A STUDY OF EXTINGUISHMENT AND CONTROL OF FIRES INVOLVING HYDRAZINE-TYPE FUELS WITH AIR AND NITROGEN TETROXIDE

Abstract

Burning rates, extinguishing agents, and extinguishment mechanisms were determined for open pan fires of hydrazine, unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine (UDMH), JP-X. A 50-50 mixture of hydrazine and UDMH oxidized by air and N2O4 was studied in open pans and in a 1/50 scale model of a Titan II silo. Bicarbonate-based dry chemicals extinguished the pan fires promptly, and with the least weight of agent. Water extinguished the fires by diluting the fuel surface. Course spray and alcohol-type foams were effective forms of water application. After extinguishment by dilution, the fires could not be reignited. Water spray was not effective against JP-X fires because of the separation of a lowdensity, hydrocarbon-rich layer. Specific rates of application or selected agents under various fire conditions are given. The amine fuels (with the exception of JP-X, which was not tested), exploded hypergollically on contact with liquid N2O4 tetroxide in about half the tests.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 01, 1962
Accession Number
AD0278802

Entities

People

  • M. Markels Jr.
  • R. Friedman

Organizations

  • ARCO

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Alcohols
  • Burning Rate
  • Chemical Synthesis
  • Chemistry
  • Dimethylhydrazines
  • Fire Extinguishers
  • Fire Protection
  • Fires
  • Heat Transfer
  • Hydrazines
  • Hydrocarbon Fuels
  • Materials Laboratories
  • Materials Science
  • Plastic Explosives
  • Rocket Oxidizers
  • Safety
  • Safety Equipment

Readers

  • Petroleum Engineering
  • Rocket Propulsion.
  • Underwater engineering and Marine Technology.