US3715438A - Habitable combustion-suppressant atmosphere comprising air,a perfluoroalkane and optionally make-up oxygen - Google Patents

Habitable combustion-suppressant atmosphere comprising air,a perfluoroalkane and optionally make-up oxygen Download PDF

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Publication number
US3715438A
US3715438A US00057255A US3715438DA US3715438A US 3715438 A US3715438 A US 3715438A US 00057255 A US00057255 A US 00057255A US 3715438D A US3715438D A US 3715438DA US 3715438 A US3715438 A US 3715438A
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oxygen
air
habitable
atmosphere
combustion
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US00057255A
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C Huggett
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Susquehanna Corp
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Susquehanna Corp
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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A62—LIFE-SAVING; FIRE-FIGHTING
    • A62C—FIRE-FIGHTING
    • A62C99/00—Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
    • A62C99/0009—Methods of extinguishing or preventing the spread of fire by cooling down or suffocating the flames
    • A62C99/0018—Methods of extinguishing or preventing the spread of fire by cooling down or suffocating the flames using gases or vapours that do not support combustion, e.g. steam, carbon dioxide
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A62—LIFE-SAVING; FIRE-FIGHTING
    • A62D—CHEMICAL MEANS FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRES OR FOR COMBATING OR PROTECTING AGAINST HARMFUL CHEMICAL AGENTS; CHEMICAL MATERIALS FOR USE IN BREATHING APPARATUS
    • A62D1/00—Fire-extinguishing compositions; Use of chemical substances in extinguishing fires
    • A62D1/0028—Liquid extinguishing substances
    • A62D1/0057—Polyhaloalkanes

Definitions

  • the chloroand/or bromo-substituted fluoroalkanes such as bromochlorodifiuoromethane, bromotrifiuoromethane and dibromotetrafiuoroethane, are generally, in fact, considerably more effective as fire extinguishing agents than the perfiuoroalkane gases because, unlike the stable lower-pel fluoroalkanes, the former decompose at elevated temperatures and form products, such as chlorine and bromine atoms, which are highly effective in quenching combustion by such mechanisms as interrupting free radical reaction propagation.
  • perfluoroalkanes have fire extinguishing properties, they have generally been discarded as fire extinguishing materials, despite their non-toxicity and freedom from undesirable side effects, because of their substantially lesser effectiveness as compared with the chloroand/or bromofluoroalkanes.
  • a non-self-sustaining material is one which does not contain an oxidizer component capable of supporting combustion.
  • habitable atmosphere an atmosphere which supports mammalian life and permits the normal activities of such life for extended periods of time without disabling side effects or other forms of acute toxicity.
  • the object of this invention is to suppress the normal combustion-sustaining properties of air in an enclosed environment while maintaining its mammalian lifesustaining properties without substantial interference with the normal activities of such life.
  • Still another object is to provide a habitable atmosphere which comprises air so modified that it does not sustain the burning of ignitable non-self-sustaining combustible materials and, thereby, substantially eliminates fire hazards.
  • Another object is to provide a method for preventing and controlling fire in an enclosed compartment which can nevertheless sustain mammalian life.
  • the figure is a graph showing the relationship between fluorocarbon concentration added to air, the heat capacity of the modified air in cal./ C. per mole of total oxygen at 25 C. and constant pressure, and the mole percent of oxygen in the fluorocarbon-modified air.
  • the invention comprises a habitable atmosphere, which does not sustain combustion of combustible materials of the non-self-sustaining type and which is capable of sustaining mammalian life, consisting essentially of air; a perfiuoroalkane selected from the group consisting of carbon tetrafiuoride, hexafluoroethane, octafiuoropropane, and mixtures thereof; and make-up oxygen in an amount from 0 to the amount required to provide, together with the oxygen present in the air, sufiicient total oxygen to sustain mammalian life.
