Bi-Directional Flow Control Valve

1
Bi-Directional Flow Control Valve

• Dale Bernier
• Judy Biddle
• Timothy Brown
• Christopher "Robby" Freeborn-Scott
• 3 December 2009

2
Brief Overview

• Background
• Problem/Objective
• Design Concept
• Calculations
• Specifications/Cost
• Test Apparatus

3
Introduction Background

• September 11, 2001 Pentagon Attack

4
Wet Pipe Sprinkler System
5
Problem

• Currently, only one-directional mechanical flow
  valves are available on the market

6
Objective

• Design and prototype a bi-directional flow
  control valve

7
Single Riser Schematic
Fire Area -only the sprinkler heads affected by
the fire will activate
Riser
8
Double Riser Schematic
Riser
Riser
9
Bi-Directional Flow Control Valve Schematic
Sprinkler Head
Bi-Directional Flow Control Valve
Spacing of control valve determined by sprinkler
system designer
10
Design Selection
Materials Brass, rubber, stainless steel
11
Exploded View
12
Cost Analysis
Does not include labor costs, shipping, or
testing apparatus (fire pump, flow meters, and
valves)
13
Cost Benefit

• Sprinkler system cost between 1-5 million
• With valve 2000-10,000 additional cost to
  sprinkler system installation
• Without bi-directional flow control valve
• Same protection is to install duplicate system

14
Assumptions

• Gravitational effect neglected
• Spring constants same
• Initial velocity is zero

15
Calculations
16
Free Body Diagram
17
Calculations
Also solved for 70, 80, 90, 100 gpm
18
Testing Apparatus
Materials for test apparatus supplied by sponsor
19
Conclusion

• Discussed
• Background
• Problem/Objective
• Design Concept
• Specifications/Cost
• Calculations
• Test Apparatus

20
References

• McMaster.com
• Fundamentals of Thermal-Fluid Science (3rd
  edition). By Robert Rizza, Prentice Hall, Inc.,
  2004
• http//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d2
  /The_Pentagon_US_Department_of_Defense_building.jp
  g

21
Questions?