MX2008010400A - Inertisation device comprising a nitrogen generator - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an inertisation device (1) for adjusting and maintaining predefinable inertisation levels in a protected area (2) that is to be monitored. Said inertisation device (1) comprises a controllable inert gas arrangement (10, 11) for providing inert gas, a first supply pipe system (20) which is connected to the inert gas arrangement (10, 11) and which can be connected to the protected area (2) in order to guide the inert gas provided by the inert gas arrangement (10, 11), and a control unit (12) which is used to control the inert gas arrangement (10, 11) in such a manner that a predefinable inertisation level is controlled and maintained in the protected area (2). The aim of the invention is to rapidly increase the inertisation level in the protected area (2) to an accessibility level without large structural modifications, for example, installing ventilation flaps in the protected area (2). According to the invention, a valve (31) that can be switched by the control unit (12) is connected to the inert gas arrangement (10, 11) and to the first supply pipe system (20), in order to, according to requirements, guide the exit air to the protected area (2), said exit air provided by the inert gas arrangement (10, 11) by the outlet (Hb) as fresh air.

Description

INERTIZATION DEVICE WITH NITROGEN GENERATOR Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an inerting device for establishing and maintaining a preset inerting level, in a protected, monitored carrier, so that the inerting device has a controllable inert gas system to provide an inert gas; a first supply pipe system, which is connected to the inert gas system, and which can be connected to the protected passenger compartment, in order to supply the inert gas provided by the inert gas system in the protected passenger compartment; and a control device, which is configured to control the inert gas system in such a way as to establish and maintain a specific, preset inertization level within the protected passenger compartment.

STATE OF THE ART Said inerting device is known, in principle, by the prior art. For example, the specification of the German patent DE 1908 11 851 C2 describes an inerting device to reduce the risk of fire and to extinguish fires in enclosed spaces. The known system is configured to decrease the oxygen concentration inside a closed cabin (hereinafter referred to as "protected cabin") up to a level of base inertization, which can be prefixed in advance; and in the case of a fire, to further decrease, quickly, the oxygen concentration up to a level of full, specific inertization; thus allowing the fire to be effectively extinguished with the minimum possible storage capacity for the inert gas tanks. For this purpose, the known device has an inert gas system which can be controlled by means of a control unit and a supply pipe system, which is connected to the inert gas system and to the protected cabin, by means of which it supplies inert gas, by means of the inert gas system, to the protected cabin. The inert gas system can be a battery of steel cylinders, in which the inert gas is stored in compressed form; a system to generate inert gases, or a combination of these two options. The inerting device of the type mentioned initially is a system to reduce the risk of fire and to extinguish fires in the monitored protected passenger compartment, so that the constant inertization of the protected passenger compartment is used to prevent and / or fight fires. The method of operation of the inerting device is based on the knowledge that, in closed spaces, the fire risk is counteracted by reducing the concentration of oxygen in the relevant area, in a constant manner, up to a level, for example, of about 12 percent by volume, under normal conditions. At this oxygen concentration, most combustible materials can no longer burn. The main areas of application include especially areas of ADP, electrical switching and distribution spaces, closed facilities, storage areas containing high-value commercial items.

The effect of prevention and / or extinction resulting from the inerting process is based on the principle of oxygen displacement. As is known, normal ambient air is constituted by 21 volume percent of oxygen, 78 volume percent of nitrogen and 1 volume percent of other gases. In order to effectively reduce the risk of a fire entering a protected passenger compartment, the concentration of oxygen in the relevant space is reduced by introducing an inert gas, such as nitrogen. With respect to the extinction of fire in most solid materials, it is known, for example, that an extinction effect is generated when the proportion of oxygen falls below 15 volume percent. Depending on the combustible materials that are present in the protected passenger compartment, a further decrease in the oxygen ratio, for example, up to 12 volume percent may be necessary. In other words, with a constant inertization of the protected passenger compartment, the so-called "base inerting level", at which the proportion of oxygen in the air is reduced, inside the passenger compartment, for example, to less than 15 volume percent, the risk of a fire starting inside the protected cabin is effectively reduced. The term "base inertization level", as used herein, is generally understood in reference to a concentration of oxygen in the air, within the protected passenger compartment, which is reduced in comparison with the oxygen concentration of normal ambient air; but that, however, in principle, this reduced concentration of oxygen poses no danger to any class of people or animals, from the medical point of view; so that they still have the possibility of entering the protected cabin, under certain circumstances, with certain protective measures. As already mentioned, the establishment of a base inertization level, in contrast to the so-called "full inerting level" does not necessarily correspond to a proportion of oxygen that is diminished, so that the fire is effectively extinguished, serves primarily to reduce the risk of a fire starting inside the protected cabin. The level of base inertization corresponds to an oxygen concentration, for example, from 13 volume percent to 15 volume percent, depending on the circumstances of the individual case. In contrast, the term "full inerting level" refers to an oxygen concentration that is further reduced, compared to the oxygen concentration of the base inerting level, and at which the flammability of most materials is already diminished so much that they are not able to burn. Depending on the fire load present within the protected dwelling, the full inertization level generally varies from 11 volume percent to 12 volume percent oxygen concentration. Although, in principle, the reduced concentration of oxygen corresponding to the level of basic inertisation in the air inside the protected passenger compartment does not present a danger to people or animals, so that they can safely enter the protected passenger compartment, at least for brief periods of time, without important artifacts, for example, without gas masks, should be follow certain safety measures stipulated throughout the country to enter a cabin that has been permanently inert to a basic inerting level, since, in principle, staying in an atmosphere with reduced oxygen can lead to an oxygen deficiency which, under certain circumstances, may have physiological consequences in the human organism. These safety measures are stipulated in the respective national regulations, and depend in particular on the level of the reduced oxygen concentration that corresponds to the level of basic inertization. Table 1 below shows these effects on the human organism and the possibility of combustion of materials. In order to adhere to the safety measures with respect to the possibility of entering a protected passenger compartment, stipulated in national regulations, which become stricter as the proportion of oxygen in the air inside the protected passenger compartment decreases, a Simple, which is especially easy to implement, which would be conceivable for the purpose of entering the room and for the duration of the entry, would raise the constant inertization of the protected passenger compartment from the level of basic inertization to a level called possibility of income, to which the prescribed safety requirements are lower and can be met without major inconveniences.

