Materials, method and system for fire extinguishing, fire prevention and fire protection

Abstract

The present invention relates to a non-toxic fire-extinguishing hydraulic mortar and a suspension thereof, as well as to a method of fire extinguishing, fire prevention and fire protection and to a system for the application of the method. The mortar and the suspension of the present invention also exhibit secondary characteristics such as soil improvement on burned surfaces. The fire-extinguishing mortar consists of at least three materials of cement clinker in a ratio of 2:8 to 9:1 of the first one to the sum of the second and third materials at least, and it is used in the preparation of a suspension with water in a ratio of 1 :9 to 3:7. The suspension is homogenized by stirring and discharged immediately and directly onto a burning surface or a surface for fire prevention in order to form a mantle on the surface. After the evaporation of the water from the suspension, the surface cools and the mantle creates a loose cementitious mass, which acts in a thermally insulating and suffocating way, while trapping the combustion gases and ashes at the same time.

Description

[0001] Materials, method and system for fire extinguishing, fire prevention and fire protection.

[0002] DESCRIPTION

[0003] State of the Art: Fires of all kinds are a significant risk for the loss of human lives, the destruction of property and agroforestry areas, and the environmental burden through the destruction of forests and the air pollution, of the water table from the products of combustion as well as fire-extinguishing materials, etc. For this reason, all organized societies have tried to get involved in an effective way in extinguishing all kinds of fires, but also in their prevention.

[0004] Today, it is known that three elements are necessary to start and maintain a fire: fuel, oxygen and heat. Since ancient times, the common means of fire extinguishing has been the use of water to lower the temperature of the burning or protected surface with the aim of extinguishing the fire and preventing ignition, respectively. The water being in liquid form, it does not agglomerate and, therefore, its quantity that does not evaporate during delivery and reaches the burning surface flows from the surface minimizing the contact time of the water with the surface. This results in only a small percentage of the water being discharged actually contributing to the cooling of the burning surface. Also, the water is discharged under pressure, with the result that it breaks the consistency of the burning surface and creates additional embers which can spread the fire to any surface they land on.

[0005] Other common fire extinguishing techniques are covering the burning or protected surface with a material that limits or completely cuts off the contact of atmospheric oxygen with the burning or protected surface in order to cause suffocation and extinguish the fire or prevent the surface from burning. An example of such techniques is the throwing of soil, clothes, etc. with limited results on fires that are beyond the first stages of their occurrence.

[0006] In the last two centuries, the organization of fire services with the aim of extinguishing and preventing all types of fires has led to the development of a multitude of fireextinguishing materials and methods, adapted to the type of fires to be dealt with (e.g., solid, liquid, presence of electricity, etc.). At the same time, these advances led to the development of fire-extinguising and fire protection systems, such as fire pumps and

[0007] 2 hoses, portable fire extinguishers, automatic fire extinguishing systems, fire trucks, aerial firefighting means, etc.

[0008] In most fires, the primary way of fire extinguishing and prevention is still water wetting, with the aim of cooling. This option is preferable as water is, in general, cheap and easily accessible, while it does not cause pollution, being a natural product.

[0009] In many cases, chemical admixtures can improve the fire-extinguishing performance of water, with the disadvantage of environmental pollution depending on the type of admixtures. Such admixtures are, for example, inert materials, synthetics, microplastics, etc. materials, which usually expand as they burn and produce residues with thermal insulating etc. properties. At the same time, the use of such admixtures may be prohibitive for large-scale fires, such as forest fires, as, in addition to the possible environmental pollution, they have a significantly higher cost than water.

[0010] The use of water for fire extinguishing also has the disadvantage that, as it is discharged from a distance due to the very high thermal radiation emitted by the fire, much of the water evaporates before it has time to deposit on the burning surface and cool it, while outdoors, a significant amount discharged is carried away by the wind, especially in forest fires, in which, in addition, the aiming of the discharging cannot be done with sufficient accuracy, with the result that a significant amount of water is lost without substantial results.

[0011] At the same time, embers (i.e. , burning solid derivatives of combustion) produced on the burning surface are carried away by the superheated combustion gases and are transported to a great height where, with the help of the wind, they are carried away and fall on unburned surfaces, thus contributing to the faster spread of the fire. In these cases the use of water is not effective.

[0012] In other cases, attempts are made to thermally insulate the burning surface and isolate it from atmospheric oxygen, thus depriving it of two main factors of fire maintenance and spread, i.e., heat and oxygen. This goal can be achieved by using fireextinguishing foam or powder. In the first case, the foam has as ingredient water and another foaming ingredient while, in the second case, the powder has fluid properties in a gas under pressure. At the same time, the powder has the disadvantage that it does not stick to the surface it is thrown on, but simply settles, with the result that a significant part of it is carried away from the burning surface. These methods can offer satisfactory fire-extinguishing and fire prevention results but have a high cost and, as they include chemical ingredients, they often have a significant environmental footprint and can cause respiratory etc. health problems for those who inhale it during or after extinguishing as foam and powder can remain on surfaces for a long time after the fire is extinguished. They are also not suitable for agroforestry fires.

