A FIRE EXTINGUISHING METHOD AND A FIRE EXTINGUISHING PROJECTILE

Abstract

A method for extinguishing fires which includes the following phases: a first phase wherein a projectile of compact crushed ice is produced, with a volume between 0.5 liters and 2 liters, a second phase wherein the projectile is placed on a shuttle that fires it over the area in flames to be put out, and a third phase wherein successive projectiles are launched until a shower of compact crushed ice projectiles is formed with at least 30 liters per square meter per hour. A projectile for extinguishing fires is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method for extinguishing fires comprising the steps of: producing in a first phase projectiles of compact, crushed ice, each with a volume of between 0.5 liters and 2 liters; placing in a second phase said projectile in a shuttle cannon that fires it over the area in flames to be put out; and launching in a third phase said projectiles in succession until a shower of compact crushed ice projectiles is formed reaching at least 30 liters per square meter per hour.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said projectile has a volume of 1 liter.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said shuttle is a cannon of compressed air with a height regulator.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said shower of compact crushed ice is 35 liters per square meter per hour.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said shuttle in the second phase comprises cooling means that compensate for the friction heat between the projectile and the shuttle cannon.

6. A projectile for extinguishing fires of the type made from ice comprising a crushed ice mixture of a solution with a freezing point lower than 0 C. and wherein said projectile is compacted or bound with frozen freshwater.

7. A projectile according to claim 6, wherein said projectile comprises an additive with fire retardant.

8. A projectile according to claim 6, wherein said projectile has a volume of 1 liter.

9. A projectile according to claim 7, wherein said projectile comprises a member selected from the group consisting of a fluorescent pigment and a colorant.

Description

SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT OF THIS INVENTION

[0036] In a specific embodiment, in a previous phase a mobile facility would be provided, with a shuttle, freezing means, generators and a water supply means, at a distance of for example 2 km. from the location of the fire.

[0037] This means that there is no danger of the fire affecting the various brigades taking part in extinguishing the fire.

[0038] Once the mobile equipment is arranged in the place indicated, the preparation would begin, comprising the following phases.

[0039] A first phase wherein a projectile of compact crushed ice is produced, with a volume between 0.5 and 2 litres, by the freezing means.

[0040] The volume, as will be explained later, is determined by the shuttle's capacity to send a shower of projectiles, over a long distance and so that they arrive still in the form of compact crushed ice.

[0041] Therefore, it may be necessary to conduct some prior firing tests so that the volume of the projectile, the parabola and launch distance and the freezing temperature can be adjusted so that the projectile reaches the seat of the fire with the binding part melting and distributing the crushed ice with the solution containing the fire retardant. These adjustments overcome the factors of outside temperature and wind that could affect the effectiveness of the projectile and its characteristics.

[0042] Subsequently, in a second phase, said projectile is placed in a shuttle, where it is arranged at a height and with strength according to the conditions mentioned above and the location of the fire. The shuttle then fires the projectile over the area in flames to be put out, where it lands, hitting the area of the fire.

[0043] During the flight, the projectile made up of the ice and the frozen water as the binding agent suffers from the friction of the air, the sun's heat and the temperature of the actual fire, which helps to melt the binding agent so that the crushed ice can reach its destination and be distributed much more effectively all over the area of the fire.

[0044] This is also beneficial because it prevents any sparks that may revive the fire, which was one of the problems in the background to the invention.

[0045] Next, in the third phase successive projectiles are launched until a shower of compact, crushed ice projectiles is formed. This is done in order to wet the whole area affected by the fire and, at the same time, to put out and drown the flames.

[0046] The cadence has to be such that it reaches at least 30 litres per square metre per hour. The inventor proposes, on average, that the cadence reaches 35 litres per square meter per hour, although in certain fires and depending on the type of land, 20 litres per square metre per hour may be sufficient.

[0047] Generally, for an area like the Spanish Mediterranean and with a shower of projectiles between 30 and 40 litres per square metres per hour, the projectile could have a volume of 1 litre, even though this may be modified depending on the conditions mentioned above and particularly the shuttle.

[0048] The shuttle could be one cannon of compressed air with a height regulator, which could be adapted to the prevailing wind conditions, and change its scope.

[0049] The said shuttle would also comprise cooling means to compensate the heat from the friction between the projectile and the shuttle cannon. This is so that upon exit the friction does not reduce the projectile's effectiveness, this way the previsions regarding the scope, compactness, etc. of the projectile are maintained.

[0050] One of the greatest advantages is that this method can be used both at night, and even with wind, since the firing can be corrected with the shuttle, and the projectile can be sent to areas that are difficult to access, which is often complicated for hydroplanes and helicopters.

