Electric Fields Enhancement of Water Mist Fire Suppresion Technologies

The application of electric charge to fire suppression water mist sprays and the subsequent application of an electric field to the compartment being protected can result in enhanced aerodynamic lifetimes of water mist droplets. This reduces the loss of mist by gravitational effect, thus increasing the mist concentration while lowering water supply demand. Further, by engineering the electric field the mist concentration beneath obstructions can be enhanced to improve the performance of mist systems for these critical regions of the compartment. Prototype hardware will be developed and tested in a moderate scale fire test enclosure. Mist concentration/particle size distributions will be measured throughout the compartment with and without the application of the electrical field. Heptane pool fires will be located at various positions in the test compartment to evaluate the value of the electrical charge in efficiently extinguishing fires throughout the compartment.