TABLE 1 For example, in a protected passenger compartment, which under normal conditions remains inert to a basic inertization level, for example, from 13.8 to 14.5 percent by volume, to which, according to Table 1, an effective suppression can be obtained of fire, it would make sense to reduce the proportion of oxygen or a level of possibility of entry, for example, from 15 to 17 percent by volume when entering, for example, for maintenance purposes. From the medical point of view, the temporary stay in an atmosphere of oxygen that has been reduced to that level of possibility of admission, is safe for people without cardiac problems, or circulatory, vascular or respiratory diseases, so that national regulations respective that govern this, do not require additional security measures, or require only minimal. Ordinarily, raise the level of inertization established inside the protected cabin, from the level Basic inertization to the level of possibility of entry, is obtained by means of a corresponding control of the inert gas system. In this sense, it is practical, especially for economic reasons, to maintain consistently the level of inertization established within the protected passenger compartment, at the level of possibility of entry during entry into the protected cabin (for example, with a corresponding control range) in order to Minimize the amount of inert gas to be introduced later to the protected cabin, once the visit has been completed, in order to restore the level of basic inertization. For this reason, the inert gas system must also generate and / or supply inert gas during the period of entry into the protected cabin, so that the inert gas is supplied correspondingly to the protected cabin, in order to maintain the level of inertization at the level of possibility of entry (optionally with a specific control range). It should be noted that in the process the term "level of possibility of entry" used here, refers to a concentration of oxygen in the air, inside the protected passenger compartment, which is reduced in comparison with the oxygen concentration of the normal surrounding air. , in which the respective national regulations do not require supplementary safety measures, or require only minimum, to enter the protected passenger compartment. As a rule, the level of possibility of entry corresponds to a proportion of oxygen in the air, inside the passenger compartment, which is greater than a level of base inertization.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is the object of the present invention now to further improve an inerting device of the type mentioned initially, so that it can reliably ensure that the level of inertization in a protected, permanently inertized housing can be rapidly elevated to a level of possibility of income, without additional structural measures. Expressed in general terms, it is the object of the present invention to propose an inerting device of the type mentioned above, with which a level of inertization that can be present in a protected passenger compartment that can be established and / or maintained reliably can be established. to be monitored; so that the level of inertization established within the protected cabin can change as quickly as possible between a level of basic inertization or a level of full inertization, and a level of possibility of entry, without major structural measures being necessary. These objects are achieved with an inerting device of the type mentioned initially, according to a first aspect of the invention, since the inert gas system also has a bypass pipe system that can preferably be connected to the unit of control by means of a shut-off valve, and is connected to both a source of compressed air and the first supply pipe system, in order to supply, as necessary, the compressed air provided by the source of compressed air, to the protected passenger compartment, such as fresh air, thus adjusting the concentration of oxygen in the protected passenger compartment at a level that corresponds to the level of specific inertization that is going to be established and / or maintained inside the protected passenger compartment. The advantages that can be obtained with the solution of the invention, according to the first aspect, are obvious: The amount of inert gas supplied to the protected passenger compartment and the concentration of oxygen in the inert gas that is already in the gas system inert, are regulated to the level necessary to establish and / or maintain the level of inertization that can be prefixed within the protected cabin; whereby the inert gas system is constituted by the inert gas system, the bypass pipe system, which may be connected through the control unit, by means of a shut-off valve, and which is connected to both a source of compressed air as to the first supply pipe system; and by the supply pipe system. Additionally, with the solution of the invention according to the first aspect, the inert gas system fulfills the function of providing both inert gas (ideally pure) and fresh air, so that the supply pipe system, which connects the Inert gas system with the protected passenger compartment, is used to supply pure inert gas, pure fresh air, or a mixture of both. In connection with this, it is to do another that the term "compressed air" refers to compressed air in the broadest sense. However, in particular, the term "compressed air" is also intended to refer to both compressed air and oxygen enriched air. The compressed air can be stored either in suitable pressure tanks, or it can be generated on site using suitable compressor systems. In connection with this, it is to be noted further that the term "compressed air" also refers, for example, to fresh air that is introduced to the bypass pipe system, by means of a suitable blower [sic]. Because the air introduced into the bypass pipe system by means of a suitable blower is also under higher pressure, in comparison with normal ambient air, it is compressed air. Specifically, with the solution of the invention, the amount of inert gas provided by the inert gas system and to be supplied to the protected dwelling and / or the concentration of oxygen found in the inert gas, are controlled by means of a corresponding control of the inert gas system, which also controls the absolute quantity of the inert gas provided per unit of time, and is also controlled by means of a corresponding control of the cut-off valve, intended for the bypass pipe system; which adjusts the absolute amount of fresh air supplied to the protected cabin, per unit of time. In a further, particularly preferred, development of the solution of the invention according to the first aspect, it is provided that the compressed air source has a pressure storage tank for storing oxygen, air enriched in oxygen or compressed air, so that the control unit is configured to control a controllable pressure reducing valve, which is assigned to the pressure storage tank, and is connected to the first supply pipe system, so that a certain level of inertization is established and / or maintained within the protected passenger compartment. In connection with this, it is to be noted that, with this preferred implementation, the pressure storage tank may be provided as the compressed air source itself or as a separate auxiliary unit, additional to the inerting device. The pressure storage tank advantageously is in fluid communication with the bypass pipe system, by means of the cut-off valve. In a particularly preferred implementation of the solution of the invention according to the first aspect and in accordance with the embodiment described above, it is provided that the inert gas system has a nitrogen generator that is connected to the air source compressed, in order to separate the oxygen from the compressed air supplied from the source of compressed air, and to provide nitrogen enriched air at a first outlet of the nitrogen generator; so that the air provided by the nitrogen generator and enriched with nitrogen, can be supplied as an inert gas to the first supply pipe system, by means of the first output of the nitrogen generator. In this way it is provided that the bypass pipe system derives the nitrogen generator, in order to direct the compressed air provided by the compressed air source, at least in part, directly as a fresh air supply to the protected passenger compartment, to the extent necessary, and with a corresponding control of the cut-off valve, which is assigned to the bypass pipe system, and in order to adjust in that way and / or maintain a certain level of inertization inside the passenger compartment protected. The nitrogen generator provided in the inert gas system can serve as the sole source of inert gas provided in the inerting device; however, one might also think of the nitrogen generator, together with other pressurized inert gas storage tanks, provided, which can be filled, for example, externally and / or by means of the nitrogen generator, to form the source of inert gas from the inerting device. The nitrogen generator can be especially a generator based on membrane technology or PSA technology. The use of nitrogen generators in the inerting devices is already known. The nitrogen generator is a system with which you can generate the air that is enriched with nitrogen, for example, from normal ambient air. Said systems involve a gas separation system, whose function is based, for example, on gas separation membranes. In this, the nitrogen generator is designed to remove oxygen from the surrounding air. To build a gas separation operating system, based on a nitrogen generator, a compressed air network, or at least one compressor, is required to produce the pre-set capacity for the nitrogen generator. The functional principle of the nitrogen generator is based on the fact that, in the membrane system provided in the nitrogen generator, the various components contained in the compressed air supplied to the nitrogen generator (oxygen, nitrogen, noble gases, etc.). ) diffuse through hollow fiber membranes, at different regimes, based on their molecular structures. Nitrogen, which has a low diffusion rate, penetrates The hollow fiber membranes very slowly and, therefore, become enriched as it flows through the hollow fibers. The objective on which the present invention is based, is further obtained, according to a second aspect of the invention, with an inerting device of the type initially described, in which the inert gas system has a nitrogen generator that is connected to a source of compressed air, in order to separate oxygen from the compressed air supplied through the source of compressed air, and to provide nitrogen enriched air to a first outlet of the nitrogen generator, so that the air provided by the Nitrogen generator and enriched with nitrogen can be supplied as an inert gas to the first supply pipe system, by means of the first output of the nitrogen generator. According to the invention, with this second aspect of the invention it is now provided that the nitrogen generator can be controlled by means of the control unit, so that a certain level of inertization can be established and / or can be maintained inside. of the protected passenger compartment; with which the oxygen concentration in the inert gas supplied to the protected cabin can be adjusted, since the degree of enrichment with nitrogen in the nitrogen-enriched air, provided by the nitrogen generator, is controlled based on the residence time of compressed air, provided by the source of compressed air in the air separation system of the nitrogen generator. For example, if membrane technology is used in the nitrogen generator, the general knowledge of that the different gases diffuse through the materials at different speeds. In this case, in the nitrogen generator, the different diffusion rates of the main constituents of the air, namely nitrogen, oxygen and water vapor, are technically used to generate a flow of nitrogen and / or air which are enriched with nitrogen. Specifically, for the technical implementation of a nitrogen generator based on the membrane technology, a separation material is applied to the outer surfaces of the hollow fiber membranes, through which material the water vapor diffuses very easily and the Oxigen. In contrast, nitrogen has only a low diffusion rate for this separation material. When air flows through the interior of the hollow fiber prepared in this way, water vapor and oxygen diffuse rapidly outwards through the hollow fiber wall; while nitrogen is retained for a long time inside the fibers, so that, during passage through the hollow fibers, a strong concentration of nitrogen occurs. The effectiveness of this separation process depends essentially on the flow velocity in the fibers and the pressure difference beyond the hollow fiber wall. With a decreasing flow rate and / or with a higher pressure differential between the inside and the outside of the hollow fiber membrane, the purity of the resulting nitrogen flow increases. Therefore, expressed in general terms, with a nitrogen generator, based on membrane technology, the degree of enrichment of nitrogen in the enriched air can be controlled. nitrogen, provided by the nitrogen generator, based on the residence time of the compressed air provided by the source of compressed air in the air separation system, of the nitrogen generator. If, on the other hand, the PSA technology is used in the nitrogen generator, for example, the different binding rates of atmospheric oxygen and atmospheric nitrogen to activated carbon, specially treated, are used. In the process, the structure of the activated carbon that is used to produce an extremely large surface, with a large number of micropores and submicron pores is altered (d <; 1 mm). At that pore size, the oxygen molecules present in the air diffuse significantly faster than the nitrogen molecules to the pores, so that the air present in the area surrounding the activated carbon is enriched with nitrogen. Therefore, with a nitrogen generator based on PSA technology, -like with a generator based on membrane technology-, the degree of enrichment with nitrogen in the nitrogen enriched air that is provided by the generator can be controlled. nitrogen based on the residence time of the compressed air prepared by the source of compressed air in the nitrogen generator. An expert will recognize that the solution according to the second aspect of the invention, in the broadest terms, involves a special embodiment of the inerting device previously discussed, according to the first aspect, so that the advantages already discussed in relation to the first aspect can also be achieved with the second appearance. It should be noted that with the implementation according to the second aspect also, the amount of inert gas provided by the inert gas system and to be supplied to the protected dwelling and / or the concentration of oxygen in the inert gas from the own inert gas system, is / are controlled (s) at the corresponding level, so, however, in this case, the knowledge is also used that, when using a nitrogen generator as an inert gas system, the The adjusted level of purity of the gas flow provided by the nitrogen generator and enriched with nitrogen depends, for example, on the rate at which the compressed air flows through the membrane system or the PSA system of the nitrogen generator, for example. example, and therefore, of the residence time of the compressed air in the air separation system of the nitrogen generator. In a possible implementation of this last modality, in which a certain level of inertization is established or kept inside the protective room during the period of residence time in the nitrogen generator of the compressed air provided by the source of compressed air , it is provided that the air separation system (membrane system or PSA system), contained in the nitrogen generator, has a cascade of multiple individual air separation units, so that the number of individual air separation units which are used to separate the oxygen from the compressed air supplied by means of the source of compressed air and to prepare the air that is enriched with nitrogen, can be selected by means of the unit of control at the first output of the nitrogen generator, whereby the degree of enrichment in the nitrogen-enriched air, prepared by the nitrogen generator, is controlled based on the number of individual air separation units selected by means of the control unit. The selection of the number of individual air separation units, initiated by the control unit, for example, can be implemented using a bypass pipe system, of corresponding configuration, which is connected to the respective admissions and outputs of the individual units of air separation. Consequently, with the preferred embodiment of the second aspect of the invention, the concentration of oxygen in the inert gas that is supplied to the protected passenger compartment, -as with the embodiment according to the first aspect of the invention-, is adjusted by means of the provision of a correspondingly configured bypass piping system. Of course, other modalities for selecting the number of individual air separation units are also possible. In another embodiment of these latter implementations of the second aspect of the inerting device of the invention, in which the concentration of oxygen in the inert gas supplied to the protective compartment is controlled, based on the residence time of the compressed air in the system of air separation, it is provided that the source of compressed air, which is connected to the nitrogen generator can be controlled by the control unit, in order to control the speed at which the compressed air flows through the air separation system contained in the nitrogen generator, thereby controlling the time of permanence of the compressed air in the air separation system. According to another aspect (third) of the present invention, the objective on which the invention is based is obtained with an inerting device of the type described at the beginning, in which the inert gas system also has a nitrogen generator connected to a source of compressed air, with an air separation system contained therein, in order to separate the oxygen from the compressed air supplied by means of the source of compressed air, and to make available the nitrogen enriched air in the first output of the nitrogen generator, so that the nitrogen enriched air, provided by the nitrogen generator, can be supplied as an inert gas to the first supply pipe system, by means of the first output of the nitrogen generator. According to the invention, it is contemplated that the inerting device additionally has a second supply pipe system, which is connected to the inert gas system; so that the oxygen that is removed from the compressed air by the nitrogen generator, can be supplied as oxygen enriched air to the second supply pipe system by means of a second nitrogen generator outlet, in order to establish that way and / or maintaining a specific level of inertization within the protected passenger compartment. Thus, according to this third aspect of the invention, the exhaust air of the nitrogen generator, which consists essentially of oxygen enriched air and is usually thrown into the surrounding air, is used for Adjust the oxygen concentration inside the protected passenger compartment using this exhaust air. The additional advantages that can be achieved with the third aspect of the present invention are obvious. According to them, for example, it can be implemented the elevation of a level of full or base inertization, established within the protected habitat, up to a level of possibility of entry, within the shortest possible time, with a device of inertization of according to the third aspect of the invention. At this point, it should be noted that the individual characterizing aspects according to the first, second and third aspects of the present invention, of course, may be combined with each other. In other words, this means that, for example, an inerting device according to the first aspect is also conceivable, in which the inert gas system also has a nitrogen generator, whereby the air enriched in oxygen, generated As exhaust air from the nitrogen generator, it can be used to adjust the oxygen concentration inside the protective compartment. However, on the other hand, other combinations of the characterizing aspects of the individual aspects of the invention are also conceivable. Especially with the third aspect of the present invention, it is further preferably provided that the second supply line system empties into the first supply line system; and therefore, it can be connected to the protected passenger compartment by means of the first supply pipe system, so that again this first supply pipe system is used only by itself to establish and / or maintain a certain level of inerting within the protected passenger compartment. In order to be able to establish the predetermined, constant inerting level within the protected passenger compartment as quickly as possible, and to maintain it accurately, with the inerting device according to the third aspect, it is preferably provided that the device of inertization according to the third aspect additionally has a shut-off valve which is assigned to the second supply pipe system, and which can be controlled by means of a control unit, to break the connection that may occur between the second outlet of the nitrogen generator and the protected passenger compartment, by means of the second supply pipe system. Said controllable shut-off valve, for example, would be an appropriately adjustable control valve, or a similar valve. With a preferred additional embodiment in the inerting device according to the third aspect, the inerting system additionally has a pressure storage tank for storing the air provided by the nitrogen generator and enriched with oxygen, so that the unit of control is configured in order to control a controllable, pressure reducing valve, which is associated with the so-called "pressurized oxygen storage tank", and which is connected with the second supply pipe system, in order to establish and / or maintain a certain level of inertization inside the protected passenger compartment.