[0051] Below is a comparison, to be combined with the detailed one shown later, of the effectiveness of this method and projectile, at different distances:

Scopes According to Type of Projectiles:

[0052]

TABLE-US-00001 Projectile Exit Tilting Max. Theoretical Flight Mass Speed Angle Range Height Time 570 g 160 m/s 45 2612 m 653 m 23 s 829 g 210 m/s 45 4500 m 1125 m 30 s 1088 g 240 m/s 45 5878 m 1469 m 35 s

[0053] In other words, this method prevents those taking part in extinguishing fires from putting their lives in danger, since the equipment is at a considerable distance from the fire, for example 2 km.

[0054] The projectile for extinguishing fires will be made up of ice characterised in that this ice is a mixture of fire retardant solution in the form of crushed ice and frozen water as the binding agent; which helps it to break into small pieces upon impact, like crushed ice, and therefore spread all over the area in flames.

[0055] There is also the possibility of adding a colorant or a fluorescent pigment to the ice so that it is possible to follow the projectile's path. Thus, from time to time a projectile is provided that contains said colorant or fluorescent pigment, it is launched and it is possible to really see where it falls. This projectile is particularly useful when extinguishing fires at night.

[0056] The inventor has conducted studies to calculate the performance of this invention in relation to the customary use of water by fire-fighters, which is 228% at least, as will be shown below.

[0057] To further justify, if necessary, the benefit of this invention, the inventor has compared the putting out strength of water at 20 C. and of the method and projectile that are the object of this invention, at 5 C., as detailed below.

[0058] This comparison is based on the cooling power of the water and the ice when used in a fire produced typically forest in an oak wood, with a combustible forest mass of 3308 kg/m.sup.2, a higher average calorific value of 4572 kcal/kg and, as a result, an energy value in the forest density of 15,124 kcal/m.sup.2, and a fire propagation speed of 0.001672 m/s.

TABLE-US-00002 DATA ON FOREST MASS Type of forest: Oak Typical forest mass: 3,308 kg/m.sup.2 Average gross calorific value: 4572 kcal/kg Forest energy value: 15124 kcal/m.sup.2 Fire propagation speed: 0.001672 m/s PHYSICAL DATA OF THE WATER AND ICE ca: Specific water heat (current pressure) 4.18 kJ/kg .Math. K ch: Specific heat of the ice 2.11 kj/kg .Math. K dhf: Specific melting enthalpy 334 kj/kg m: Mass 1000 kg kcal/kJ conversion factor 4.187 HEAT ABSORBED BY THE WATER AT 20 C. Ti: Initial water temp. 20 C. 293 K Tf: Final temp. in vapour phase: 100 C. 373 K Water changing from 20 C. to 100 C. Q(ag-v) = m .Math. ca .Math. (Tf Ti) 79866 kcal Q(ag-v) = HEAT ABSORBED BY THE WATER: 79866 kcal FOREST MASS EXTINGUISHED BY 17.5 kg THE WATER FOREST SURFACE EXTINGUISHED BY 5.3 m.sup.2 THE WATER HEAT ABSORBED BY THE ICE AT 5 C. Ti: Initial temp. of ice: 5 C. 268 K Tc: Freezing temp. 0 C. 273 K Tf: Final temp. in vapour phase: 100 C. 373 K Ice changing from 5 C. to 0 C. Q(h) = m .Math. ca .Math. (Tc Ti) 2520 kcal Q(ag-v) = Ice thawing Q(f) = m .Math. dhf 79771 kcal Q(f) = Water changing from 0 C. to 100 C. Q(ag-v) = m .Math. ca .Math. (Tf Ti) 99833 kcal Q(ag-v) = HEAT ABSORBED BY THE ICE: 182123 kcal FOREST MASS EXTINGUISHED BY 39.8 kg THE ICE FOREST SURFACE EXTINGUISHED BY 12.0 m.sup.2 THE ICE

Summarising:

[0059] Performance of ice vis--vis water in putting out the fire: 228% [0060] Freezing temperature of the crushed ice solution: 10 C. [0061] Freezing temperature of the binding solution: 2 C. [0062] Number of projectiles launched per second: 16 proj/s [0063] Flow rate of ice launched in 1000 m.sup.2: 35 m.sup.3/h [0064] Measurement of the ice rain: 35 mm/h or 35 litres/m.sup.2 h, i.e. a very strong rain.

[0065] In other words, while 5.3 m.sup.2 would be put out with water, 12 m.sup.2 would be covered with the method and projectile of this invention, which means that with the same amount of water, an increased performance of 228% above that of water is achieved, in the same time and without risk for the fire-fighters taking part in the extinguishing tasks.

[0066] So, the consumption of absorbed heat to thaw 1000 kg of ice is 79771 kcal, and later the temperature rises from 0 to 100 C. where it evaporates and ceases action against the fire.

[0067] The projectile may be spherical, hollow cylindrical, cylindrical of fin shaped, etc.

[0068] This invention describes a new method for extinguishing fires and the projectile for extinguishing fires. The examples mentioned herein do not limit this invention, therefore it could have different applications and/or adaptations, all within the scope of the following claims.