Gas-Producing Material Cyanide Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas-producing materials for fire suppression emit unwanted by-products like hydrogen cyanide, which are harmful to human health, limiting their use in confined spaces due to safety concerns and the need to minimize toxic emissions.
Innovation Solution
A gas-producing material comprising a comminuted foamed polymer, a nitrogen-containing fuel, and an oxidiser, which burns at higher temperatures and produces fewer cyanide emissions, ensuring consistent combustion and reduced risk of extreme reactions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional gas-producing materials are used for fire suppression, then fire extinguishing effect is achieved, but harmful by-products like hydrogen cyanide are emitted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the gas-producing material by incorporating metal hydroxycarboxylates (such as calcium hydroxycarboxylate) and peroxymonocarbonates as alternative reactants. This substitution modifies the combustion chemistry to produce fewer cyanide emissions while maintaining fire suppression effectiveness through controlled oxygen depletion and heat absorption.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses composite material systems combining metal hydroxycarboxylates with peroxymonocarbonates and various fuels. This composite approach creates a synergistic effect where the metal hydroxycarboxylate acts as both a fuel and a cyanide-suppressing agent, while the peroxymonocarbonate provides oxygen for controlled combustion, achieving both fire suppression and reduced toxic emissions.
2Reliability
If higher combustion temperatures are achieved to improve fire suppression, then fire extinguishing effectiveness increases, but formation of harmful by-products may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates an inert-like atmosphere during combustion by using metal hydroxycarboxylates that decompose to release metal oxides and water vapor. These decomposition products dilute the combustion atmosphere and suppress cyanide formation by reducing the availability of nitrogen and oxygen for cyanide-generating reactions, while still maintaining sufficient heat for fire suppression.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention converts the potential harm of high-temperature combustion into benefit by using peroxymonocarbonates to provide controlled oxygen release. This controlled oxidation maintains combustion temperatures necessary for fire suppression while preventing uncontrolled burning that would generate excessive harmful by-products. The metal hydroxycarboxylate simultaneously serves as fuel and cyanide-scavenging agent.
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 material achieves higher combustion temperatures of 1000 to 1300°C, reducing cyanide emissions and minimizing the formation of harmful by-products, making it safer for use in confined spaces.
Implementation Method 1
Gas-producing materials which burn to produce aerosol products with an extinguishing effect. Such materials are stable at room temperature but may be triggered to combust by heat, such as the heat produced by a fire.
Implementation Method 2
The materials have advantages associated with passive fire protection as they do not necessarily rely on any external triggers to be effective, yet also have advantages associated with active fire protection as they work to extinguish a fire.
Implementation Method 3
Fires can also be controlled using gas-producing materials which burn to produce aerosol products with an extinguishing effect.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to gas-producing materials, methods of forming gas-producing materials, and uses of gas-producing materials. The gas-producing materials comprise a comminuted foamed polymer, a nitrogen-containing fuel and an oxidiser. The gas-producing materials may be used to suppress a fire.