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Scientists Developed A New Technology To Extinguish Fires Without The Use Of Toxic Foams, Also Reducing Water Consumption
A revolutionary innovation may transform firefighting, making it more efficient and safe. Researchers developed a portable tool that uses conductive aerosols and vortex rings to quickly extinguish flames, without resorting to traditional methods that may be harmful to the environment.
The New Approach To Firefighting
Traditionally, firefighting relies on chemical foams or large volumes of water, which can overwhelm water resources and cause environmental damage.
The new tool, developed by a team from The Ohio State University, offers a promising alternative.
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It suppresses flames using conductive aerosols — small particles that direct electricity — carried by vortex rings, which are bands of air shaped like donuts.
These rings transform the particles into short bursts of wind that convert nearby oxygen into ozone. The accelerated airflow creates rapid turbulence, interrupting the combustion process and effectively extinguishing the fire.
How The Device Works
The device, similar to a small bucket attached to an arm support, is directed by firefighters toward the flames.
It uses bursts of compressed air or a flexible diaphragm to release the aerosols in an electric arc, targeting the fire effectively.
According to John LaRocco, the lead author of the study and research scientist in psychiatry at The Ohio State University College of Medicine, “by using a combination of electricity and this vortex ring technology, we found a more efficient way to address an environmental problem that will improve our quality of life.”
Development And Testing
The team began the study by determining which chemical combinations would form the most conductive aerosols.
After testing seven mixtures, the coarse copper solution was chosen as the ideal material. Next, two prototypes were tested: a compressed air launcher with a conical tube and an elastic diaphragm launcher with a square-edge tube.
Both prototypes demonstrated an effective range of nearly 2 meters. “In both cases, we were impressed with the invention,” LaRocco stated.
Benefits And Future Applications
One of the main benefits of the device is its simplicity and portability. “The design of our Vortex Launcher is really very simple by nature,” said John Simonis, co-author of the study and student of electrical and computer engineering. “One of the benefits of this simplicity is that it is also very scalable.”
Furthermore, the vortex rings maintain their shape as they dissipate, allowing them to carry chemical loads over longer distances. This increases firefighters’ safety, as they do not need to get as close to the flames to extinguish them.
The study suggests that the device could be enhanced with the integration of multimodal sensors or image analysis, allowing the launcher to target fires caused by various sources.
Future implications include applications in industrial automation and aerospace technologies, where the device could protect military vehicles and even the interiors of spacecraft against fires. “There are many applications for our device that can make a difference,” Simonis concluded.
The introduction of this portable tool represents a significant advancement in firefighting, offering an efficient and eco-friendly alternative to traditional methods.
With potential for various future applications, this innovation could redefine firefighting strategies, prioritizing the safety of professionals and environmental preservation.
Study published in mdpi and info news.osu.edu.
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