FIRE EXTINGUISHER COMPOSITION

Description

BACKGROUND

[0001] Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to the art of fire suppression agents.

[0002] Halon 1301 has frequently been employed as a fire suppression agent but there is currently a desire to replace Halon 1301 with more environmentally friendly fire suppression agents or blends of agents. CF 3 I has been suggested as an alternative but faces obstacles. Solutions are needed for environmentally friendly fire suppression agents which incorporate CF 3 I.

[0003] US 2018 / 318623 A1 discloses fire extinguishants including HFO-1224yd and methods, systems, and a container using the same.

[0004] US 2019 / 055442 A1 discloses compositions of at least one iodocarbon compound as fire extinguishing and suppressing agents. The compositions preferably include a diene-based compound as a stabilization agent.

[0005] WO 2010 / 001430 A2 discloses an agent for extinguishing fire including blends of fluoroiodocarbons and hydrofluorocarbons

[0006] US 2005 / 145820 A1 discloses compositions of trifluoroiodomethane with physically acting combustion suppressants, such as carbon dioxide.BRIEF DESCRIPTION

[0007] Disclosed is a fire suppression agent composition including 40 to 70 wt.% of CF 3 I and greater than or equal to 30 wt% of an additional fire suppression agent which is HFC-23, wherein the fire suppression agent composition passes the FAA aerosol can test, wherein in the FAA aerosol can test, a heated container at about 16 bar releases its contents (270 grams ethanol, 90 grams propane, and 90 grams water) as a two-phase impulsive spray via a fast-acting valve, a continuous direct current arc across electrodes (with a 6.4 mm gap shielded from the high-velocity spray) located about 1 meter downstream of the valve ignites the mixture in a chamber atmosphere of premixed ambient air, water vapor and suppressant.

[0008] In the present invention, CF 3 I is present in an amount of 40 to 70 weight percent (wt%), based on the total weight of the fire suppression composition.

[0009] In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative to any of the foregoing embodiments, the molar ratio of CF 3 I to the additional fire suppression agent is 0.4 to 0.84.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0010] A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the disclosed composition is presented herein by way of exemplification and not limitation.

[0011] The FAA aerosol can test (FAA-ACT) simulates a fire in an aircraft cargo bay container that heats an aerosol can, causing it to burst and fueling an explosion. In the FAA-ACT, a heated container at about 16 bar, releases its contents (270 grams (g) ethanol, 90 g propane, and 90 g water), as a two-phase impulsive spray via a fast-acting valve. A continuous direct current arc across electrodes (6.4 mm gap, shielded from the high-velocity spray) located about 1 meter downstream of the valve ignites the mixture. The fireball expands into the chamber atmosphere of premixed ambient air, water vapor and suppressant. The temperature and pressure in the chamber increase over a time of about 1 second, and in the absence of suppressant, the peak pressure rise is about 2 bar. During each test, instruments record the pressure, temperature, visual images, and concentrations of agent and oxygen. Unconfined tests without suppressant create a 3.4 m diameter fire ball.

[0012] Currently there is no efficient, non-toxic replacement for Halon 1301 which has a low ozone depletion potential (ODP). Described herein is a fire suppression agent composition comprising 40 to 70 wt.% of CF 3 I and greater than or equal to 30 wt% of an additional fire suppression agent which is HFC-23, wherein the fire suppression agent composition passes the FAA aerosol can test.

[0013] CF 3 I and blends including CF 3 I are an environmentally attractive alternative to fire extinguishing agents like Halon 1301 because CF 3 I has a lower ozone depletion potential than Halon 1301. The lower ozone depletion potential is due to the lower stability of the molecule. However, CF 3 I does have an unsuitable toxicity profile. The blends described herein address these issues by providing a fire suppression agent composition that can pass the FAA-ACT, has a more acceptable toxicity profile than CF 3 I and has a lower ozone depletion potential than Halon 1301.

[0014] In some embodiments the molar ratio of CF 3 I to the additional fire suppression agent is 0.4 to 0.84, or 0.5 to 0.84.

[0015] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises" and / or "comprising," when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, element components, and / or groups thereof.

[0016] While the present disclosure has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment or embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the present disclosure without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the present disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this present disclosure, but that the present disclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A fire suppression agent composition comprising 40 to 70 wt.% of CF3I and greater than or equal to 30 wt% of an additional fire suppression agent which is HFC-23, wherein the fire suppression agent composition passes the FAA aerosol can test, wherein in the FAA aerosol can test, a heated container at about 16 bar releases its contents (270 grams ethanol, 90 grams propane, and 90 grams water) as a two-phase impulsive spray via a fast-acting valve, and a continuous direct current arc across electrodes (with a 6.4 mm gap shielded from the high-velocity spray) located about 1 meter downstream of the valve ignites the mixture in a chamber atmosphere of premixed ambient air, water vapor and suppressant.

2. The composition of claim 1, wherein the molar ratio of CF3I to the additional fire suppression agent is 0.4 to 0.84.