In a preferred implementation of this last embodiment of the inerting device, according to the third aspect of the invention, a pressure-dependent valve device is additionally provided, which is open in a first pressure range that can be preset, which allows the oxygen storage tank to be filled under pressure with the oxygen enriched air provided by the nitrogen generator. In the following, other preferred embodiments will be described, which can be used in the inerting device according to one of the aspects mentioned and described above. For example, it would be conceivable that the inerting device also had at least one shut-off valve that was assigned to the first supply pipe system, and that could be controlled by means of the control unit, to cut the connection that could take place between the first output of the nitrogen generator and the protected passenger compartment, by means of the first supply pipe system. With this controllable cut-off valve which can be assigned to the first supply pipe system, the nitrogen supply can be controlled. This is a particular advantage in terms of maintaining a preset inerting level within the protected passenger compartment, because, in this case, the amount of inert gas to be supplied to the protected passenger compartment and / or the oxygen concentration of the inert gas , it depends primarily only on the speed of change of air inside the protected passenger compartment, and can assume a correspondingly low level, depending on the configuration of the protected passenger compartment. In another advantageous development of the inerting device according to the above-mentioned aspects, although this is, in part, known from the prior art, at least one oxygen detection device is further provided to detect the proportion of oxygen in the air inside the protected passenger compartment; with which the control unit is configured to adjust the amount of inert gas that must be supplied to the protected passenger compartment and / or the oxygen concentration of the inert gas, based on the proportion of oxygen measured in the air inside the protected passenger compartment, in order to supply in this way, in principle, only that quantity of inert gas, to the protected passenger compartment, which is really necessary to establish and / or maintain a certain level of inertization inside the protected passenger compartment. The provision of an oxygen detection device of this type ensures in particular that the level to be established within the protected passenger compartment can be established and maintained, as precisely as possible, by supplying an adequate quantity of inert gas and / or an adequate amount of fresh air and / or oxygen. In this way it could be thought that the oxygen detection device emits a corresponding signal to the corresponding control unit, continuously or at preset time intervals, as a result of which the inert gas system will be controlled accordingly, in order to Always supply the quantity of inert gas to the protective compartment, which is necessary to maintain the level of inertization established inside the protected cabin.