[0013] Despite the advantages offered by fire-extinguishing foam and powder, their outdoor delivery (especially for powder) can be significantly affected if there are winds, as a significant part of them can be carried away and not end up on the burning surface, but also be carried away after their deposition on the burning surface drastically reducing the fire-extinguishing and suffocating effect.

[0014] Foam and especially fire-extinguishing powder can, therefore, only under conditions and only partially, create a mantle around the burning surface in order to lower the temperature and cause suffocation. This is a major drawback which reduces their effectiveness.

[0015] Problem Definition: It is therefore clear that a fire-extinguishing material, method and system are required which, with improved fire-extinguishing and deterrent ability, solve the problems and limitations faced today in fire extinguishing and fire protection in indoor and outdoor fires.

[0016] More specifically, a fire-extinguishing material, method and system are required, which exhibit higher fire-extinguishing and fire prevention efficiency while being friendly to the environment and humans, easily accessible and at a cost equal to or lower than that of known materials.

[0017] Suggested Solution:

[0018] Fire-extinguishing Hydraulic Mortar

[0019] The present invention concerns a fire-extinguishing hydraulic mortar which consists of three categories of ingredients, the A, B and C categories of ingredients. The ratio of A to the sum of B and C categories of ingredients in the mortar ranges from about 2:8 by weight (w / w) to 9:1 w / w. The preferable ratio is 7:3 w / w.

[0020] Table 1 shows the members of the A , B and C categories of ingredients. The A category of ingredients comprises calcium compounds and magnesium compounds such as Calcium Hydroxide (Ca(OH)2), Calcium Oxide (CaO), Magnesium Hydroxide (Mg(OH)2), Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3) and Magnesium Carbonate (MgCO3). The B category of ingredients comprises salts such as Potassium Oxide (K2O) and Sodium Oxide (Na2O). The C category of ingredients comprises iron compounds, such as Iron(lll) Oxide - (Fe2O3) or other iron oxides) and aluminosilicate compounds, such as Silicon Dioxide - (SiO2) and Aluminum Oxide - (AI2O2)).

[0021] Table 1 : Members of the A, B and C categories of ingredients

[0022] The materials of the A, B and C categories of ingredients give the mortar the properties they possess individually but also combined properties after mixing them in water and evaporating the water, whereupon they crystallize.

[0023] Table 2 shows the ratio range in the mortar for each of the members of the A, B and C categories of ingredients, as well as three examples of mortar according to the present invention.

[0024] The selection from the ratio range for each material is made so that the sum of the percentages of the A, B and C categories of ingredients is 100% and at the same time the sum of the percentages of the A category of ingredients to the sum of the percentages of the B and C categories of ingredients ranges from about 2:8 w / w to about 9:1 w / w.

[0025] Example (Ex.) 2 shows a mortar in which the sum of the percentages of all ingredients of the A category of ingredients to the sum of the percentages of all ingredients of B and C categories of ingredients is about 9:1. Example 3 shows a mortar in which the sum of the percentages of all ingredients of the A category of ingredients to the sum of the percentages of all ingredients of B and C categories of ingredients is about 2:8. Example 1 shows a preferable mortar in which the sum of the percentages of all ingredients of the A category of ingredients to the sum of the percentages of all ingredients of the B and C categories of ingredients is about 7:3. The preferable mortar of Example 1 exhibits the best combination of fire-extinguishing - fire-protection characteristics, agglomeration, surface adhesion and soil improvement over all possible combinations of ingredients while also achieving the best result.

[0026] Table 2: Ratio range in the mortar for each of the members of the A, B and C categories of ingredients, as well as three examples of mortar according to the present invention. Table 3 contains the individual and combinatorial properties of the members of the A, B and C categories of mortar ingredients. The ingredients of the C category of ingredients help to the structural stability of the resulting product when they are diluted with water. Thus they facilitate the creation of a mantle firmly attached to the burning surface or to the surface to be protected from fire. The materials of the magnesium category are friendly to the environment and humans.

[0027] The ingredients of the A category all exhibit high adhesiveness when mixed with water. By the evaporation of water either from the heat of the fire or from the atmospheric temperature, the ingredients of the A category form a loose mantle on the surface they are deposited on, which can be easily removed with water or mechanically. At the same time, the ingredients of the A category have a high adhesion to the burning surface, so they are suitable for coating the burning surface with the aim of insulating it (after it has been cooled with water first) in order to avoid its reheating by flames from adjacent burning surfaces that would cause re-ignition of the surface. The high adhesion and the nature of the mantle also ensure the isolation of the burning surface from atmospheric oxygen in order to create suffocating conditions on the burning surface and more effectively extinguish the fire in the absence of oxygen.

