Innovative Flow Control Devices for Shipboard Fluid System Rupture Isolation Navy SBIR FY2007.2 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2007.2 Topic No.: N07-131 Topic Title: Innovative Flow Control Devices for Shipboard Fluid System Rupture Isolation Proposal No.: N072-131-0039 Firm: SEA CORP 62 Johnny Cake Hill Aquidneck Corporate Park Middletown, Rhode Island 02842-0000 Contact: Barry Holland Phone: (401) 847-2260 Web Site: www.seacorp.com Abstract: Current shipboard emergency flow control devices for fluid systems use either pneumatic power or electric motors to close valves when a rupture is detected. These systems are dependent on the availability of the electric power or low pressure air systems. In a casualty situation, these support systems could also be lost and the flow control devices would not operate as intended, placing the ship in even greater extremis. SEA CORP proposes to use its extensive experience in the use of commercially available automotive airbag inflators to develop an innovative application of this existing technology to provide the pneumatic energy to autonomously close fluid system valves when a rupture is detected. The inflator(s) would be individually mounted to each valve and controlled by local circuitry that would normally use available ship's electrical power, but would have a small (D-cell size) battery backup in case normal power is lost. Algorithms will be developed, or adapted from current "smart valve" systems, to ensure that only those valves required to secure the rupture would close, allowing use of the remainder of the affected system. This technology is easily adaptable to commercial applications such as shipping, oil, and chemical facilities, especially in remote locations. Benefits: The use of COTS automotive airbag inflator to provide an individualized pneumatic power source to autonomously close system valves in the event of a rupture allows the valve to operate even in the event of a wider casualty where electric and/or low pressure air systems are also lost. The inflators only require a very small amount of electric current (1.2 amps for 3 ms) to operate and provide the pneumatic energy needed to close a valve. They come is a wide range of available energy outputs and so could be used on the largest valves with no increase in the current necessary to activate the inflator or the package size of the control circuitry. For normal operations, the system could be controlled and monitored with normally available electric power, but would shift to a small (d-cell) battery backup that could operate the system for more than a day. The control circuitry would take up no more than 1 cu. in. of space fore each valve. In remote locations, the circuitry could function strictly off of a battery pack for years. With current battery technology, these battery packs could also be exceptionally small and contained within the circuitry enclosure on the valve. Remote control and operation would also be available through wireless communications. The application of this technology, not only on military and commercial ships, but in remote oil field, refineries, and chemical facilities which are either unmanned or lightly manned has obvious benefit for security and environmental protection. Return