At this point it is to be noted that an expert will recognize that the term "maintaining the concentration of oxygen at a certain level of inertization", which is used herein, refers to maintaining the concentration of oxygen at the level of inertization, with a a certain range of control, so that the control range can be selected, preferably, based on the type of protected passenger compartment (for example, based on the air exchange rate that is valid for the protected passenger compartment, or based on the materials stored inside the protected compartment), and / or based on the type of inerting system used. Typically, a control range of this type is about ± 0.2 volume percent. Of course, however, other control ranges are also contemplated. In addition to the continuous and / or regular measurement mentioned above, of the oxygen concentration, the oxygen concentration can be maintained at the specified pre-fixed inertization level, based on a previously calculated calculation, which, in that calculation, Certain design parameters of the protected passenger compartment must be included, such as the speed of change that is valid for the protected passenger compartment, for example, especially the value n50 of the protected passenger compartment and / or the pressure difference between the protected passenger compartment and the surrounding area. . A device of the suction type is especially suitable in the oxygen detection device. With this type of device, representative air samples are continuously taken from the air inside the monitored protected passenger compartment, and it feeds an oxygen detector, which emits a detection signal corresponding to the appropriate control unit. In principle, it is conceivable to provide an ambient air compressor and an inert gas generator connected to it, such as the inert gas system; by means of which the control unit is configured, for example, to control the air flow velocity of the ambient air compressor, such that the amount of inert gas to be delivered to the protected passenger compartment, prepared by the Inert gas system and / or the concentration of oxygen in the inert gas, are established at the level that is appropriate to establish and / or maintain the first level of prefixable inertization. The solution, which is preferred in terms of the inert gas system, is especially characterized in that the inert gas system is capable of generating the inert gas at the site, so that the need to provide a battery of pressurized tanks, in the that the inert gas is stored in compressed form. However, of course, it would also be contemplated that the inert gas system had a storage tank under pressure for the inert gas, so that the control unit would be configured to control a controllable, pressure reducing valve that would be associated with the storage tank under pressure for the inert gas, and which would be connected to the first supply pipe system, in order to fix the quantity of inert gas provided by the inert gas system, to be supplied to the protected cabin and / or the oxygen concentration in the inert gas, at the appropriate level to establish and / or maintain the preset inertization level. The tank can be provided pressure storage for the inert gas with the air compressor and / or the inert gas generator mentioned above, or only. In a further preferred improvement of this latter embodiment, in which the inert gas system has what is known as a "pressurized storage tank for the inert gas", it is contemplated that the inerting device also holds a dependent valve unit. of the pressure, which opens in a first preset pressure range, for example, between 1 and 4 bar, and which allows filling of the storage vessel under pressure for inert gas, by means of the inert gas system. As already indicated, the solution of the invention is not restricted to the establishment and / or maintenance of the level of possibility of entry into the protective compartment. Rather, the claimed inerting device is configured so that the pre-set inerting level can be a full inertization level, a basic inertization level or an accessibility level. In the following, the preferred embodiments of the inerting device according to the invention will be described, in greater detail, with reference to the series of drawings. DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES In the drawings: Figure 1 is a schematic view of a first preferred embodiment of the inerting device of the invention, according to a combination of the first and second aspects of the invention.

