Aerosol Extinguishant Composition for Compact Fire Extinguishers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fire extinguishers using powder-type extinguishants are bulky and heavy due to the need for high-pressure resistant containers, and systems with inorganic oxidizing agents face challenges in achieving spontaneous combustion.
Innovation Solution
An extinguishant composition comprising 20-50% fuel, 80-50% chlorate, and 6-1000 parts potassium salt, with a thermal decomposition starting temperature of 90-260°C, which generates an aerosol upon heat activation, eliminating the need for bulky containers and ignition devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If powder-type extinguishant is used, then fire extinguishing function is achieved, but the container becomes large and bulky
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the physical state parameter of the extinguishant from solid powder to aerosol (liquid suspension). This parameter change allows the extinguishant to be stored in a compact liquid form and only transforms into aerosol during use, resolving the contradiction between maintaining fire extinguishing effectiveness and reducing container volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes phase transition by storing the extinguishant as a liquid suspension and transforming it into aerosol through combustion-induced heating. The liquid aerosol-generating composition transitions to vapor/aerosol phase when exposed to fire heat, providing the extinguishing function while maintaining compact storage.
2Speed
If powder is ejected instantly, then fire extinguishing speed is improved, but the container requires high pressure resistance and becomes heavy
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs self-service by using the fire's own heat as the activation energy to generate aerosol. The combustion of the aerosol-generating composition is spontaneously triggered by fire heat without requiring external high-pressure systems, achieving rapid fire extinguishing while eliminating the need for heavy high-pressure containers.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical high-pressure ejection system with a thermal-chemical system. Instead of using mechanical pressure to eject powder instantly, the system uses thermal energy from fire to trigger chemical combustion that generates aerosol, substituting a heavy mechanical system with a lighter thermal-chemical process.
3Power
If inorganic oxidizing agent is used, then oxidizing power is improved, but spontaneous combustion cannot occur
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses composite materials by combining organic oxidizing agents (chlorates) with fuels and potassium salts to create an aerosol-generating composition. This composite formulation provides sufficient oxidizing power while enabling spontaneous combustion through the organic components, resolving the contradiction between oxidizing power and automatic activation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the type of oxidizing agent from inorganic to organic (chlorates). This parameter change in the chemical composition enables both sufficient oxidizing power and the ability to undergo spontaneous combustion when exposed to fire heat, allowing automatic activation without external ignition sources.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The composition allows for compact and lightweight fire extinguishers that automatically generate an aerosol to extinguish fires, avoiding erroneous activation of heat sensors and enhancing versatility.
Implementation Method 1
by using a pyrotechnic composition composed of dicyandiamide as a fuel component and potassium nitrate as an oxidizing component, it has been proposed to generate an aerosol containing a potassium radical derived from the oxidizing agent
Implementation Method 2
when a thermal decomposition starting temperature is controlled within the specific range by combining a fuel, a chlorate and a potassium salt
Implementation Method 3
the generated radicals catch the hydrogen radical, oxygen radical and/or hydroxyl radical which promote the combustion reaction to extinguish the fire
Data Source
AI summary
To provide an extinguishant composition that can be used as an extinguishant in the event of a fire, and an aerosol-generating automatic fire-extinguishing device in which the extinguishant is used. An extinguishant composition and an aerosol-generating automatic fire extinguishing device containing the extinguishant composition, said composition being characterized in containing 20-50% by mass of a fuel and 80-50% by mass of a chlorate, and further containing 6-1000 parts by mass of a potassium salt in relation to a total of 100 parts by mass of the fuel and the chlorate, the extinguishant composition having a thermal decomposition starting temperature in the range of over 90° C. to 260° C.