[0028] The magnesium category of ingredients in the A category of ingredients provides magnesium to plants around burning plants in agroforestry fires. Magnesium is a necessary ingredient for plants to form chlorophyll, a substance necessary for the process of photosynthesis, which in turn is necessary for the survival and growth of plants. Therefore, the magnesium category of ingredients of the A category of ingredients can be used to support the growth of plants around burned agroforestry areas, which plants have been shocked by the thermal radiation produced during the fire and by the combustion derivatives. In other words, the materials of the magnesium category are friendly to the environment and humans.

[0029] Corresponding to the use of the magnesium category of the A category of ingredients in order to support the growth of plants, all the ingredients of the A category and the salts of the B category of ingredients have a corresponding effect, which correct the pH of the soil which is affected by acid rain which, inter alia, is also created by the gaseous pollutants of the fire.

[0030] The salts of the B category of ingredients also have a positive effect on the growth of plants, which act as a soil improver, offering favorable conditions for their growth. In other words, the salts of the B category are friendly to the environment and humans.

[0031] All the ingredients of all three categories help to correct the pH of the soil which is disturbed by acid rain while, at the same time, they are fire resistant and therefore suitable for use at the high temperatures that develop in the various types of fires without deteriorating and practically without swelling or burn, offering thermal insulation. In other words, all the ingredients of all three categories are friendly to the environment and humans.

[0032] In addition to the individual properties of the ingredients of the A, B and C categories of ingredients, the combination of these ingredients enhances the effectiveness of the mortar for fire extinguishing by thermally insulating the burning surface (after cooling it with the water used to dilute the mortar) or for fire protection of surfaces, as well as to create suffocation conditions by isolating atmospheric oxygen from the burning surface when the stable fireproof mantle is created around the surface.

[0033] Finally, the combination of ingredients of the A, B and C groups of ingredients also improves the soil improvement properties of the mortar and therefore makes the mortar particularly suitable for agroforestry fires. That is to say, the combination is friendly to the environment and humans.

[0034] Table 3: Individual and combinatorial properties of the members of the A, B and C groups of mortar ingredients.

[0035] To improve fire extinguishing and fire protection, the fire-extinguishing hydraulic mortar must include at least one ingredient from the A group of ingredients, at least one ingredient from the B group of ingredients, and at least one ingredient from the C group of ingredients. All ingredients must be in powder form with a diameter equal to or less than 100pm in order to facilitate the dissolution of the hydraulic mortar in water and the creation of a mantle on the burning surface or the surface to be protected from fire with sufficient adhesion so as to provide both thermal insulation for fire extinguishing, and isolation of the surface from atmospheric oxygen in order to suffocate the surface and the fire.

[0036] It is pointed out that the fire-extinguishing hydraulic mortar contains non-toxic and friendly to the environment, to the plants and to humans ingredients, each of which is widely distributed and available on the market, at a cost lower than that of the chemical ingredients used in all known fire-extinguishing and fire-protection materials, except for the free from admixtures and additives water.

[0037] Fire-Extinguishing Suspension

[0038] The dilution of the hydraulic mortar of the present invention in water results in a fireextinguishing suspension. For the preparation of the suspension, it is necessary to dilute the mortar in water with a ratio of 1 :9 to 3:7 so that the suspension has the desired fire-extinguishing and fire-protection characteristics, that is, mainly, the creation of a stable mantle attached to the burning surface or the surface to be protected from fire, suitable for removal with water or by mechanical means without causing damage to the surface.

[0039] The fire-extinguishing suspension, depending on its content of fire-extinguishing powder, is in the form of water with suspended powder or in the form of fine-flowing slurry and is suitable for pumping and use in a fire hose supplied with the suspension under pressure.

[0040] 9 The suspension must be homogenized before use, for example, by mechanical stirring or other agitation method, to ensure that it retains its properties and to facilitate its discharge using conventional fire extinguishing systems.

[0041] If the suspension has to be stored before its discharge, then, depending on the storage time, it loses its homogeneity. In this case, the continuous stirring of the suspension ensures that it is always homogenized so that it is more effective for fire extinguishing, fire prevention and fire protection.

[0042] For the preparation of the mortar, moisture is optionally removed from the mortar ingredients (e.g., by heating or another method known in the relevant literature). Preferably, the final moisture content of the ingredients used in the mortar and of the mortar itself is about 0%. To keep the mortar in a dehydrated form until use, the mortar can be packed and sealed in a watertight-airtight package.

[0043] To facilitate the dissolution of the mortar in water and the creation of a homogeneous suspension, it is preferable to unseal the mortar from its package when it is to be dissolved in water. In this way, the absorption of moisture by the mortar is avoided and therefore the mortar agglomeration before it is added to the water is also avoided. This facilitates both the dilution of the suspension in the water to be used for fire extinguishing or fire prevention and protection, and the homogenization of the suspension so that it maintains its characteristics to the maximum extent after it has been discharged.