Figure 2 is a schematic view of a second preferred embodiment of the inerting device of the invention, according to the combination shown in Figure 1, of the first and second aspects of the invention. Figure 3 is a schematic view of a first preferred embodiment of the inerting device of the invention, according to the third aspect of the present invention. Figure 4 is a schematic view of a second preferred embodiment of the inerting device of the invention, according to a combination of the second and third aspects of the invention; and Figure 5 is a schematic view of a preferred embodiment of the inerting device of the invention, according to a combination of the first, second and third aspects of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In figure 1 a first preferred embodiment of the inerting device 1 of the invention is shown, to establish and maintain a level of inertization that can be preset within a protected dwelling 2, which is to be monitored, of according to a combination of the first and second aspects of the invention. Essentially, the inerting device 1 consists of an inert gas system, which in the illustrated embodiment has a compressor 10 of ambient air and a generator 11 of inert gas and / or nitrogen connected thereto. Also provided is a control unit 12, which is configured to switch the ambient air compressor 10 and / or the nitrogen generator 11, on and off, by means of power signals. corresponding control. In this way, a predetermined level of inerting can be established and maintained inside the protected passenger compartment 2, by means of the control unit 12. The inert gas generated by the inert gas system 10, 11 is supplied to the protected passenger compartment. 2 to be monitored, by means of a supply pipe system 20 ("first supply pipe system"); of course, multiple protected living quarters can also be connected to the supply system 20. Specifically, the inert gas provided by the inert gas system 10, 11 is fed by means of corresponding discharge nozzles 51, which are disposed at a suitable point within the protected dwelling 2. In the preferred embodiment of the solution of the invention shown in figure 1, the inert gas, advantageously nitrogen, is obtained at the site from the surrounding air. The inert gas generator and / or the nitrogen generator 11 works, for example, on the basis of membrane or PSA technology, known from the state of the art, to generate air enriched in nitrogen, having a nitrogen content, for example, from 90 volume percent to 95% in volume. The nitrogen enriched air serves as an inert gas in the preferred embodiment shown in Figure 1, which is supplied to the protected passenger compartment by means of the supply pipe system 20. The air that is enriched with oxygen and reaches outlet 11b as exhaust air during the generation of the inert gas, in this case is thrown into the atmosphere by means of a second system of pipe to the outside. Specifically, it is provided that the control unit 12 controls the inert gas system 10, 11, based on an inerting signal, for example, input by the user into the control unit 12, so as to establish and maintain the predetermined inerting level inside the protected housing 2. The desired level of inertization can be selected in the control unit 12, for example, using a key-operated switch or a password-protected control panel (not explicitly shown here). Of course, it is also contemplated that the inerting level is selected according to a predetermined sequence of events. For example, if the basic inerting level, which had been determined in advance, is selected in the control unit 12, taking into account, in particular, the characteristic values of the protected passenger compartment 2; and if in the selection of the base inertization level within the protected passenger compartment 2 no level of inertization has yet been established, that is, if a gaseous atmosphere is present inside the protected passenger compartment which is essentially identical to the chemical composition of the air of in the surroundings, a shut-off valve 21 is switched which is assigned to the supply pipe system 20, by means of the control unit 12, to direct the supply of the inert gas provided by the inert gas system 10, 11, towards the protected passenger compartment. At the same time, using an oxygen detection device 50, preferably the oxygen concentration inside the protected passenger compartment is continuously measured.

