Computer Controlled Fire Pump Controller Foroperating Diesel Engines

This invention relates to an improved diesel engine fire pump controller and more particularly to an automatic computer controlled fire pump controller foroperating diesel engines. Fire pump control apparatus which are generally located in multi-story buildings are responsible for turning on the sprinkler water pumps in the event that a fire starts in the building and supplying high pressure water to the sprinklers to putthe fire out. If operated properly, sprinklers will put out the fire in 98% of the time, before the fire department reaches the fire. In locations where the supply of electrical power is limited, buildings may use diesel engines to pump the water to the sprinkler heads. Diesel engines used in conjunction with fire pump controllers are regulated by the National Fire ProtectionAssociation Code 20, namely Chapters 8 and 9. Generally, the Code requires that the diesel engines be tested once a week for thirty minutes in response to a drop in water pressure in the sprinkler water lines. Conventional diesel engine fire pump controllers employ generally relays and mechanical timers to test the diesel engine at least once a week. During the test operation, numerous readings are taken of the water pressure, diesel fuel level, thenumber of times the diesel engine was started before it reached full running operation and the temperature of the diesel engine during full load operation. With the availability of certain computer circuits, it is now possible according to the invention to improve the diesel engine fire pump controller so that many of the read-outs and operating functions can be performed electronically andautomatically and provide the user with a great deal of flexibility in the operation of the controller. Moreover, with the use of electronic finger controlled keyboard touch pads connected to the computer, it is possible to pre-program a number ofdifferent test conditions into the controller, and observe the operation of the apparatus with the aid of a display. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a diesel engine fire pump controller which has a direct read-out, monitoring and diagnostic systems which are compatible with all existing codes. It is another object of the present invention to provide a diesel engine fire pump controller which is simple in design, and reliable in operation. Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings which disclose the embodiments of the invention. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed for the purpose of illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention. Source: pacificpumpgroup.com