A temperature-control and fire-suppression system is provided for a system space, which optionally houses IT equipment. The system space has a ventilation system for providing controlled temperature air, for example to the IT equipment. A store of a fire-suppressing gas in liquid form is coupled to
A temperature-control and fire-suppression system is provided for a system space, which optionally houses IT equipment. The system space has a ventilation system for providing controlled temperature air, for example to the IT equipment. A store of a fire-suppressing gas in liquid form is coupled to a supply means for supplying the fire-suppressing gas in liquid form to the system space, such that evaporation of the fire-suppressing gas in liquid form cools, or absorbs energy, from, the air in the system space. A temperature sensor is provided for sensing a temperature in the system space and a controller is responsive to the sensed temperature for controlling the supply means, to supply the fire-suppressing gas in liquid form while maintaining the sensed temperature above a predetermined lower temperature.
대표청구항▼
1. A temperature-control and fire-suppression system of a system space having a ventilation system which draws in ambient air through an air inlet, comprising; a store of a fire-suppressing gas in liquid form;a fluid passageway extending from the store to the ventilation system or the system space t
1. A temperature-control and fire-suppression system of a system space having a ventilation system which draws in ambient air through an air inlet, comprising; a store of a fire-suppressing gas in liquid form;a fluid passageway extending from the store to the ventilation system or the system space that supplies the fire-suppressing gas in liquid form to the ventilation system or the system space;a valve in the fluid passageway that controls the flow of the fire-suppressing gas in liquid form through the fluid passageway;a temperature sensor that senses a temperature in the ventilation system or the system space;a controller responsive to the sensed temperature that is connected to the valve and that is programmed to control the valve to supply the fire-suppressing gas in liquid form through the fluid passageway while maintaining the sensed temperature above a predetermined lower temperature; anda variable resistive element that is connected to and controllable by the controller to control the volume of ambient air drawn into the ventilation system through the air inlet,in which the controller is programmed to open the air inlet to allow ventilation, and to close, or partially close, the air inlet to allow fire suppression. 2. The system according to claim 1, in which the controller controls the valve so as to maintain the sensed temperature below a predetermined upper temperature. 3. The system according to claim 1, in which a portion of the system space requires cooling, or a supply of controlled-temperature air, during normal operation, and the system space includes an Information Technology (IT) apparatus. 4. The system according to claim 3, in which the temperature sensor is positioned to sense the temperature in the ventilation system downstream of the valve and upstream of the portion of the system space which requires cooling. 5. The system according to claim 3, in which the ventilation system includes all of, or is coextensive with, the system space, including any portion of the system space or ventilation system which requires cooling or a supply of controlled-temperature air during normal operation, and any portion of the system space or ventilation system which generates cooled air or the supply of controlled-temperature air during normal operation. 6. The system according to claim 1, in which the fire-suppressing gas in liquid form is supplied to the ventilation system such that evaporation of the fire-suppressing gas in liquid form cools, or absorbs energy from, air in the ventilation system. 7. The system according to claim 1, further comprising; an oxygen sensor for sensing an oxygen concentration in the air in the ventilation system;in which the controller is responsive to the sensed oxygen concentration to control the valve so as to maintain a predetermined oxygen concentration, or an oxygen concentration within a predetermined range of oxygen concentration, in the air in the ventilation system. 8. The system according to claim 7, in which the predetermined oxygen concentration is in a hypoxic range. 9. The system according to claim 7, in which the predetermined oxygen concentration is in a fire-extinguishing range. 10. The system according to claim 1, in which the controller is operable in first and second modes, in the first mode the valve is controlled to supply the fire-suppressing gas in liquid form while maintaining the sensed temperature above a first predetermined lower temperature, and in the second mode the valve is controlled to supply the fire-suppressing gas in liquid form either so as to maintain the sensed temperature above a second predetermined lower temperature, less than the first predetermined lower temperature, or so as to supply the fire-suppressing gas in liquid form at a maximum available rate of supply of the fire-suppressing gas in liquid form. 11. The system according to claim 1, in which the fire-suppressing gas in liquid form comprises, or is, nitrogen. 