20100263882 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM CORROSION MITIGATION - An inert gas Fire Protection System (FPS) uses an inert gas rather than air in a dry or pre-action type FPS. The inert gas inhibits oxidation, galvanic corrosion, and/or bacterial growth, and hence mitigates Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion (MIC) and galvanic corrosion in the FPS piping. A zone purging valve, which may include a gas purity analyzer, is disposed at the end of each zone in the FPS. A controller over-pressurizes the FPS with inert gas, and bleeds the gas through the zone purging valves to a predetermined supervisory pressure. The pressurize/purge cycle is repeated to ensure inert gas of a predetermined purity level reaches all areas within the FPS. The purity of the inert gas is periodically measured in bleed operations. The inert gas may comprise Nitrogen, which additionally dries out residual water in the FPS due to a low dew point, further inhibiting MIC. | 10-21-2010 |