The Use of Perlite in Fire Fighting

Abstract

The invention is a fire extinguishing method characterized by the direct application of unprocessed raw perlite, without the use of water, to fires or locations where fire may spread, in order to extinguish a larger area and / or prevent the spread of fire compared to water, foam, and gel-type extinguishing agents, and to ensure the rehabilitation of fire-damaged soil and vegetation after the fire and the rapid regeneration of forest flora.

Description

The Use of Perlite in Fire Fighting Technical Area The invention relates to the use of perlite, a natural mineral, in firefighting. Previous Technique Currently, fires are tackled in various ways, both from the air and from the ground. Especially in forest fires, the most effective method is aerial intervention. For aerial intervention, aircraft or helicopters equipped with tanks ranging from 1 to 10 cubic meters are used. In current techniques, especially when fighting forest fires from the air, water, powder, foam, and gel materials are generally used as extinguishing agents. When water is used as a fire extinguisher, it affects an area equal to the maximum capacity of the water in a single sortie. For example, 2.5 cubic meters of water affects a maximum area of ​​2.5 cubic meters. In large fires, extinguishing operations at these rates are ineffective and insufficient. Water-based firefighting presents numerous operational challenges, including the difficulty of quickly obtaining sufficient water. Therefore, this type of intervention requires a large number of helicopters, manpower, and a considerable amount of time. As a result, the desired extinguishing operation cannot be completed within the required time. Forests and livestock can suffer significant damage. Non-natural materials like foam and gel used to extinguish forest fires cause damage to forest flora after the fire, slowing down their recovery. Perlite, an acidic volcanic mineral, is a rock that expands upon heat, becoming very light and porous when expanded. The term perlite is used both for raw perlite and for the product obtained by expanding it. In current technology, perlite is used for various purposes in agriculture, pharmaceuticals, industry, and metallurgy. In agriculture, it is particularly used to retain water and moisture and to allow soil aeration. In construction, it is used as an insulation and waterproofing material. The current Turkish national patent document, coded 2022 / 020182, discusses an organic, liquid fire extinguisher used in Class A fires. This fire extinguisher relates to compositions containing perlite, soap, guar gum, vermiculite, and water, and the preparation of these compositions. In the document, perlite is used not alone, but as a component of a mixture. The current Turkish national patent document, coded 2022 / 013045, describes a fire extinguisher and its production method using soapwort and perlite. This extinguisher and its production method incorporate soapwort and perlite, resulting in a more resistant, environmentally friendly, low-cost extinguisher that poses no threat to human health, facilitates practical production, and extinguishes fires at much higher temperatures without harming the environment. The perlite mentioned in the document is used not alone, but as a component of a mixture. The British patent document GB1106603, which is included in the current technology, describes a method and composition for extinguishing and preventing fires in flammable liquids. The method and composition described in this document utilize expanded perlite. Specifically, expanded perlite, not raw perlite, is used. Furthermore, perlite is used here not alone, but as a component of a mixture. The current American patent document, coded US5626787, mentions a fire extinguishing compound. This compound contains expanded perlite. The document specifies that expanded perlite, not raw perlite, is used. Furthermore, perlite is used here not alone, but as a component of a mixture. The British patent document with code GB1205136, which is included in the current technology, mentions fire extinguishers or improvements thereto. The document describes a fire extinguishing process for fires originating from metals. The use of the product in forest fires is not mentioned. Purpose of the Invention The invention aims to provide more effective and faster fire extinguishing by affecting an area up to 20 times larger than the same amount of water. Another objective of the invention is to obtain a fire extinguishing method that provides an advantage in operational transportation. Another aim of the invention is to enable the rapid rehabilitation of fire-damaged areas after a fire, by providing a natural drainage and growing environment, thus allowing forest flora and fauna to quickly return to their former state. Detailed Description of the Invention The invention relates to the use of raw perlite, a natural mineral, in firefighting, particularly in forest fires. When exposed to fire and high temperatures, raw perlite undergoes an expansion process. Through expansion, perlite can grow up to 20 times its original volume. The expanded perlite transforms into a white sheet-like substance and settles in the forest as a dust cloud. By settling as a dust cloud and covering a large area, perlite helps extinguish fires more quickly and with less resource consumption. Raw perlite is transported to storage areas using aerial vehicles such as helicopters, airplanes, and drones during forest fires, similar to how water is transported, and then positioned over the fire or in areas where the fire is likely to spread. Once positioned in the fire zone, the raw perlite reacts with the fire, i.e., the high heat, transforming into expanded perlite. This expanded perlite expands to 20 times its initial volume, affecting an area 20 times larger. In the preferred application of this invention, raw perlite is positioned by sprinkling it over the fire or in areas where the fire is likely to spread. Perlite offers an advantage in operational handling due to its volume being 20 times less than its expanded state. Furthermore, since it can affect 20 times more area with the same tank, a larger area can be extinguished and / or the spread of a fire can be prevented in a single sortie. Perlite, by its nature, possesses properties such as retaining water and moisture and allowing the soil to breathe. Therefore, perlite, used for firefighting purposes, also helps rehabilitate soil, forests, trees, and vegetation damaged by fire after the extinguishing process is complete, and ensures the rapid regeneration of forest flora. The invention is a fire fighting product characterized by containing unprocessed raw perlite, intended for direct application to fires or locations where fires may spread, without the use of water, particularly in forest fire fighting. The invention is a fire extinguishing method characterized by the direct application of unprocessed raw perlite, without the use of water, to fires or locations where fire may spread, in order to extinguish a larger area and / or prevent the spread of fire compared to water, foam, and gel-type extinguishing agents, and to ensure the rehabilitation of fire-damaged soil and vegetation after the fire and the rapid regeneration of forest flora.

Claims

1. The invention is a fire-fighting product; it contains unprocessed raw perlite to be sprinkled directly onto the fire or to locations where a possible fire is likely to spread, without using water, especially in the fight against forest fires.

2. The invention is a fire extinguishing method and is characterized by the sprinkling of unprocessed raw perlite directly onto the fire or onto locations where a possible fire is likely to spread, without using water, in order to ensure that a larger area is extinguished compared to water, foam and gel type extinguishers and / or to prevent the fire from growing and to ensure that the soil and vegetation damaged by the fire are rehabilitated and the forest flora is quickly regenerated after the fire, especially in the intervention of forest fires.