[0044] Fire Extinguishing Method Using Fire-extinguishing Suspension

[0045] The fire-extinguishing suspension may be used both for extinguishing a fire and for prevention, either to create a protective mantle on objects and surfaces, or to cover soil and vegetation with the aim of creating firebreaks in rural areas.

[0046] In a first exemplary embodiment of the method, the suspension is prepared as described hereinbefore. More specifically, the mortar is added together with water in a ratio of 1 :9 to 3:7 in a drum mixer equipped with a stirrer and stirred until a homogeneous suspension is created. The homogenized suspension is pumped into a fire truck tank in which a mechanical stirrer has been installed which continuously stirs the suspension so that it does not lose its homogeneity until it is used for fire extinguishing or fire protection. The advisable mechanical stirrer for the suspension drum mixer and the fire truck tank is a rotary stirrer transversely mounted on vertical sides of the drum mixer and the tank.

[0047] In an alternative exemplary embodiment, other types of mechanical or non-mechanical stirrers may be used, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art of the particular scientific field.

[0048] Using one stirrer in the drum mixer and one in the fire truck tank is sufficient to achieve the preparation of the suspension and to maintain its homogeneity. However, the use of more stirrers is possible.

[0049] In an alternative exemplary embodiment, the homogenized suspension is fed to a fire truck which does not have a stirrer installed in its tank. In this case, the suspension is used immediately so that it does not lose its homogeneity.

[0050] When selected by the fire truck operator, the homogenized suspension is pumped from the vehicle's tank (or the vehicle's pump, bypassing the tank) and advanced under pressure to a hose operated by the operator to spray the suspension onto the selected surface for fire extinuishing or fire protection.

[0051] The operator continues spraying the suspension at least until the burning surface or the surface to be fire protected is completely covered by a mantle which is created when the water of the suspension evaporates under the influence of the fire temperature or the atmospheric temperature, respectively.

[0052] In the case of fire extinguishing, the temperature of the fire is much higher than the atmospheric temperature (it is of the order of hundreds °C or even more than 1000 °C. This very high temperature causes sintering and transformation of the fireextinguishing suspension, under the influence of thermal energy of the burning surface, into a cementitious mass of loose consistency (cement clinker). The clinker creates a mantle, as mentioned hereinbefore, which, after the evaporation of the water from the suspension has cooled the burning surface, thermally insulates the burning surface and does not allow it to be reheated by thermal radiation coming from adjacent burning surfaces, thereby extinguishing the burning surface. At the same time, the mantle that now covers the surface does not allow atmospheric oxygen to come into contact with the surface and thus, by means of suffocation, it removes the second necessary factor for the maintenance of the fire. As a result, the fire extinguishing of the burning surface is achieved within a short time (typically within seconds).

[0053] At the same time, the mantle covering the burning surface traps the gases, embers (i.e. solid burning products of combustion) and ash (i.e. solid non-burning products of combustion) produced by combustion. Thus, the mantle ensures, respectively, fire extinguishing and protection of firefighters, etc. people from inhaling harmful gases, prevents fire from spreading to neighboring areas from airborne embers, and prevents ash from contaminating the atmosphere and the water table.

[0054] In the case of fire protection, the same method is followed to cover the surface to be fire protected, only here the evaporation of the water from the suspension takes place by evaporation through the atmospheric temperature. As there is no supply of thermal radiation which could increase the temperature of the suspension to high temperatures (corresponding to the temperatures developed during a fire) no sintering is observed but simple agglomeration and transformation of the fire suspension into a cementitious mass of loose consistency.

[0055] The clinker mantle formed in both of the above cases can be removed at any time by simply using water or mechanically without requiring significant mechanical stress on the mantle as it consists of a cementitious mass of loose consistency which easily loses its consistency. This loose consistency makes the cementitious mass easily disintegrable by simple wetting or splashing of water (e.g. rain) or mechanically (e.g. mechanical stress from wind blowing bending tree branches or grasses which they are coated with the cementitious mass).

[0056] The suspension is stirred continuously until it is discharged.

[0057] In a second exemplary embodiment of the method the suspension is produced in a drum mixer and then pumped into a tank of aerial firefighting means where it is optionally stirred continuously until it is dropped. Stirring is optional in the event that the dropping is done immediately or shortly after the production of the suspension, as long as it maintains its homogeneity.

[0058] In a third exemplary embodiment of the method the suspension is produced directly in the fire truck where it is homogenized and stirred continuously until it is sprayed. In a fourth exemplary embodiment of the method, the suspension is produced directly in the aerial firefighting means where it is homogenized and stirred continuously until it is dropped.

[0059] Fire Extinguishing System

[0060] Figure 1 shows an innovative fire extinguishing system. The innovative fire extinguishing system (100) consists of a fire truck (110) which is equipped with a water tank (120), a pump (130) connected to an outlet (121 ) of the water tank (120) and a hose (140).

