Tunnel fire suppression system and methods for selective delivery of breathable fire suppressant directly to fire site

摘要

A total flood fire suppression system is provided for transportation tunnels and other human-occupied environments, which employs a selective gas delivery method for supplying a breathable fire-extinguishing agent to a location closest to a fire site. The agent is produced from ambient air at site and stored in high-pressure containers communicating with an addressed gas delivery hose installed throughout a tunnel. When fire is detected, the agent is released from storage containers into the gas delivery hose that simultaneously becomes penetrated or broken in a location next to the fire site, allowing releasing the agent there and extinguishing the fire by totally flooding the affected portion of a tunnel. Additionally, the direction of the agent flow can be controlled by air blocks or inflatable tunnel plugs that, via a signal from a central control station, can inflate and block a tunnel tube in order to redirect the agent flow into the opposite to a block direction.