As shown, the oxygen detection device 50 is connected to the control unit 12, so that the control unit 12, in principle, is aware of the oxygen concentration established inside the protected passenger compartment 2. If, when measuring the concentration of oxygen inside the protected passenger compartment 2, it is determined that the level of base inertization inside the protected passenger compartment has been reached, the control unit 12 emits a signal corresponding to the inert gas system 10, 11 and / or the Cut 21, to cut off the additional supply of inert gas. During the course of time, the inert gas escapes through certain leak points, so that the concentration of oxygen in the atmosphere inside the passenger compartment increases. When the level of inertization has changed by a certain amount, from the level sought, the control unit 12 emits a signal corresponding to the inert gas system 10, 11 and / or to the shut-off valve 21 so as to reconnect the gas supply inert. In accordance with the embodiment shown in Figure 1, a bypass pipe system 40 is further provided, which connects the outlet of the compressed air source 10 to the supply pipe system 20. By this bypass pipe system 40, the compressed air provided by the compressed air source 10 can be supplied, as needed, as fresh air, directly to the supply pipe system 20 and, thus, to the protected dwelling 2. A direct supply of fresh air to the protected passenger compartment 2 is necessary, when the level of inerting established in the protected passenger compartment 2 corresponds to an oxygen concentration that is lower than the oxygen concentration of a level of inertization to be established inside the protected dwelling 2. This would be the case, for example, if, during the establishment of the base inertization level within of the protected compartment 2, too much inert gas is introduced inadvertently or for other reasons. On the other hand, a supply of fresh air is also necessary when a constant inertization that has already been established inside the protected passenger compartment 2 must be raised as quickly as possible, when necessary, for example, to allow entry into the protected passenger compartment 2. Said in general terms, with the inert gas system according to the first preferred embodiment of the inertization device 1 of the invention, which is represented in figure 1, the amount of inert gas to be supplied to the protected passenger compartment to establish and / or maintain a specific level of inertization and / or the oxygen concentration in the inert gas is provided, so that this inert gas, prepared by the inert gas system, is supplied to the protected housing 2 by means of one and the same system 20 supply pipe. Figure 2 shows a schematic view of a second preferred embodiment of the inerting device 1 according to the combination of the first and second aspects of the invention, shown in figure 1. In contrast to the embodiment shown in figure 1, the Inertization device 1, shown in Figure 2, also has a pressure storage tank 22, for storing the air which, in this case, is prepared by the nitrogen generator 11 and enriched with nitrogen. It is further indicated in Figure 2, that the control unit 12 is configured to control a pressure reducing valve which is assigned to the storage tank 22 under nitrogen pressure, and connected to the first supply pipe system 20, so that finally, the prepared amount of the inert gas is supplied to the protected cabin and / or the concentration of oxygen in the inert gas can be set at the level that is appropriate to establish and / or maintain the specific inerting level. Additionally, in the embodiment according to Figure 2, a pressure dependent valve unit 24 is provided, which opens in a first preset pressure range, thereby allowing the storage tank 22 to be filled under pressure to nitrogen, with the nitrogen enriched air that has been prepared by the nitrogen generator 11. Figure 3 shows a schematic view of a first preferred embodiment of the inertization device 1 of the invention, according to the third aspect of the invention. It is provided by it that the inert gas system 10, 11 has a nitrogen generator 11 connected to the source 10 of compressed air, with an air separation system contained therein (not shown explicitly) to separate the oxygen from the compressed air supplied by means of the source 10 of compressed air, and to provide nitrogen enriched air in a first outlet of the nitrogen generator 11. Specifically, it is provided that the nitrogen enriched air, provided by the nitrogen generator 11, can be supplied as an inert gas to the first supply pipe system 20, by means of the first outlet Ia of the nitrogen generator. In contrast to the embodiments of the solution of the invention described with reference to Figure 1 and Figure 2, in the system according to Figure 3 it is contemplated that the inerting device 11 additionally has a second supply pipe system 30 , which is connected to the inert gas system 10, 11, and which can be connected to the protective housing 2 by means of a cut-off valve 31, which can be controlled by means of the control unit 12, so that the oxygen separated from the compressed air by the nitrogen generator 11, can be supplied to the second supply pipe system 30, as oxygen enriched air, by means of a second output 11b di nitrogen generator 11. In this, the second supply pipe system 30 empty to the first supply pipe system 20 and, consequently, can be connected to the protected housing 2 by means of the first supply pipe system 20. With proper control of the inert gas system 10, 11, of the shut-off valve 21, assigned to the first supply pipe system 20, and / or of the cut-off valve 31 assigned to the second supply pipe system 30, is It is therefore possible to quickly establish and accurately maintain a specific level of inertization within the protected dwelling 2. Figure 4 shows a schematic view of a second embodiment of the inerting device 1 of the invention, according to the third aspect of the invention, represented in figure 3. The system shown in figure 4 differs from the embodiment according to figure 3 in that a pressure storage tank 32 is additionally provided for storing the oxygen enriched air prepared by the nitrogen generator 11, so that the control unit 12 is configured to control a controllable, pressure reducing valve 33 which is assigned to the oxygen storage tank 32, and connected to the second supply pipe system 30 in such a way that the quantity of inert gas provided by the inert gas system 10, 11 and to be supplied to the protected cabin 2, and / or the concentration of oxygen in the inert gas, can be set at the level that is appropriate for the establishment and / or maintenance of the specific inerting level. Additionally, a pressure dependent valve device 34 is provided, which opens in a first preset pressure range, thereby allowing the storage tank 32 to be filled under pressure for oxygen, to be filled with the enriched air in oxygen provided by the nitrogen generator 11. Figure 5 shows a schematic view of a preferred embodiment of the inerting device 1 of the invention, according to a combination of the first, second and third aspects of the invention. Thus, in this embodiment, a bypass pipe system 40 is provided according to the first and second aspects of the invention, and a second supply pipe system 30, between the second outlet 11b of the generator nitrogen 11 and the first supply pipe system. With respect to the method of operation and the advantages that can be obtained with the modality shown in figure 5, reference is made to what was described hereinabove. Of course, it is also considered to provide a pressurized storage tank for the oxygen enriched air and / or a pressurized storage tank for the nitrogen enriched air, in the system according to Figure 5, as in the embodiments according to figures 2 and 4. As regards the control of the nitrogen generator 11 by means of the control unit 12, it is also to be noted that the nitrogen generator 11 can have, for example, a cascade of units of individual diaphragms, so that the number of individual diaphragm units to be used for separating oxygen from the compressed air supplied by the source of compressed air 10 can be selected by the control unit 12 and for providing the enriched air in nitrogen at the first outlet of the nitrogen generator; so that the degree of enrichment in nitrogen of the nitrogen-enriched air provided by the nitrogen generator 11 can be controlled in that way, based on the number of individual membrane units selected by means of the control unit 12. In In connection with this, it should be noted that the configuration of the invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described in Figures 1 to 5, but that many variants are possible.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS 1 Inerting device 2 Protected passenger compartment 10 Source of compressed air; environmental air compressor 11 Inert gas generator First outlet of the nitrogen generator to supply nitrogen-enriched air 11b Second nitrogen generator outlet to supply oxygen-enriched air 12 Control unit 20 First supply piping system 21 Controllable cut-off valve 22 Control tank pressure storage for inert gas 23 Pressure reducing valve 24 Pressure dependent valve unit 30 Second supply pipe system 31 Controllable cut-off valve 32 Pressure storage tank for oxygen 33 Pressure reducing valve 34 Valve-dependent valve unit pressure 40 Branch pipe system 41 Controllable cutting valve 50 Oxygen detection device 51 Discharge nozzles