[0061] With the inlet (122) of the tank (120) through a pipe (160) is connected a drum mixer (150) which is used for the preparation of a homogenized fire-extinguishing suspension and which has a stirrer (155) inside the drum mixer preferably placed transversely in vertical walls of the drum mixer (150). The stirrer (155) agitates the fire-extinguishing mortar and water inside the drum mixer (!50) to produce a homogeneous fireextinguishing suspension according to the method of producing a homogeneous fireextinguishing suspension described hereinbefore.

[0062] After pouring the homogenized fire-extinguishing mortar into the water tank (120) of the fire truck (110), the mortar must be sprayed onto the burning surface as soon as possible and in any case before the mixture loses its homogeneity and the mortar ingredients settle to the bottom of the water tank (120), as this would create serious problems in pumping and spraying the suspension, possible damage to the pump (130) and the hose (140) and, above all, to the fire-extinguishing properties of the suspension. More specifically, the suspension, when it has lost its homogeneity, when sprayed onto the burning surface would not have the same homogeneity and density resulting in ineffective coverage and deposition to the burning surface, unsatisfactory sintering, unsatisfactory cooling, thermal insulation and suffocation of the burning surface, and finally unsatisfactory ability to extinguish the burning surface and protect it from re-ignition, e.g. after its reheating by the thermal radiation of adjacent burning surfaces.

[0063] As it is not always possible to immediately spray (all of) the homogenized fireextinguishing suspension after it has been poured into the water tank (120) of the fire truck (110), in an alternative, preferred exemplary embodiment of the fire extinguishing system (100), the water tank (120) is equipped with a stirrer (125) for the continuous stirring of the homogenized fire-extinguishing suspension. The stirrer (125) is optional but its use is recommended so that the fire truck (110) can at all times be loaded with the homogenized fire-extinguishing suspension and therefore be ready for effective fire extingushing at all times, even when not it is possible to pour into it homogenized fireextinguishing suspension from a drum mixer (150).

[0064] The connection of the drum mixer (150) with the fire truck (110) is made e.g. with a pipe (153) which, under the action of a transfer pump, transfers the homogenized fireextinguishing suspension from the drum mixer (150) to the tank (120). The transfer pump can be located in the drum mixer (150) or the fire truck (110). In the second case, either the pump (130) can be used, e.g. using suitable piping and valve for the option of transfering or spraying the homogenized fire-extinguishing suspension, or a second pump. Transfer pumps etc. are not shown in Figure 1 as they are obvious to those skilled in the art.

[0065] The drum mixer (150) can be fixed, towed or self-propelled. In the case of a fixed drum mixer (150) the fire truck (110) is parked near the drum mixer (150) to transfer the homogenized fire-extinguishing suspension. In the case of a towed or self-propelled drum mixer (150), either the drum mixer (150) can be parked near the fire truck (110), or vice versa, or a combination of the two, in order to facilitate the transfer of the homogenized fire-extinguishing suspension before the homogenized fire-extinguishing suspension is sprayed for extinguishing the fire.

[0066] In an alternative embodiment of the system, the fire truck (110) can be replaced by an aerial fire fighting means, e.g. airplane or helicopter, which is equipped with a water tank (120). The pump (130) may be optionally installed in the aerial means in order to fill (by transfer) the water tank (120) with homogenized fire-extinguishing suspension from the drum mixer (150). In one aspect, the hose (140) is replaced by a port in the water tank (120) which opens in order to, under the influence of gravity, airdrop the homogenized fire-extinguishing suspension onto the burning surface.

[0067] In contrast to the known techniques of aerial firefighting, the present system and the related fire extinguishing method, in addition to the above analyzed advantages, offer additional advantages. Among them, the entrapment of water by the hydraulic fireextinguishing mortar within the fire-extinguishing suspension reduces the evaporation of water before the fire-extinguishing suspension deposits on the burning surface resulting in a more effective cooling of the burning surface. At the same time, as the aerial drops cannot be very accurate as, due to the thermal load developed by the fire

[0068] 14 and the smoke it emits, the droppings must be made from a distance of tens of meters from the burning surface, the percentage of water that falls on the burning surface surface is only part of the whole of the dropping resulting in insufficient cooling of the burning surface with all known aerial means of firefighting. The percentage of the dropping that ends up near the burning surface is essentially lost as, while it has a cooling effect on the surface that is not yet burning, that surface is heated by the burning surface and the water evaporates, resulting in only a slight retardation of fire spread.

[0069] With the proposed method, even the percentage of the dropping that ends up close to the burning surface has a very important protective effect and prevents the spread of the fire. The reason lies in the fact that this percentage of dropping of the homogenized fire-extinguishing suspension that falls on the unburned area initially cools it by evaporating the water of the suspension impinging on it and then thermally insulates it and creates a barrier that prevents atmospheric oxygen from coming into contact with the surface. Therefore, the spread of fire to unburned surfaces is stopped.

