Misting Nozzles for Wildfire Ember Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for defending against wildfires, such as aerial water dropping and chemical fire retardant application, have proven inadequate in preventing damage from wildfire ember storms, especially under strong winds, leaving homes and buildings vulnerable.
Innovation Solution
A remotely controlled wildfire ember suppression system that includes a filter system infused with anti-fire liquid, automated misting nozzles generating microscopic droplets of anti-fire liquid to break free-radical chemical reactions on wildfire embers, and a network for detecting wildfires and activating misting systems to prevent ember entry into buildings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional methods such as aerial water dropping and chemical fire retardant application are used, then wildfire suppression efforts are made, but the methods prove inadequate in preventing damage from wildfire ember storms, especially under strong winds
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary substance - anti-fire chemical liquid - that mediates between the wildfire embers and the buildings. This chemical liquid is applied through misting nozzles to create a protective barrier that interferes with the combustion process of embers before they can ignite building materials, thereby resolving the contradiction between suppression efforts and damage prevention
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the protection method by using microscopic droplets of anti-fire chemical liquid instead of conventional water or chemical retardants. The misting system creates a fine aerosol that penetrates ember storms more effectively, changing the delivery parameter from bulk application to molecular-level interaction with the fire embers
2Productivity
If conventional fire retardant chemicals are applied, then wildfire advance is stalled, but the chemicals may have environmental impacts and the methods leave homes vulnerable to ember storms
Solution Approach 1:
The anti-fire chemical liquid serves as a protective intermediary that is applied directly to building surfaces and air inlets. This creates a localized barrier that prevents ember contact with vulnerable building materials, addressing both the suppression of wildfire advance and the protection of individual structures from ember storms
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by applying the anti-fire chemical liquid to buildings and surrounding areas before ember storms arrive. The misting nozzles are positioned to pre-treat potential ignition points, creating a protective layer in advance that activates when embers approach, thereby preventing building ignition before it occurs
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 suppresses and extinguishes wildfire embers by breaking free-radical chemical reactions, reducing the risk of building ignition and providing enhanced protection against wildfire ember storms.
Implementation Method 1
automated misting nozzles generating microscopic droplets of anti-fire liquid to break free-radical chemical reactions on wildfire embers
Data Source
AI summary
A wireless system network for managing GPS-tracked stationary spraying systems and GPS-tracking mobile spraying systems deployed on a wireless communication network for supporting the defense of property against wildfires. Each GPS-tracking spraying system includes an electronic circuit or device for (i) automatically tracking the spraying of property with environmentally-clean anti-fire (AF) liquid contained in a storage tank, (ii) automatically monitoring the level of environmentally-clean anti-fire liquid in the storage tank, and (iii) generating and transmitting electronic signals to a remote center so that a service can automatically replenish the storage tank of the GPS-tracking spraying system when the level of environmentally-clean anti-fire liquid falls below a predetermined level in the storage tank. This ensures the systems are ready to spray environmentally-clean anti-fire liquid on property before the incidence of wildfire in a proactive manner.