Patent ID: RE40065

Claim:
A system for providing a fire-extinguishing atmosphere in enclosed environments, said system comprising: an industrial container containing a fire- hazardous material; a compressor having an inlet and a compressed gas outlet; an air separation device having an intake and first and second outlets, said intake is operatively associated with said compressed gas outlet and receiving an intake gas under pressure from said compressor; said device taking in said intake gas and emitting a reduced-oxygen gas mixture having a lower concentration of oxygen than said intake gas through said first outlet and enriched-oxygen gas mixture having a greater concentration of oxygen than said intake gas through said second outlet; said first outlet providing a fire-retarding gas mixture for said enclosed environments with oxygen content below 12% , but greater than 9 % , wherein said enclosed environment comprises said industrial container and said first outlet is coupled to said industrial container ; said second outlet selectively communicating with outside atmosphere and releasing said enriched-oxygen gas mixture into said outside atmosphere; said air separation device employing a molecular-sieve adsorber and said intake being operatively associated with a distribution valve providing distribution of said intake gas to multiple inlets each communicating with an individual gas separation container filled with molecular-sieve material that under pressure adsorbs nitrogen and water vapors and allows said enriched-oxygen gas mixture to pass through into collecting tank communicating with said second outlet; said collecting tank being operatively associated with all said separation containers and receiving selectively said enriched-oxygen gas mixture therefrom; said separation containers being selectively pressurized and depressurized in cycles and releasing during each depressurization cycle said reduced-oxygen gas mixture being delivered into said first outlet; said second outlet having release valve allowing to keep said enriched-oxygen gas mixture being collected in said collecting tank under increased atmospheric pressure, so when any of said separation containers depressurizes, a portion of said enriched-oxygen gas mixture is released from said tank back into said container purging said molecular sieve material from remaining nitrogen and water.