[0070] The above action is so important that the aerial drops of the proposed hydraulic fireextinguishing mortar can also be used to create firebreaks in agroforestry areas, etc. both as a means of prevention before the initial occurrence of a fire, and as an emergency solution to stop the spread of a fire after it starts. Corresponding use of all the exemplary embodiments of the system (100) for creating firebreaks can also be made using a fire truck (100) instead of an aerial means.

[0071] In addition, the system (100) can either be installed on existing fire trucks or aerial firefighting means (retrofitting) by installing stirrers as described above, or by building fire trucks, aircrafts, helicopters, drones, etc. according to the above description of the system.

[0072] Based on the above examples of use, the fire extinguishing system (100) can also be used as a fire prevention and protection system both indoors and outdoors. Correspondingly, the fire extinguishing method described earlier can also be used as a fire prevention and protection method with the only difference that, due to the absence of the high thermal load that develops in a fire, the evaporation of water from the fire-extinguishing suspension depends on the climatic conditions and the mortar in the homogenized fire-extinguishing suspension agglomerates but does not sinter. In an alternative exemplary embodiment of the system (100), instead of a fire truck (110) or an aerial means, a portable device such as a portable fire extinguisher or other, as well as a fixed installation for spraying a homogenized fire-extinguishing suspension can be used. The latter could, e.g., be used in the surrounding area of fuel storage tanks, factories, archaeological sites, etc. which are adjacent to rural lands and need immediate fire protection in the event of a fire spreading towards them.

[0073] The reason why such a fixed installation could be preferable is that the agglomerated (as well as the sintered) mass of the hydraulic fire-extinguishing suspension, after the evaporation of the water, turns into a cementitious mass of loose consistency with all the advantages mentioned above. This loose consistency renders the cementitious mass easily disintegrable by simple wetting or splashing of water (e.g. rain) or mechanically (e.g. mechanical stress from wind blowing bending tree branches or grasses which they are coated with the cementitious mass). While this disintegration is desirable to avoid damage to the environment, it also means that a firebreak created with the present system has a finite lifespan which is a function of climatic conditions. Thus, to avoid unnecessary repetition of the process of creating a firebreak around critical facilities, such as those mentioned above, the use of a fixed exemplary embodiment of the fire extinguishing / prevention and fire protection system can be more efficient and at the same time reduce the related costs.

[0074] Finally, as the sintered loose mass traps the ashes, the embers and the gases produced by the fire, the environment is protected, the fire does not spread and the firefighters etc. people are protected from inhaling harmful substances.

[0075] With the disintegration of the mantle from the surfaces, its ingredients are transferred to the soil and act as a pH regulator, soil improver and enhancer of chlorophyll production by plants. As a result, the regeneration of the burned area is facilitated and the growth of unburned plants is also enhanced.

[0076] The examples used above to describe the present innovative solution should not be considered as limiting of the scope of the present innovative solution. The present innovative solution can be applied in other scenarios and settings than those described in the examples presented above. The present innovative solution should be considered applicable to any solid fuel gasification system of any type and cleaning of the produced gas. The average person skilled in the art understands that the shape, ratios and dimensions of the parts of the present invention, as shown in the exemplary embodiments, may be modified without departing from the scope and intended protection of the present invention.

[0077] The above descriptions of exemplary embodiments are simplified and do not include parts that are used in the embodiment but are not part of the present invention, are not necessary to the understanding of the invention and are obvious to an average person with relevant knowledge of the art related to the invention. In addition, variations of the exemplary embodiments are possible where, for example, certain elements of the exemplary embodiments may be rearranged, omitted and replaced with equivalents or new ones may be added, and existing elements may be interconnected in a manner different from that described, with the condition that the different interconnection is compatible with the technical effect that the elements of the invention have, being technical characteristics of the invention. Likewise, modification of the shape and dimensions of the shown parts is considered to be within the scope of protection of the present innovative solution to the extent that such modifications are obvious to persons skilled in the relevant art and to the extent that such modifications are equivalent to the exemplary embodiments presented or do not add tangible and unexpected or non- obvious improvements to the technical result they offer. Thus, the present text is not intended to be limited only to the exemplary embodiments of the invention presented but is to be given the widest possible scope in accordance with the principles and novel features it discloses.

[0078] Unless otherwise specifically stated, it is the intention of the inventor to give to the words and phrases mentioned in the description of the invention and the claims the ordinary and generally accepted meanings attributed to the average person with relevant knowledge of the art related to the present invention.

[0079] The foregoing description of a preferred embodiment and best mode of carrying out the invention known to the applicant at the time of filing the application has been presented and is intended for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed and many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiment has been selected and described to better explain the principles of the invention and its practical application and to enable others skilled in the art to better utilize the invention in various application scenarios and modes of use and with various modifications as are appropriate to the specific use discussed. Therefore, it is intended that the invention is not limited only to the specific details disclosed for carrying out the invention, but that the invention includes everything that falls within the scope of the appended claims.