  • the perfiuoroalkane should be present in an amount suiiicicnt to impart to the atmosphere a heat capacity per mole of total oxygen which is sulficient to suppress combustion of the flammable matcrials present in an enclosed compartment containing said atmosphere.
  • the invention also comprises a method for preventing and controlling fire in a confined air-containing compartment while maintaining the compartment habitable by mammalian life, which comprises, introducing into the air carbon tetrafiuoride, hexafiuoroethane, octailuoropropane, or mixtures thereof, in an amount sufiicient to provide a heat capacity per mole of total oxygen which is sufiicient to suppress combustion of the flammable materials present in the compartment and additionally introducing oxygen, if and as required, to make up with the oxygen available in the air, sufiicient total oxygen to sustain mammalian life.
  • the perfluoroalkanes P C F and C F are extremely stable and chemically inert. They do not decompose at temperatures as high as 400 C. to produce corrosive or toxic products and cannot be ignited even in pure oxygen so that they continue to be effective as flame suppressants at the ignition temperatures of the combustible items present in the compartment. They are also physiologically inert. Although they may cause some discomfort due to the increased density and reduced thermal conductivity which they impart to the air, such discomfort is not such as substantially to impair normal activity and can be counteracted by physical means, such as air cooling, or by the addition of an inert low-molecular weight gas, such as helium.
  • the C to C prefiuoroalkanes are additionally advantageous because of their low boiling points, the highest being that of C F which has a boiling point at normal atmospheric pressure of 36.7 C.
  • these perfiuoroalkane gases will not liquity and will not, thereby, diminish the fire preventive properties of the modified air.
  • the perfluoroalkane gas should be added in an amount which will impart to the modified air a heat capacity per mole of total oxygen present, including any make-up oxygen required, sufiicient to suppress or prevent combustion of the flammable, non-self-sustaining materials present in the enclosed environment.
  • the minimum heat capacity required to suppress combustion varies with the combustibility of the particular flammable materials present in the confined space. It is well known that the combustibility of materials, namely their capability for igniting and maintaining sustained combustion under a given set of environmental conditions, varies according to chemical composition and certain physical properties, such as surface area relative to volume, heat capacity, porosity, and the like. Thus, thin, porous paper such as tissue, is considerably more combustible than a block of Wood.
  • a heat capacity of about cal./ C. and constant pressure per mole of oxygen is more than adequate to prevent or suppress the combustion of materials of relatively moderate combustibility, such as wood and plastics. More combustible materials, such as paper, cloth, and some volatile flammable liquids, generally require that the perfluoroalkane be added in an amount suflicient to impart a higher heat capacity. It is also desirable to provide an extra margin of safety by imparting a heat capacity in excess of minimum requirements for the particular flammable materials.
  • a minimum heat capacity of cal./ C. per mole of oxygen is generally adequate for moderately combustible materials and a minimum of about cal./ C. per mole of oxygen for highly flammable materials. More can be added if desired but, in general, amounts imparting a heat capacity higher than about cal./ C. per mole of total oxygen add substantially to the cost and may create unnecessary physical discomfort without substantial further increase in the fire safety factor.
  • Heat capacity per mole of total oxygen can be determined by the formula:
  • C 1 is particularly preferred because its boiling point is sufficiently low to make it usable under the most extreme temperature conditions. It has the additional advantages of substantial commercial availability and relatively low cost.
  • the concentration of oxygen available in the confined air space should be sufiicient to sustain mammalian life.
  • "lhe amount of make-up oxygen, if required, is determined by such factors as degree of air dilution by the perfluoroalkane gas and depletion of the available oxygen in the air by respiration.
  • the amount of oxygen required to sustain human, and therefore mammalian life in general, at atmospheric, subatmospheric, and superatmospheric pressures, is well known and the necessary data are readily available. See, for example, Paul Webb, Bioastronautics Data Book, NASA SP-3006, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1964, p. 5.
  • the mini mum oxygen partial pressure is considered to be about 1.8 p.s.i.a., with amounts above about 8.2 p.s.i.a. causing oxygen toxicity.
