System and method for monitoring differential pressure across a dry pipe valve in a fire suppression system

Abstract

A differential pressure monitoring system includes a differential pressure monitoring device and at least one client device. The differential pressure monitoring device includes a water pressure sensor that detects a water pressure at an inlet of the dry pipe valve, a valve air pressure sensor that detects an air pressure at an outlet of the dry pipe valve, and a control circuit that computes a ratio of the water pressure and the air pressure, predicts whether a valve tripping event is expected to occur based on the computed ratio, and in response to predicting that the valve tripping event is expected to occur, provides a prediction that the valve tripping event is expected to occur for remedial action. The system includes at least one client device that receives the prediction from the control circuit and presents display data regarding the prediction.

1 .- 41 . (canceled) 
     
     
         42 . A differential pressure monitoring system of a fire suppression system, comprising:
 a water pressure sensor to detect a water pressure of an inlet side of a dry pipe valve;   an air pressure sensor to detect an air pressure of an outlet side of the dry pipe valve;   an alarm to activate responsive to a comparison of the air pressure and a threshold; and   one or more processors to:
 determine a ratio of the water pressure and the air pressure; and 
 adjust the threshold based on the ratio. 
   
     
     
         43 . The differential pressure monitoring system of  claim 42 , comprising:
 the one or more processors are to predict that a valve tripping event of the dry pipe valve is expected to occur based on the ratio.   
     
     
         44 . The differential pressure monitoring system of  claim 42 , comprising:
 the one or more processors are to provide, to a client device, a prediction that a tripping event of the dry pipe valve is expected to occur based on the ratio.   
     
     
         45 . The differential pressure monitoring system of  claim 42 , comprising:
 the threshold corresponds to a value of the ratio at which the dry pipe valve is to open to allow water to flow through the dry pipe valve.   
     
     
         46 . The differential pressure monitoring system of  claim 42 , comprising:
 the threshold corresponds to a value of the ratio at which a clapper of the dry pipe valve is to open, the clapper between the inlet side of the dry pipe valve and the outlet side of the dry pipe valve.   
     
     
         47 . The differential pressure monitoring system of  claim 42 , comprising:
 the one or more processors are to operate a device control the air pressure based on the ratio.   
     
     
         48 . The differential pressure monitoring system of  claim 42 , comprising:
 the one or more processors are to operate a device to control the water pressure based on the ratio.   
     
     
         49 . A differential pressure monitoring system, comprising:
 a valve comprising a clapper between an air side of the valve and a water side of the valve, the air side to couple with at least one sprinkler, the water side to couple with a water supply;   a water pressure sensor to detect a water pressure of the water side;   an air pressure sensor to detect an air pressure of the air side;   an alarm to activate responsive to a comparison of the air pressure and a threshold; and   one or more processors to:
 determine a ratio of the water pressure and the air pressure; and 
 adjust the threshold based on the ratio. 
   
     
     
         50 . The differential pressure monitoring system of  claim 49 , comprising:
 the one or more processors are to predict that a valve tripping event of the valve is expected to occur based on the ratio.   
     
     
         51 . The differential pressure monitoring system of  claim 49 , comprising:
 the one or more processors are to provide, to a client device, a prediction that a tripping event of the valve is expected to occur for remedial action based on the ratio.   
     
     
         52 . The differential pressure monitoring system of  claim 49 , comprising:
 the threshold corresponds to a value of the ratio at which the valve is to open to allow water to flow through the valve.   
     
     
         53 . The differential pressure monitoring system of  claim 49 , comprising:
 the threshold corresponds to a value of the ratio at which a clapper of the valve is to open, the clapper between the inlet side of the valve and the outlet side of the valve.   
     
     
         54 . The differential pressure monitoring system of  claim 49 , comprising:
 the one or more processors are to operate a device control the air pressure based on the ratio.   
     
     
         55 . The differential pressure monitoring system of  claim 49 , comprising:
 the one or more processors are to operate a device to control the water pressure based on the ratio.   
     
     
         56 . A method, comprising:
 receiving, by one or more processors, a water pressure from a water pressure sensor coupled with an inlet side of a dry pipe valve;   receiving, by the one or more processors, an air pressure from an air pressure sensor coupled with an outlet side of the dry pipe valve;   determining, by the one or more processors, a ratio of the water pressure and the air pressure; and   adjusting, by the one or more processors, a threshold at which an alarm is to activate based on the air pressure and the threshold.   
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 56 , comprising:
 providing, by the one or more processors to a client device, a prediction that a valve tripping event of the dry pipe valve is expected to occur based on the ratio.   
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 56 , comprising:
 the threshold corresponds to a value of the ratio at which the dry pipe valve is to open to allow water to flow through the dry pipe valve.   
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 56 , comprising:
 the threshold corresponds to a value of the ratio at which a clapper of the dry pipe valve is to open, the clapper between the inlet side of the dry pipe valve and the outlet side of the dry pipe valve.   
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 56 , comprising:
 operating, by the one or more processors, a device control the air pressure based on the ratio.   
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 56 , comprising:
 operating, by the one or more processors, a device to control the water pressure based on the ratio.