Claims (7)

1. - Inerting device (1) to establish and maintain a level of inertisation that can be prefixed, inside a protected passenger compartment (2) to be monitored, with: -an inert gas system (10, 11) controllable, for provide inert gas; - a first system (20) of supply pipe, which is connected to the system (10, 11) of inert gas, and which can be connected to the protected passenger compartment (2) in order to [no verb, sic] inert gas prepared by the system (10, 11) of inert gas to the protective compartment (2); - [illegible] 12, which is configured to control the system (10, 11) of inert gas, so that a specific prefixable inerting level is established and maintained inside the protected passenger compartment (2); characterized in that: the inert gas system (10, 11) additionally has a system (40) of bypass pipe that can preferably be connected, through the control unit (12) by means of a cut-off valve (41), and said bypass system is connected on one side to a source (10) of compressed air and, on the other side, to the first supply line system (20), in order to feed the compressed air provided by the source of compressed air, directly to the protected passenger compartment (2) as fresh air and, in this way, establish and / or maintain a specific level of inertization within the protected passenger compartment (2).

2. - Inerting device (1) in accordance with claim 1, wherein the source (10) of compressed air has a pressurized storage tank (32) for storing oxygen, air enriched with oxygen or fresh air and / or compressed air; whereby the control unit (12) is configured to control a controllable pressure reducing valve (23) which is assigned to the pressure storage tank (32) and is connected to the first supply system (20), so as to fix the amount of inert gas provided by the system (10, 11) of inert gas and to be supplied to the protected passenger compartment (2) and / or the concentration of oxygen in the inert gas, at the level that is appropriate to establish and / or maintain the level of inertization.

3. Inertisation device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the inert gas system (10, 11) has a nitrogen generator (11) which is connected to the compressed air source (10) a to separate the oxygen from the compressed air supplied by the source (10) of compressed air, and to form air enriched in nitrogen, available in a first outlet (lia) of the nitrogen generator (11), whereby the air nitrogen-enriched, prepared by the nitrogen generator (11) can be supplied as an inert gas to the first supply pipe system (20), through the first outlet (lia) of the nitrogen generator (11), and so that the bypass pipe system (40) derives the nitrogen generator (11), in order to supply the compressed air prepared by the compressed air source (10), when necessary, to the protected passenger compartment (2), so less in part directly as fresh air, and to establish in this way and / or maintain a certain level of inertization inside the protected passenger compartment (2).

