Potassium Formate Fire Extinguishing Composition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fire extinguishing agents for off-road vehicles in low temperature environments face issues with high salt concentrations leading to increased viscosity, reduced sprayability, and environmental concerns due to toxic glycol use, which affects their effectiveness and environmental acceptability.
Innovation Solution
Aqueous fire extinguishing composition comprising potassium formate and potassium acetate as freezing point depressants, along with an aqueous film forming foam, surfactants, and other additives, which provides effective fire suppression and cooling while maintaining lower viscosity and reducing salt concentration, thus enhancing environmental acceptability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If high salt concentration is used as freezing point depressant, then the aqueous solution can be stored at subfreezing temperatures, but the viscosity increases and sprayability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by using potassium formate instead of conventional glycols or high concentrations of potassium acetate. This parameter change achieves the required freezing point depression while maintaining lower viscosity and better sprayability at low temperatures
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite fire extinguishing composition combining potassium formate with potassium acetate and aqueous film forming foam. This composite approach allows the solution to achieve both low-temperature stability and acceptable spray characteristics by leveraging the complementary properties of different components
2Stability of the object's composition
If high salt concentration is used to prevent freezing, then the solution remains liquid at low temperatures, but the fire fighting effectiveness is reduced due to increased viscosity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the concentration parameters by using potassium formate at levels that provide sufficient freezing protection without excessively increasing viscosity. The balanced composition maintains both liquid stability and fire suppression effectiveness
3Temperature
If conventional freezing point depressants like glycols are used, then the required freezing point is achieved, but environmental acceptability is reduced due to toxicity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces toxic, persistent glycol-based freezing point depressants with potassium formate, which is biodegradable and environmentally acceptable. This substitution maintains freezing protection functionality while eliminating the harmful environmental effects of conventional additives
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 composition effectively suppresses fires, prevents reflash, and maintains sprayability at low temperatures, outperforming commercial agents in extinguishment time and environmental impact.
Implementation Method 1
The potassium formate functions as a freezing point depressant for lowering the freezing point of the aqueous solution to permit storage and use in low temperature environments
Implementation Method 2
an aqueous fire extinguishing composition comprising an aqueous solution of an aqueous film forming foam
Implementation Method 3
The aqueous film forming foam may comprise tetrasodium EDTA and a surfactant
Data Source
AI summary
A fire extinguishing composition is provided that is suitable for use as a fire extinguishing agent in fire suppression, particularly in off-road vehicles exposed to low ambient temperature environments. The fire extinguishing composition includes an aqueous solution of potassium formate. In an embodiment, the fire extinguishing composition includes an aqueous solution of potassium formate and an aqueous film forming foam. In an embodiment, the fire extinguishing composition is an aqueous solution including an aqueous film forming foam, potassium formate and potassium acetate in water.