A
The maximum area over which it is assumed that the sprinkler will operate and is some time called the "assumed maximum area of operation"
An instrument used for the measurement of atmospheric pressure
Is a unit of pressure 1 bar = 10000 pascal (Pa). The bar is used through Europe for the measurement of pressure in fire sprinkler systems.
A mathematical expression of the principle of conservation of energy
A fire pump used to boot the pressure of the existing water supply
The most common device used to measure system pressures.
Modern industrial fire pumps are centrifugal pumps. Pressure is added to the water by the centrifugal force created by a rotating wheel (impeller) or the rotating vanes of a turbine.
B
A small relief valve that opens up and provides enough water flow into and out of the pump to prevent the pump from overheating when it is operating at churn against a closed system.
A piping system that is sometimes called a "grid" and is characterised by one or more of the following: more than one inflow point, more than one outflow point, and/ or more than two paths between inflow and outflow points.
C
H
An interactive technique used for solving the complicated problems involving gridded water supply systems.
An empirical formula for calculating friction loss in water systems that is the fire protection industry standard. To comply with the most nationally recognised standards, the Hazen-Williams formula must be used.
Pressure expressed in units of Metre of water.
A centrifugal pump with the impeller shaft installed horizontally and often referred to as a split-case pump. This is because the case in which the shaft and impeller rotates is split in the middle and can be separated exposing the shaft, bearings and impeller.
The branch of fluid mechanics dealing with the mechanical properties of liquids (in the text water) and the application of these properties in engineering.
A branch of hydraulics having to do with liquids (water) in motion, particularly in relation to forces created by or applied to the liquid in motion
A branch of hydraulics dealing with the properties of liquids (water) at rest, particularly in relation to pressures resulting from or applied to the static liquid.
Area of operation for which the water flow is at its maximum for a specified pressure, measured at the main control valve or pump set.
Area of operation for which the system pressure, when measured at the main control valve or pump set, is required to be at its maximum to achieve the specified design density
J
A jockey pump is a small capacity, high pressure pump used to maintain constant pressures on the fire protection system. A jockey pump is often used to prevent the main pump from starting unnecessarily.
K
The kinematic viscosity of a fluid is the ration of its absolute viscosity to its mass density.
The energy which a body possesses because of its motion.
L
A fluid is in the state of laminar flow if its Reynolds number is 2,100 or less; laminar flow is related to very low liquid velocities.
M
The flow discharge from the sprinkler heads located at the hydranliclly most favourable area when balanced to a fire pumps flow / pressuer curve (QMAX point)
A Diagram used with the Darcy-Weisbach friction loss computation technique to relate the Reynolds number, pipe size, and roughness to a friction factor
N
The net pressure is the pressure added to the system by the pump.
O
An orifice plate meter is a device used for measuring water flow and is similar in principle to a Venturi meter. The change of water velocity is accomplished by using a plate with an orifice that is smaller than the diameter of the pipe in which it is placed.
P
Principle 1, known as Pascal's law, points out that pressure acts in all directions and not simply downward.
The SI unit for pressure is the pascal (Pa) which is equal to one Newton per square meter (N/m2). For fire protection this measurement of pressure is small so the unit Bar or kPa is used in most part of the world.
This device uses the heights of liquid columns to illustrate the pressures existing in hydraulic systems.
A common device used to measure velocity pressure and thus fluid velocity. The pitot tube consists of a small diameter tube, usually about a one-sixteenth inch in internal diameter which is connected to a pressure gauge.
Stored energy which has the ability to perform work once released.
is the force per unit area (symbol P).
Is a term used in fluid mechanics to represent the internal energy of a fluid due to the pressure exerted on its container. It may also be called static pressure head or simply static head.
In fire protection, pressure is most often dealt within units of pounds per square inch (psi).
R
The relief valve is provided to open up and discharge water to a drain should the pressure become excessive. This valve is located between the pump and the discharge check valve and is required with pumps driven by variable speed drivers.
The pressure at the test hydrant while water is flowing. It represents the pressure remaining in the system while the test water is flowing.
is a dimensionless number that state if the flow is in a laminar or turbulent stat (Symbol Re) .
S
A loop in which there is exactly one inflow point and one outflow point, and exactly two paths between the inflow and outflow points.
The specific gravity (Sg) of a substance may be defined generally as the ratio of the weight density of the substance to the weight density of another substance, usually water.
The normal pressure existing on a system before the flow hydrant is opened.
T
The total energy (TE) at any point in a system might be defined as the sum of the potential energy and kinetic energy at that point.
Fluid flow is in the turbulent state higher velocities where there is no definite pattern to the direction of the water particles. Turbulent flow is reflected by a calculated Reynolds number in excess of 2,100.
V
When coupled with a differential manometer, a venture meter may be used to measure water velocity. The device consists essentially of a piece of pipe in which the cross-sectional area has been constricted.
W
Stopping any flowing stream too rapidly can cause a phenomenon called water hammer. Water hammer is a violent increase in pressure which can be large enough to rupture the piping.
