supply 306 to pressurize the liquid suppressant supply 306. Thus, the transfer pump 308 draws or pumps the liquid suppressant from the supply vessel 306, wherein the liquid suppressant is under nitrogen pressure. As previously mentioned, a preferred embodiment of the filling method includes measuring the weight loss in the supply of liquid suppressant to determine the amount of liquid suppressant delivered to the receiving vessel. The preferred system 300 includes a weigh scale 312 to measure the loss of weight of the liquid suppressant supply container 306 during delivery of the liquid suppressant to the receiving container 302.

The system 300 includes a plurality of fittings for isolating any of the interconnected receiving containers 302, the liquid suppressant supply 306, the transfer pump 308, or any of the first nitrogen supply 304 or the second nitrogen supply 310. For example, the receiving container 302 is preferably realized as a known storage container assembly having a valve 302b (such as one that can be operated manually, electrically or pneumatically)A fluid control valve). To control or maintain the direction of fluid flow into the receiving container 302, a one-way or check valve 303 is located adjacent the receiving container 302 b. Fluid control to and from the transfer pump 308 is preferably controlled by shut-off valves, such as a first ball valve 314a on the inlet side of the transfer pump 308 and a second ball valve 314b on the outlet side of the transfer pump 308. In a preferred method of operation, the second ball valve 314b is closed and the delivery pump 308 is operated to create a discharge pressure of 55 bar in the delivery conduit 307 on the outlet side of the pump 308 before or above the receiving vessel 302. When the discharge pressure reaches a desired level, the second ball valve 314b opens for filling the container 302.

The liquid flame suppressant source 306 preferably includes an inlet vapor control valve 306a to control the flow of nitrogen gas to the flame suppressant source vessel 306. The liquid suppressant source 306 also preferably includes an outlet control valve 306b for controlling the flow of liquid suppressant out of the container 306. Each of the first nitrogen source 304 and the second nitrogen source 310 includes a shut-off valve 304a and a regulator 310a to control the flow rate and pressure of the gas of the first nitrogen source 304 and the second nitrogen source 310, respectively. Interconnections between system components may be made using suitable tubing or hose connections. More preferably, the tubing or hose interconnection is made using quick-connect fittings. In a preferred aspect of operation of the preferred system, the liquid suppressant source 306 is pressurized by a second nitrogen source 310 prior to operation of the transfer pump. In operation, the first ball valve 314a is closed, pressurizing the liquid suppressant source 306 to a preferred pressure of up to 25 bar. Once the liquid suppressant source 306 is at the desired pressure, the spherical first valve 314a is opened and pressure equalization from the liquid source 306 to the container 302 via the pump 308 is allowed. Upon line equalization, the transfer pump 308 begins to add liquid flame suppressant to the vessel 302.

The preferred system 300 can be used with the preferred filling methods previously described. In one exemplary filling operation of the preferred method 200, the nitrogen pressure is determined based on the size of the receiving vessel 302, the target fill weight of the liquid suppressant, and the ambient temperature at which the liquid suppressant is saturated and an operative top pressure is established. A first nitrogen gas source 304 is connected to the receiving vessel 302, and the receiving vessel is pressurized to a predetermined nitrogen gas pressure. The nitrogen source 304 is then disconnected.

With the outlet control valve 306b closed and the vapor valve 306a open, the liquid suppressant source vessel 306 is then pressurized, preferably by a second nitrogen source 310, to a preferred pressure ranging from 14 bar up to 25 bar. The second nitrogen source valve 310a and the liquid suppressant inlet vapor valve 306a are then closed and the suppressant outlet valve is opened to allow liquid suppressant to flow to the transfer pump 308. Each of the first ball valve 314a and the second ball valve 314b is placed in an open position to allow the liquid suppressant to flow to the receiving vessel 302. The transfer pump 308 is then activated to transfer the liquid suppressant to the receiving container 302. The weight scale 312 is used to measure or monitor the change in weight of the liquid suppressant source 306. During liquid suppressant delivery, the pressure gauge 305 is monitored to determine the headspace pressure in the receiver vessel 302. The suppressant delivery continues until the target fill weight is reached in the receiver container 302 and the headspace pressure measurement is in the range of 25 bar to less than 45 bar, and more preferably 25 bar. Then closeThe fluid controls the valve 302b and the container is put into service or otherwise stored. The headspace pressure in the receiving vessel may be as high as 45 bar, however, over a period of several days the liquid flame suppressant will absorb nitrogen and the headspace pressure will drop to 25 bar (minus 0%, plus 10%) at 21C. In case the monitored headspace pressure is monitored to remain below the preferred threshold of 45 bar, the filling process is completed without mechanized mixing of the receiving container 302.

In addition to controlling the flow of fluid to fill the container 302, the system piping may be configured to facilitate on-site filling of the container, for example, on a vessel such as an LNG carrier. As schematically shown in fig. 4, the system pipe 307 on the discharge side of the outlet pipe may be of any length to reach the vessel 302 at or near the site where the system is installed. If the conduit 307 and transfer pump are appropriately hydraulically sized, the container 302 may be positioned at or near the system installation for filling. In a preferred aspect, the transfer pump 308 and liquid suppressant supply 306 may be located and operated remotely from the system site and vessel 302. Such a system configuration can therefore be used to fill a vessel or a container in a vessel in any of the preferred ways described, thus eliminating the need for a mechanized mixing process. To the extent that the container needs to be manually inverted, the container is preferably located in the field at a location that allows the container to be tilted and/or rotated. These systems and methods may reduce the risks and downtime associated with the transport and filling of receiving containers.

The inventors have determined that by using the preferred system and method, the containers can be filled without a mechanized mixing process or manual inversion for container ranges up to 180L with a fill density of up to 1kg/L of Novec 1230. For larger charge densities, the preferred method still avoids mechanized mixing, but may include a manual tumbling process for mixing the nitrogen and liquid suppressant solution and establishing an operable headspace pressure.

Although the present invention has been disclosed with reference to certain embodiments, numerous modifications, alterations and changes to the described embodiments are possible without departing from the sphere and scope of the present invention, as defined in the appended claims. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the described embodiments, but that it have the full scope defined by the language of the following claims, and equivalents thereof.