12. The system according to claim 1, in which the ventilation system comprises a recirculation loop, coupled at an air inlet and an air outlet to the rest of the system space, and the fluid passageway is arranged to supply the fire-suppressing gas in liquid form to the recirculation loop. 13. The system according to claim 1, in which during normal operation the ventilation system is arranged to draw at least a portion of the air in the ventilation system through the air intake from the ambient atmosphere. 14. The system according claim 13, wherein the ventilation system further includes an evaporative cooler. 15. The system according to claim 1, comprising a vent to allow relief of air pressure in the system space during the supply of the fire-suppressing gas in liquid form. 16. The system according to claim 15, comprising a second variable resistive element controllable by the controller to control the volume of air flowing out of the ventilation system through the vent. 17. The system according to claim 1, in which the predetermined lower temperature is a standard-compliant lower temperature. 18. A temperature-control and fire-suppression system in a system space having a ventilation system which draws in ambient air through an air inlet, comprising; a store of a fire-suppressing gas in liquid form;a fluid passageway extending from the store to the ventilation system or the system space that supplies the fire-suppressing gas in liquid form to the ventilation system or the system space;a valve in the fluid passageway that controls the flow of the fire-suppressing gas in liquid form through the fluid passageway;an oxygen sensor that senses an oxygen concentration in air in the ventilation system or the system space; anda controller responsive to the sensed oxygen concentration that is connected to the valve and that is programmed to control the valve to supply the fire-suppressing gas in liquid form through the fluid passageway while maintaining the sensed oxygen concentration below a predetermined oxygen concentration or within a predetermined range of oxygen concentration; anda variable resistive element that is connected to and controllable by the controller to control the volume of ambient air drawn into the ventilation system through the air inlet,in which the controller is programmed to open the air inlet to allow ventilation, and to close, or partially close, the air inlet to allow fire suppression. 19. A method of temperature control and fire suppression in a system space or ventilation system which draws in ambient air through an air inlet, comprising the steps of; supplying a fire-suppressing gas in liquid form to the system space or ventilation system, such that evaporation of the fire-suppressing gas in liquid form cools, or absorbs energy from, air in the system space or ventilation system;monitoring a temperature in the system space or ventilation system;controlling a variable resistive element to control the volume of ambient air drawn into the ventilation system through the air inlet, by opening the air inlet to allow ventilation, and closing, or partially closing, the air inlet to allow fire suppression; andcontrolling the supply of the fire-suppressing gas in liquid form so as to maintain the temperature above a predetermined lower temperature. 20. The method according to claim 19, in which a portion of the system space or ventilation system requires cooling or a supply of controlled-temperature air during normal operation, the system space includes an Information Technology (IT) apparatus, and in which the temperature is sensed in a flow of air downstream of a point at which the fire-suppressing gas in liquid form is supplied and upstream of the portion of the system space or ventilation system which requires the cooling or supply of controlled-temperature air. 21. The method according to claim 19, further comprising the step of sensing an oxygen concentration in air in the system space or ventilation system, and controlling the supply of the fire-suppressing gas in liquid form so as to maintain a predetermined oxygen concentration, or an oxygen concentration within a predetermined range of oxygen concentration, in the air in the system space or ventilation system. 22. The method according to claim 19, in which the predetermined lower temperature is a standard-compliant lower temperature. 23. A method of temperature control and fire suppression in a system space or ventilation system which draws in ambient air through an air inlet, comprising the steps of; supplying a fire-suppressing gas liquid form to the system space or ventilation system, such that evaporation of the fire-suppressing gas in liquid form cools, or absorbs energy, from the air therein;monitoring an oxygen concentration in air in the system space or ventilation system;controlling a variable resistive element to control the volume of ambient air drawn into the ventilation system through the air inlet, by opening the air inlet to allow ventilation, and closing, or partially closing, the air inlet to allow fire suppression; andcontrolling the supply of the fire-suppressing gas in liquid form so as to maintain the oxygen concentration in the air below a predetermined oxygen concentration or within a predetermined range of oxygen concentration.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (2)
Runnels, Joe N.; Fagerlund, Kenneth R., Combustibly inert air supply system and method.
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