Method of evaluating the inerting concentration of an aerosol fire suppression agent

A method for evaluating inerting concentration of a fire suppression agent, wherein the method comprises:

• flowing air vertically upward relative to gravity into a chimney tube at a velocity that exceeds a settling velocity of the fire suppression agent;
• flowing fuel into the flowing air in the chimney tube via a burner in the chimney tube;
• introducing a targeted concentration of the fire suppression agent into the flowing air and into the flowing fuel;
• activating an ignitor to provide ignition energy to the flowing air and the flowing fuel;
• deactivating the ignitor;
• determining the targeted concentration of the fire suppression agent is below the inerting concentration of the fire suppression agent if combustion of the flowing fuel persists beyond three seconds after the ignitor is deactivated;
• and
• determining the targeted concentration of the fire suppression agent is above the inerting concentration of the fire suppression agent if the combustion of the flowing fuel does not persist beyond three seconds after the ignitor is deactivated.

A method for evaluating inerting concentration of a fire suppression agent, wherein the method comprises:

• flowing air vertically upward relative to gravity into a chimney tube;
• flowing fuel into the flowing air in the chimney tube;
• introducing a targeted concentration of the fire suppression agent into the flowing air and into the flowing fuel in the chimney tube;
• measuring the targeted concentration of the fire suppression agent in the flowing air in the chimney tube by measuring, by a light sensor, a light transmission passing through the fire suppression agent and the chimney tube from a light source and correlating the light transmission with a certain concentration level of the fire suppression agent;
• activating an ignitor in the chimney tube to provide ignition energy to the flowing air and the flowing fuel;
• deactivating the ignitor;
• determining the targeted concentration of the fire suppression agent is below the inerting concentration of the fire suppression agent if combustion of the flowing fuel occurs and persists beyond three seconds after the ignitor is deactivated;
• and
• determining the targeted concentration of the fire suppression agent is at or above the inerting concentration of the fire suppression agent if combustion of the flowing fuel does not persist beyond three seconds after the ignitor is deactivated.