Phase II: Fire Extinguishment by Electro-Magnetic Fields
Abstract
This report describes a Phase II effort that demonstrated the technological feasibility to extinguish fires using an electromagnetic (EM) pulse. Using this technology only electrical energy is used for the fire extinguishment process; no water or chemical are required. The experimental device employed 10 energy storage capacitors of 40 micro F total and operated at 15 kV. With this device, heptane, diesel and kerosene pool fires, as well as forced-flow flames of propane and butane were extinguished. The facility can be used to study extinguishment of already ongoing fires aw well as to study explosion mitigation. In addition, a specialized version for the letter application was designed, built and tested (0.5 micro F at 35 kV). There are some fire extinguishment methods, which employ electrostatic fields. In contrast to these methods, the present device employs an electromagnetic (EM) pulse. The duration of this EM pulse is only several microseconds. Pulse rise times of less than 100 nanoseconds have been achieved. The present process is the only practical process known to date for extinguishment of fires without a chemical agent. It is also the only process known at present that is fast enough to be considered for use in explosion mitigation applications.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 02, 2000
- Accession Number
- ADA400707
Entities
People
- John D. Cox
- Neil H. Weinstein
- Richard T. Schneider
- Robert J. Hirko