High-Speed CO2 Jet Ejectors for Confined-Space Fire Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional firefighting methods, particularly in complex building layouts, struggle to effectively control and extinguish fires due to the limitations of high-pressure water hoses and the inability to penetrate confined spaces, causing damage and failing to reach high-temperature cores, while traditional fire extinguishing agents like water vaporize at peripheral flame limits.
Innovation Solution
A method and system utilizing high-speed carbon dioxide jets with a biphasic mixture, expelling carbon dioxide in solid and gaseous phases to penetrate and extinguish fires, utilizing a driver set and ejector means to create a corridor and reduce oxygen concentration, achieving rapid cooling and fire suppression.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If high-pressure water hoses are used to extinguish fires, then the fire can be cooled and suppressed, but the water vaporizes at peripheral flame limits and cannot penetrate confined high-temperature cores
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the physical state parameter of the extinguishing agent from liquid water to solid carbon dioxide (dry ice). This phase change enables the agent to survive in high-temperature environments and penetrate confined spaces without vaporizing, directly resolving the contradiction between cooling capability and penetration speed into high-temperature cores
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes phase transitions of carbon dioxide (from solid to gas via sublimation) to achieve both penetration and fire suppression. The solid phase allows penetration through confined spaces, while the sublimation process absorbs heat and suppresses fire, resolving the contradiction between maintaining structural integrity in high heat and achieving cooling effect
2Speed
If high-pressure water hoses are used to penetrate confined spaces, then the fire can be reached, but great damages are caused to the burned area and property
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the extinguishing agent from liquid water to solid carbon dioxide, which sublimates into gas without leaving liquid residue. This eliminates water-related damage to property and burned areas while maintaining the ability to penetrate confined spaces and suppress fires
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses carbon dioxide, which sublimates completely into gas and leaves no residue or damage. The agent is consumed in the process but causes no harmful effects to property, effectively replacing expensive water-based systems that cause collateral damage
3Temperature
If firefighters use regular high-pressure hoses to surround and cool the compartment, then the fire can be suppressed, but there is no space to position multiple hoses in complex building layouts
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the extinguishing agent into solid particles (dry ice flakes) that can be dispersed and distributed throughout the compartment. This allows a single hose to deliver the agent in multiple directions and areas, eliminating the need for multiple hoses in complex building layouts while achieving comprehensive cooling and fire suppression
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical form of the extinguishing agent to solid particles that can be easily dispersed and distributed. This segmentation enables single-point delivery to achieve multi-point coverage, resolving the contradiction between cooling effectiveness and device complexity in confined spaces
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 system effectively unbalances air intakes, reduces burn rates, creates a penetration corridor, and prevents flashover, while the sublimation of solid carbon dioxide cools compartments and extinguishes fires, even under debris, minimizing damage and preventing backdraft.
Implementation Method 1
when expelled, the carbon dioxide will be present in a biphasic system in solid state and in gaseous state, it being thus understood that the liquid state, when it is ejected, will be solidified
Implementation Method 2
Subsequently, and already in contact with the burned area, there will occur the sublimation of the carbon dioxide (solid state reaches a gaseous state), thus favoring the fire fighting
Implementation Method 3
The sublimation of dry ice requires (245.5 BTU/lb) 571.3 kJ/kg, causing cooling of the compartment and, as a natural physical consequence, immediately reducing the volatile emissions of solid combustible materials
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention refers to a method and system for ejecting carbon dioxide as High-Speed Jets with Sublimation. More specifically, the present invention describes a method and system capable of controlling and extinguishing fires from the CO2 ejected. In summary, the proposed method comprises the steps of removing CO2 in a first state (G) from the storage medium (2) and inserting the CO2 in first state (G) in the driver set (3); maintaining the insertion of CO2 in first state in the driver set (3) up to the equalization of the internal pressure between the storage medium (2) and the driver set (3); removing carbon dioxide in a second state (L) from the storage medium (2) and inserting the carbon dioxide in second state in the driver set (3) after the equalization of the pressure of the storage medium (2) and of the driver set; ejecting the CO2 in the form of high-speed jets with high content of CO2 in third state (S) through the driver set (3).