Hot Aerosol-based Next-Generation Fire Suppression System: A Halon Alternative

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IJEP 42(12):  : Vol. 42 Issue. 12 (December 2022)

Full Text

Pyar Singh Jassal1*, Tribhuvan Kumar Pathak1,2, Vandana Sharma1, Raj Pal Singh2 and Rajni Johar3

1. University of Delhi, Department of Chemistry, Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Khalsa College, New Delhi – 110 007, India
2. Defence Research and Development Organization, Centre for Fire, Explosive and Environment Safety, Delhi, India
3. University of Delhi, Department of Chemistry, Maitreyi College, New Delhi – 110 021, India

Abstract

In 1987, the Montreal protocol determined halon as ozone-depleting agent and subsequently, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) banned its manufacture. Thus, against the urgent background of this elimination of halons, research and development efforts in pyrotechnically generated hot aerosol as a fire extinguisher resulted as one of the significant halons substitute technology. Unlike conventional fire suppression agents, like halon, water mist, foam and inert gas, pyrogenic aerosol-based suppression agents do not require pressurized gases to drive out the suppression agent and are more efficient than haloalkane extinguishing agents and can extinguish class A, B, C, D and K fires at fire extinguishing concentration (FEC) of 30-200 g/m3. Moreover, the ozone depletion potential (ODP) and global warming potential (GWP) values of aerosol extinguishing agents are nearly zero. This has provided thrust for research and development units to research aerosol-forming composites for many defence and civilian applications, especially for effective operation in hard to reach areas, such as in aircraft hangar and airfield, ammunition storage, vehicle engine compartment, ship engine room, aircraft engine, electronic equipment bay and wing pods, etc. Here, the application of condensed aerosol-based fire extinguishers and real fire test scenarios conducted by the defence and civilian laboratories of various countries has been reviewed. In addition, some of the limitations and concerns, like thermal hazard, occupational hazard, corrosivity and toxicity associated with these systems have been discussed. Nevertheless, enhancement for a highly efficient, much cleaner and non-corrosive aerosol-based fire extinguishing agent is still desired.

Keywords

Halon alternative, Fire safety, Aerosol, Pyrotechnic, Firefighting, Environment safety, Gas generator, Fire extinguisher

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