Collapsible Foam Bag Storage for Shelf-Life and Mixing Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Firefighting foams, particularly fluorine-free foams, face challenges with shelf life, mixing ability, and equipment compatibility, leading to inefficiencies and environmental toxicity, while traditional storage solutions degrade the foam's effectiveness and pose risks to equipment and personnel.
Innovation Solution
A two-part container system with a hard plastic outer shell and an internal collapsible bag, integrated with existing firefighting equipment, that prevents foam degradation and ensures seamless application and disposal, compatible with both legacy and fluorine-free foams.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If fluorine-free foams are used to reduce environmental toxicity, then environmental safety is improved, but foam shelf life and mixing ability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The foam storage system is divided into separate components: an airtight container for foam concentrate and a separate water supply. This segmentation prevents premature mixing and maintains foam stability during storage, addressing the shelf life issue while allowing use of environmentally safer fluorine-free formulations.
Solution Approach 2:
The foam concentrate is stored in an airtight container that creates an inert environment, preventing oxidation and degradation of the fluorine-free foam concentrate. This maintains foam effectiveness and shelf life without requiring harmful chemicals, thus preserving both environmental safety and foam performance.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If fluorine-free foams are used, then environmental safety is improved, but foam mixing ability and application performance worsen
Solution Approach 1:
A proportioning device acts as an intermediary between the foam concentrate and water supply, ensuring proper mixing ratios for fluorine-free foams. This mediator compensates for the different mixing characteristics of fluorine-free formulations, maintaining optimal foam application performance while using environmentally safer materials.
3Device complexity
If traditional foam storage solutions are used, then equipment simplicity is maintained, but foam degradation and equipment corrosion increase
Solution Approach 1:
The airtight container creates an inert storage environment that prevents foam degradation and corrosion of firefighting equipment. This simple yet effective approach maintains foam effectiveness and protects equipment without adding significant system complexity.
4Device complexity
If traditional foam storage is used, then system simplicity is maintained, but personnel exposure and equipment contact risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The foam concentrate is extracted from open storage and placed in a sealed container system. This extraction isolates the hazardous foam concentrate from personnel and equipment until the moment of use, reducing exposure risks while maintaining operational simplicity through the self-contained container design.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus, system, and method for firefighting foam in a bag is disclosed. A firefighting foam in a bag system includes a firefighting foam in a bag apparatus. The apparatus comprises an outer container configured to provide structural support and protection, an internal collapsible bag disposed within the outer container to store foam concentrate and collapse as the concentrate is dispensed, and a connection mechanism for detachably securing the internal collapsible bag within the outer container. The system further includes a foam proportioning device configured to mix the foam concentrate from the internal collapsible bag with water to create a foam solution, operatively connected to both the internal collapsible bag and a water supply. Additionally, the system includes a discharge device configured to apply the foam solution to a fire-affected area, operatively coupled to the foam proportioning device.