[0080] 18

Claims

CLAIMS1. Fire-extinguishing hydraulic mortar for the production of fire-extinguishing suspension for use in fire extinguishing, for thermal insulation and cutting off of oxygen supply and for the entrapment of gases and solid combustion products, which mortar comprises at least one first material from a first category of materials, at least one second material from a second category of materials, and at least one third material from a third category of materials, which mortar is characterized by: said at least one first material from the first category of materials is selected from calcium compounds and magnesium compounds; said at least one second material from the second category of materials is selected from salts; said at least one third material from the third category of materials is selected from iron compounds and aluminosilicate compounds; said calcium compounds are selected from calcium hydroxide, calcium oxide, and calcium carbonate; said magnesium compounds are chosen between magnesium hydroxide and magnesium carbonate; said salts are chosen from potassium oxide and sodium oxide; said iron compounds are selected from iron(lll) oxide and other iron oxides; said aluminosilicate compounds are chosen from silicon dioxide and aluminum oxide; and the at least one first material and the sum of the at least one second material and the at least one third material is in a ratio ranging from about 2:8 w / w to about 9:1 w / w in the mortar, the percentages of the materials adding up to 100% and each of the materials being in the form of grains with a maximum diameter equal to or less than 100pm. . Fire-extinguishing mortar according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one first material comprises all compounds from the first category of materials, said at least one second material comprises all salts from the second category of materials, and said at least one third material comprises all iron compounds and aluminosilicate compounds from the third category of materials. . Fire-extinguishing mortar according to claim 2, wherein the percentages of the materials are 19.0%-85.45% for Calcium Hydroxide, 0.17%-0.765% for CalciumOxide, 0.7%-3.187% for Calcium Carbonate, 0.03%-0.128% for Magnesium Hydroxide, 0.1 %-0.47% for Magnesium Carbonate, 4.4%-0.55% for Potassium Oxide, 3.2%-0.4% for Sodium Oxide, 1 ,2%-0.15% for Iron(lll) Oxide, 62.8%- 7.85% for Silicon Dioxide, and 8.4%-1.05% for Aluminum Oxide.

4. Fire-extinguishing mortar according to claim 2, wherein the percentages of the materials are 19.0% for Calcium Hydroxide, 0.17% for Calcium Oxide, 0.7% for Calcium Carbonate, 0.03% for Magnesium Hydroxide, 0.1 % for Magnesium Carbonate, 4.4% for Potassium Oxide, 3.2% for Sodium Oxide, 1 .2% for Iron(lll) Oxide, 62.8% for Silicon Dioxide, and 8.4% for Aluminum Oxide.

5. Fire-extinguishing mortar according to claim 2, wherein the percentages of the materials are 85.45% for Calcium Hydroxide, 0.765% for Calcium Oxide, 3.187% for Calcium Carbonate, 0.128% for Magnesium Hydroxide, 0.47% for Magnesium Carbonate, 0.55% for Potassium Oxide, 0.4% for Sodium Oxide, 0.15% for Iron(lll) Oxide, 7.85% for Silicon Dioxide, and 1.05% for Aluminum Oxide.

6. Fire-extinguishing mortar according to claim 2, wherein the percentages of the materials are 66.5% for Calcium Hydroxide, 0.6% for Calcium Oxide, 2.5% for Calcium Carbonate, 0.1 % for Magnesium Hydroxide, 0.3% for Magnesium Carbonate, 1.8% for Potassium Oxide, 1.3% for Sodium Oxide, 0.5% for iron(lll) Oxide, 22.9% for Silicon Dioxide, and 3.5% for Aluminum Oxide.

7. Fire-extinguishing suspension for use in fire extinguishing for cooling, thermal insulation and cutting off of oxygen supply and entrapment of gases and solid combustion products, and for use on a surface for the prevention and protection against fire by isolating the surface from atmospheric air preventing the surface from burning, which suspension comprises water and fire-extinguishing mortar according to any one of claims 1-6, in a ratio of 9:1 to 7:3.

8. A method for the preparation of a homogenized fire-extinguishing suspension according to claim 7, which method comprises the following steps: adding a fire-extinguishing mortar according to any one of claims 1-6, to water, in a ratio of 1 :9 to 3:7; and stirring the suspension until it is homogeneous.

9. A fire extinguishing method using a homogenized fire-extinguishing suspension according to claim 7, which method comprises the following steps: preparation of the homogenized fire-extinguishing suspension according to the method of claim 8; discharging the homogenized fire-extinguishing suspension directly onto a burning surface, and at least until either (a) complete coverage of the burning surface by a mantle, wherein the mantle results from evaporation of the water from the homogenized fire-extinguishing suspension, and sintering and transformation of the fire-extinguishing suspension, under the influence of thermal energy of the burning surface, into a cementitious mass of loose consistency (cement clinker), or (b) complete fire-extinguishing of the burning surface; wherein (i) the mortar of the homogenized fire-extinguishing suspension traps the water contained in the homogenized fire-extinguishing suspension and reduces the evaporation of the water before it contacts the burning surface, in order to achieve maximum cooling of the burning surface and adhesion of the homogenized fire-extinguishing suspension to the burning surface, (ii) the mantle thermally insulates the burning surface and prevents its reheating, and (iii) the mantle isolates the surface from atmospheric oxygen, altogether fire extinguishing the burning surface and preventing its re-ignition.

