Microemulsion mists as fire suppression agents
AssigneeNanomist Systems, LLC
InventorKayyani C. Adiga
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fire suppressant, fire suppressant mist, and method of atomizing a water mist for suppressing a fire are provided by in-situ atomization of water droplets within a fire using water-in-oil microemulsions. The discrete phase of emulsion is a low boiling point oil or water immiscible fluid additive combined with water and a surfactant or cosurfactant. Each dropet provides a microemulsion. During the heating of the microemulsion droplet inside the flame, the water immiscible fluid vaporizes and causes fragmentation of the water droplet, producing extremely small droplets useful in fire suppression.
Claims19
A fire suppressant comprised of water, and a water immiscible fluid with a boiling point lower than the water mixed with the water to form an emulsion.
A mist for suppressing fires comprised of droplets having a non-combustible fluid, a water immiscible fluid with a boiling point lower than the non-combustible fluid embedded in the non-combustible fluid, and a surfactant or cosurfactant.
A method of atomizing water including the steps of:
- a. Combining water with a water immiscible fluid with a boiling point lower than the water and with a surfactant or cosurfactant to form an emulsified liquid;
- b. Generating a mist of microemulsion droplets from the emulsified liquid;
- c. Heating the microemulsion droplets to boil the water immiscible fluid and cause the water immiscible fluid to expand and fragment the microemulsion droplets into smaller droplets of water.
A method of suppressing a fire including the steps of:
- a. Providing a fire suppressant comprising an emulsion of water and a water immiscible fluid with a boiling point lower than the water;
- b. Generating a mist from the fire suppressant;
- c. Delivering the mist to a hot gas environment for suppression of a fire.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.