Biosurfactant Fire Extinguishing Agent Resolving Safety and Performance Trade-offs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fire extinguishing agents, while effective, pose safety risks to the environment and human health due to their synthetic surfactants, and natural surfactant-based alternatives offer limited fire-extinguishing performance.
Innovation Solution
A fire extinguishing agent comprising a biosurfactant, such as surfactin or its salt, which is biodegradable and non-irritating, improving both environmental and human safety while enhancing fire-extinguishing performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If APC extinguishing agent containing synthetic surfactant is used, then fire-extinguishing performance is improved, but environmental safety and human body safety deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameter from synthetic surfactant to biosurfactant, maintaining the surfactant functionality while improving biodegradability and safety profile. This parameter substitution resolves the contradiction by preserving fire-extinguishing performance through surfactant action while eliminating environmental and health hazards associated with synthetic chemicals.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs biosurfactants that are biodegradable and environmentally friendly, effectively treating them as disposable substances that break down naturally after use. This approach allows the extinguishing agent to perform its function and then decompose without causing long-term environmental damage, resolving the safety contradiction.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If natural surfactant-based extinguishing agent is used, then environmental safety is improved, but fire-extinguishing performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite formulations combining biosurfactants with other extinguishing agent components (such as potassium carbonate, water, and foam stabilizers) to achieve both environmental safety and effective fire-extinguishing performance. The composite nature allows synergistic effects where the biosurfactant provides safety and biodegradability while other components contribute to fire suppression efficiency.
3Productivity
If high concentration of surfactant is used to improve fire-extinguishing performance, then extinguishing efficiency is improved, but environmental load increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the concentration parameter and chemical nature parameter simultaneously, using biosurfactants at optimized concentrations that achieve effective fire suppression while maintaining low environmental load due to their biodegradable properties. The inherent safety and efficacy of biosurfactants allow for reduced concentrations compared to synthetic alternatives.
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 biosurfactant-based agent demonstrates superior fire-extinguishing efficiency, reducing the amount and concentration needed, with improved foam stability and reduced environmental and human impact, effectively addressing both performance and safety concerns.
Implementation Method 1
APC extinguishing agent contains a synthetic surfactant in order to lower the surface tension thereof and improve wetting property and permitting property to a combustible material
Implementation Method 2
adhesive property is improved, since APC extinguishing agent is foamed by a synthetic surfactant
Data Source
AI summary
The objective of the present invention is to provide an extinguishing agent which has excellent fire-extinguishing property and which exhibits high safety to the environment and human body. The fire extinguishing agent of the present invention is characterized in comprising a biosurfactant.