Inert gas IG-55
The gases used are nitrogen and argon and are obtained from the air. To extinguish, the air composition in the room is changed by using gases that already exist in the air. The oxygen content in the air is reduced without endangering people and visibility is maintained because the temperature only drops slightly, so no fog forms.
All systems are constructed with steel cylinders of 80 or 140 liters capacity. After emptying the cylinders or when the cylinders are due for a new pressure test, they can be immediately replaced by identical cylinders.
Within a period of one or two minutes, the contents of the cylinders, which correspond to approximately half the volume of the room, are introduced into the room via nozzles. An equal amount of air must be able to leave the room within the same period. But once all the inert gas has been blown in, the room can best be closed properly to maintain the extinguishing conditions for as long as possible, and at least for 10 minutes. Usually, a pressure relief valve must be provided for this, which allows the air to escape, but then closes the opening again.
Kidde
Argonite
The valves on the cylinders of the Kidde® Series 400 system provide control so that the inert gas flows out at a constant pressure of 60 bar. The passage in the valve increases as the storage pressure in the cylinder decreases during outflow.
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The cylinders can release their contents in a timely manner, so it is not necessary to provide additional gas and cylinders to reach the prescribed concentration after 1 minute.
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There is no pressure peak as in traditional systems, so the size of the overpressure openings remains limited.
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The pipe diameters can be chosen smaller because there is no need for a pressure-reducing constriction anywhere downstream of the valves on the cylinders.
As standard we use the inert gas mixture IG55, also called Argonite®. That is the mixture of 50% Nitrogen and 50% Argon.
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This mixture is slightly heavier than air and remains longest in the room where there is usually also a risk of fire: at floor level.
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The difference in specific gravity between air and IG55 is not large, so that the influence of leaks in the room envelope is less than when using chemical extinguishing gases or pure Argon as inert gas. But where the 'leaks' are mainly in the floor, we can also fill the cylinders with IG100 or pure Nitrogen, which is lighter than air and therefore remains present along the ceiling.
This is typical of this Series-400 system
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that the cylinder valves are opened with a control pressure of 8 bar. The electric disconnector with manual control button, which is mounted on one of the cylinder valves, reduces the pressure from 300 or 200 bar to 8 bar. The valves have quick couplings for the hoses with plug-in connections.
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that there are connecting cables for connecting the pressure monitoring contacts in the manometers if contacts are chosen that close when the pressure in the cylinder is too low. The contacts, which are open with sufficient pressure, cannot cause a false pressure loss message if they are exposed to vibrations.
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that when using directional valves, the pressure to open the appropriate valve is supplied by the inert gas cylinders themselves, via a regulator. A separate electrical or manual control is required to select the direction.
The Kidde Series-400 system has LPCB approval.
Fike
ProInert
The cylinder valves of the Proinert system provide control so that the inert gas flows out at a constant pressure of 42 bar. The passage in the valve increases as the storage pressure in the cylinder decreases during outflow.
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The cylinders can empty completely in a timely manner, so it is not necessary to provide additional gas and cylinders to reach the prescribed concentration after 1 minute.
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Er is not a pressure peak as in traditional systems, so the size of the overpressurepurchases remains limited.
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The pipe diameters can be chosen smaller because there is no need for a pressure-reducing constriction anywhere downstream of the valves on the cylinders.
We use the inert gas mixture IG55 as standard. That is the mixture of 50% Nitrogen and 50% Argon.
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This mixture is slightly heavier than air and remains longest in the room where the risk of fire is usually present: at floor level.
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The difference in specific gravity between air and IG55 is not large, so that the influence of leaks in the room casing is less than when using chemical extinguishing gases or pure Argon as inert gas.
But where the 'leaks' are mainly in the floor, we can also fill the cylinders with IG100 or pure Nitrogen, which is lighter than air and therefore remains present along the ceiling.
The Proinert system is distributed worldwide. It therefore has numerous approvals such as LPCB (UK), FM, UL and ULC.