Hot Aerosol Fire Extinguishing Agents and the Associated Technologies: A Review

Abstract

-Since the phase out of Halon extinguishers in the 1980s, hot aerosol fire suppression technology has gained much attention. Unlike traditional inert gas, foam, water mist and Halon fire suppression agents, hot aerosol fire extinguishing agents do not need to be driven out by pressurized gases and can extinguish class A, B, C, D and K fires at 30 to 200 g/m 3 . Generally, hot aerosol fire extinguishing technology has developed from a generation I oil tank suppression system to a generation III strontium salt based S-type system. S-type hot aerosol fire extinguishing technology greatly solves the corrosion problem of electrical devices and electronics compared to potassium salt based generation I & II hot aerosol fire extinguishing technology. As substitutes for Halon agents, the ODP and GWP values of hot fire extinguishing aerosols are nearly zero, but those fine aerosol particles can cause adverse health effects once inhaled by human. As for configurations of hot aerosol fire extinguishing devices, fixed or portable cylindrical canisters are the most common among generation II & III hot aerosol fire extinguishers across the world, while generation I hot aerosol fire suppression systems are integrated with the oil tank as a whole. Some countries like the U.S., Australia, Russia and China, etc. have already developed standards for manufacturing and quality control of hot aerosol fire extinguishing agents and norms for hot aerosol fire extinguishing system design under different fire protection scenarios. Coolants in hot aerosol fire suppression systems, which are responsible for reducing hot aerosol temperature to avoid secondary fire risk are reviewed for the first time. Cooling effects are generally achieved through vaporization and endothermic chemical decomposition of coolants. Finally, this review discussed areas applying generation I, II or III hot aerosol fire suppression technologies. The generation III hot aerosol fire extinguishing system is most applicable, especially in areas involving delicate electrical and electronic equipments. Nonetheless, developing a much cleaner, non-corrosive and highly efficient hot aerosol fire suppression system is still needed.

Evaluation of small scale n‐heptane fire extinguishing efficacy by natural antioxidants based pyrotechnic compositions: An experimental study

“…Since Vienna convention (1985) and Montreal protocol (1987) on the protection of the ozone layer and elimination of substances depleting the ozone layer, countries around the world are committed to the research of new fire extinguishing technology to replace halon fire extinguishing agent 1,2 . Against the urgent background of the elimination of halon, hot aerosol fire extinguishing technology has become one of the halon substitute technologies, which was introduced and developed since the 1960s, based on pyrotechnics 3 . Compared with the halon, which has high ozone depletion potential hot aerosol fire extinguishing agents have nearly zero ozone depletion potential and global warming potential values 4,5 .…”

“…Hot aerosol fire extinguishing agents are made up of submicron aerosol particles produced during combustion of a pyrotechnic composition (PC), which is solid material containing oxidizers, reducers, binders and additives. This hot aerosol fire extinguishing technology does not require storage in a pressurized vessel, can be installed easily without piping and occupies a very small space, which are the major advantages over gas, dry chemical powder and water‐based extinguishing systems, which have been widely used as alternatives for halon fire extinguishing agents 3 …”

A novel hot aerosol extinguishing agent with high efficiency for Class B fires

“…Hot aerosol extinguishing technology based on pyrotechnics has been invented for more than 50 years . Compared with the Halon, which would lead to ozone depletion, hot aerosol extinguishing agents (HAEAs) do not contribute to global warming and ozone depletion.…”

Effectiveness of Hot Aerosol Extinguishing Agent in Suppressing Oil Fires at Different Locations

“…[1][2][3][4][5] Therefore, research and development of such new fire suppression technology have been given much attention, especially in developed countries. 1,3 In order to be effective in extinguishing fire and preventing re-ignition after extinguishment, an effective way to release hot aerosol fire extinguishing agents is very important.…”

“…[1][2][3][4][5] Therefore, research and development of such new fire suppression technology have been given much attention, especially in developed countries. 1,3 In order to be effective in extinguishing fire and preventing re-ignition after extinguishment, an effective way to release hot aerosol fire extinguishing agents is very important. 3,6 While suppressing fire at different locations, there are significant differences in the extinguishing efficiency of hot aerosol fire extinguishing agents due to the distinct difference in flame intensity, flame height, smoke movement, and the diffusion of the extinguishing agent in the flame zone.…”