10. A fire extinguishing method according to claim 9, wherein the homogenized fireextinguishing suspension is continuously stirred until it is discharged.

11. A fire prevention and protection method using a fire-extinguishing suspension according to claim 7, which method comprises the following steps: preparing a homogenized fire-extinguishing suspension according to the method of claim 8; discharging the homogenized fire-extinguishing suspension directly onto a surface for fire prevention and protection, and at least until the surface is partially covered by a mantle, wherein the mantle results from the evaporation of water from the homogenized fire-extinguishing suspension, and agglomeration and transformation of the fire-extinguishing suspension into a solid fire-resistant mass which isolates the surface from the atmospheric air preventing the burning of the surface; wherein (i) the mortar of the homogenized fire-extinguishing suspension traps the water contained in the homogenized fire-extinguishing suspension andreduces the evaporation of water before it contacts the surface, in order to achieve maximum cooling of the burning surface and adhesion of the homogenized fire-extinguishing suspension to the burning surface, (ii) the mantle thermally insulates the surface and prevents its heating, and (iii) the mantle isolates the surface from atmospheric oxygen, overall preventing the surface from igniting.

12. A fire prevention and protection method according to claim 11 , wherein the homogenized fire-extinguishing suspension is continuously stirred until it is discharged.

13. A fire extinguishing system (100) using the method of claim 9, which system (100) comprises: a tank (120) designed to be supplied with a fire-extinguishing suspension according to claim 7, which suspension has been prepared according to claim 8; a pump (130) connected to an outlet (121) of the tank (120), which pump (130) is designed to drain the fire-extinguishing suspension from the tank (120) and supply the fire-extinguishing suspension under pressure to a hose (140); and a hose (140) connected to the pump (130) and designed to discharge the fireextinguishing suspension according to the method of claim 9.

14. A fire extinguishing system (100) according to claim 13, wherein the tank (120) comprises a stirrer (125) designed to agitate the fire-extinguishing suspension to ensure continuous homogenization of the fire-extinguishing suspension until it is discharged according to the method of claim 10.

15. A fire extinguishing system (100) according to claim 14, wherein the stirrer (125) is transversely mounted on vertical walls of the tank (120).

16. A fire extinguishing system (100) according to any one of claims 13-15, wherein the fire extinguishing system (100) is installed in one of (a) a fixed installation, (b) a portable device, (c) a fire truck, and (d) an aerial means, and wherein, in the case of the aerial means, the hose (140) is replaced by a port in the tank.

17. A fire extinguishing system (100) according to any one of claims 13-16 wherein the preparation of the fire-extinguishing suspension is carried out according to the method of claim 8 in an independent drum mixer (150), which drum mixer22(150) includes a stirrer (155), and then the fire-extinguishing suspension is pumped from the drum mixer (150) into the container (120) of the system (100). A fire prevention and protection system (100) using the method of claim 11 , which system (100) comprises: a tank (120) designed to be supplied with a fire-extinguishing suspension according to claim 7, which suspension has been prepared according to claim 8; a pump (130) connected to an outlet (121) of the tank (120), which pump (130) is designed to drain the fire-extinguishing suspension from the tank (120) and supply the fire-extinguishing suspension under pressure to a hose (140); and a hose (140) connected to the pump (130) and designed to discharge the fireextinguishing suspension according to the method of claim 11 . A fire prevention and protection system (100) according to claim 18, wherein the tank (120) comprises a stirrer (125) designed to agitate the fire-extinguishing suspension to ensure continuous homogenization of the fire-extinguishing suspension until it is discharged, according to the method of claim 11 . A fire prevention and protection system (100) according to claim 19, wherein the stirrer (125) is transversely mounted on vertical walls of the tank (120). A fire prevention and protection system (100) according to any one of claims 18- 20, wherein the fire extinguishing system is installed in one of (a) a fixed installation, (b) a portable device, (c) a fire truck, and (d) an aerial means, and wherein, in the case of the aerial means, the hose (140) is replaced by a port in the tank. A fire prevention and protection system (100) according to any one of claims 14- 17 wherein the preparation of the fire-extinguishing suspension according to the method of claim 4 takes place in a separate drum mixer (150), which drum mixer (150) includes a stirrer (155), and then the fire-extinguishing suspension is pumped from the drum mixer (150) into the container (120) of the system (100). Use of the fire extinguishing system (100), according to any one of claims 13-15, in indoor, outdoor urban, outdoor industrial and agroforestry areas.23Use of the fire prevention and protection system (100), according to any one of claims 18-20, in indoor, outdoor urban, outdoor industrial and agroforestry areas, wherein, in the case of agroforestry areas, the use of the system is to create a firebreak.24

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