4. - Inerting device (1) in accordance with the preamble of claim 1, wherein the inert gas system (10, 11) has a nitrogen generator (11) that is connected to a source (10) of compressed air, in order to separate the oxygen from the compressed air supplied by the source (10) of compressed air, and to form nitrogen enriched air, available in a first outlet (lia) of the nitrogen generator (11), so that the nitrogen-enriched air provided by the nitrogen generator (11) can be supplied as an inert gas to the first supply pipe system (20) by means of the first outlet (lia) of the nitrogen generator (11); characterized in that: the nitrogen generator (11) can be controlled by means of the control unit (12) in such a way that a specific level of inertization can be established and / or maintained inside the protected passenger compartment; so that the concentration of oxygen in the inert gas supplied to the protective compartment (2) can be adjusted, and the degree of enrichment with nitrogen, in the nitrogen enriched air, which is provided by the nitrogen generator ( 11), based on the residence time of the compressed air provided by the source (10) of compressed air, in the air separation system of the nitrogen generator (11) ·

5. - Inerting device (1) in accordance with claim 4, wherein the air separation system contained in the nitrogen generator (11) has a cascade of a multitude of individual air separation units, so that the number of individual air separation units to be used can be selected to separate the oxygen from the compressed air supplied by the source (10) of compressed air and to provide the nitrogen enriched air to the first outlet (lia) of the nitrogen generator (11), by means of the control unit (12); whereby the degree of enrichment with nitrogen in nitrogen enriched air, provided by the nitrogen generator (11), is controlled, based on the number of individual air separation units, selected by means of the control unit ( 12).

6. - Inerting device (1) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the source of compressed air (10) connected to the nitrogen generator (11) can be controlled by means of the control unit (12) , so as to control the speed of the compressed air flowing through the air separation system contained in the nitrogen generator (11), thereby controlling the residence time of the compressed air in the air separation system. - Inerting device (1) in accordance with the preamble of claim 4, characterized in that: the inerting device (1) additionally has a second supply line system (30), which is connected to the system (10, 11). ) of inert gas, which can be connected to the protected passenger compartment (2), by means of which the oxygen separated from the compressed air can be supplied by the nitrogen generator (11), as air enriched in oxygen, to the second system (30) of supply pipe, by means of a second outlet (11b) of the nitrogen generator (11), in order to establish and / or maintain in that way a certain level of inertization inside the protected passenger compartment (2) . 8. - Inerting device (1) according to claim 7, wherein the second supply line system empties into the first supply line system (20) and, therefore, can be connected to the protected passenger compartment (2) by means of the first supply pipe system (20). 9. - Inerting device (1) according to claim 7 or 8, which additionally has a shut-off valve (31) assigned to the second supply line system (30), and controllable by means of the control unit ( 12), to interrupt the connection that can be produced by the second supply pipe system (30), between the second outlet (11b) of the nitrogen generator (11) and the protected passenger compartment (2). 10. The inerting device (1) according to any of claims 7 to 9, wherein the inert gas system (10, 11) further has a pressurized storage tank (32) for storing the oxygen enriched air. provided by the nitrogen generator (11), due to which the control unit (12) is configured to control a controllable, pressure reducing valve (33), which is assigned to the pressure storage tank (32) for the oxygen, and is connected to the second supply pipe system (30), so as to establish the amount of inert gas provided by the system (10, 11) of inert gas and that is supplied to the protected dwelling (2) and / or to establish the concentration of oxygen in the inert gas, at the appropriate level to establish and / or maintain the specific inertization level. 11. - Inerting device (1) according to claim 10, which additionally has a valve unit (34) dependent on pressure, which opens in a first preset pressure range, which allows the tank to be filled ( 32) of storage under pressure for oxygen, with the oxygen enriched air provided by the nitrogen generator (11). 12. - Inerting device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, which additionally has at least one shut-off valve (21) which is assigned to the first supply pipe system (20), and which can be controlled by means of the control unit (12) to interrupt the connection that can be made. producing by the first supply pipe system (20), between the first outlet (lia) of the nitrogen generator (11) and the protected passenger compartment (2). 13. - Inertization device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, which additionally has at least one oxygen detection device (50), to detect the proportion of oxygen in the air, inside the protected passenger compartment (2). ), due to which the control unit (12) is configured to adjust the amount of inert gas provided by the inert gas system (10, 11), and which is to be supplied to the protected passenger compartment (2) and / or the concentration of oxygen in the inert gas, based on the proportion of oxygen measured in the air inside the protected passenger compartment (2). 14. - Inerting device according to claim 13, wherein the oxygen detection device (50) is an oxygen detection device of the type by aspiration. 15. - Inerting device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the inert gas system (10, 11) additionally has a storage tank under pressure (22) to store preferably the enriched air in nitrogen provided by the nitrogen generator (12), by virtue of which the control unit (12) is configured to control a controllable pressure reducing valve (23) which is assigned to the pressure storage tank (22) for nitrogen, and is connected to the first system (20) of supply pipe, in order to establish the amount of inert gas prepared by the system (10, 11) of inert gas and to be supplied to the protective compartment (2) and / or to establish the oxygen concentration in the inert gas at the appropriate level to establish and / or maintain the specific inertization level. 16. - Inerting device (1) according to claim 15, which additionally has a valve unit (24) dependent on pressure, which opens in a first preset pressure range, which allows the tank to be filled ( 22) of storage under pressure for nitrogen, with the air enriched with nitrogen, prepared by the nitrogen generator (11). 1

7. - Inertization device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the level of prefixable inertization is a level of full inertization, a level of basic inertization or a level of possibility of income.