  • the unimpaired performance zone is in the range of about 16 to 36 volume percent 0
  • the amount of oxygen maintained is at or close to that which maintains optimum comfort, namely at least about 18% and preferably about 21% at normal atmospheric pressure with adjustments as required for different pressures, particularly if the confined space is maintained or subjected to reduced pressures.
  • the figure shows the heat capacity per mole of total oxygen imparted to air by different mole percentages of OR, C 1 and C 1 Without the addition of make-up oxygen. The resulting percentages of oxygen present in the fluorocarbon-modified air is also shown.
  • the air in the compartment can be treated at any time that it appears desirable.
  • the modified air can be used continuously if a threat of fire is constantly present or the particular environment is such that fire hazard must be kept at an absolute minimum, or it can be used as an emergency measure if a threat of fire develops.
  • Example I A closed chamber with a transparent plastic front and a volume of about 12 cubic feet was fitted with gas inlet and outlet connections and an oxygen meter. A small electric fan was placed in the bottom of the chamber to promote'gas mixing; Samples'of filter paper; cotton cloth and polyurethane foam, approximately one inch wide by six inches long, were suspended vertically from a metal rod in the center of the chamber. A small crucible containing IP-S hydrocarbon liquid and a filter paper wick was placed nearby. Ignition sources, consisting of small pieces of solid rocket propellant wrapped in short lengths of electric resistance wire and connected to an external power source, were placed at the base of the solid samples and on top of the wick in the JP-S.
  • Ignition sources consisting of small pieces of solid rocket propellant wrapped in short lengths of electric resistance wire and connected to an external power source, were placed at the base of the solid samples and on top of the wick in the JP-S.
  • the solid propellant pellets burned vigorously, charring the solid samples in close proximity and melting a portion of the polyurethane foam, but no sustained fires were obtained and the samples were undamaged at a short distance from the ignition source.
  • the rabbit showed no signs of alarm or discomfort from the fluorocarbon-containing atmosphere during the approximately 15 minutes required to perform the experiment.
  • the chamber was opened and thoroughly purged with air and fresh fuel samples and igniters were introduced.
  • the chamber was closed and the ignition sequence was repeated. This time sustained fires were obtained with each of the fuel samples.
  • the samples were completely consumed except for a small amount of carbonaceous ash.
  • the rabbit showed considerable alarm at the fire and smoke produced. The rabbit was observed for a period of thirty days following the experiment and showed no ill effects.
  • Example 11 Tests were made to determine the flammability limits of various flammable materials in fluoroalkanemodified air.
  • a 3.2 cu. ft. test chamber was employed.
  • the materials tested included 2" x 7" strips of cotton flannel, x 8" sheets of tissue paper, 1" x 7" strips of foamed plastic, and 1 cc. of kerosene in a small cup containing a saturated wick. Except for the kerosene, the samples were vertically suspended and ignition initiated from the bottom.
  • the ignition sources were pieces of solid composite propellant that burned about .5 seconds.
  • the test chamber contained an air atmosphere into which the fluoroalkane gas was introduced in varying amounts. No make-up oxygen was used.
  • a habitable atmosphere which does not sustain combustion of combustible materials of the non-self-sustaining type and which is capable of sustaining mammalian life, consisting essentially of:
  • a perfluoroalkane selected from the group consisting of carbon tetrafluoride, hexafluoroethane, octafluoropropane, and mixtures thereof in an amount sulficient to impart to said atmosphere a heat capacity per mole of total oxygen suflicient to suppress combustion of the combustible materials present in an- 7 enclosed compartment containing said atmosphere;
  • a process for preventing and controlling fire in an enclosed air-containing mammalian-habitable compartment which contains combustible materials of the nonself-sustaining type which comprises:
  • said atmosphere containing sufficient total oxygen to support mammalian life.
  • alkane is hexafluoroethane.
  • alkane is octafluoropropane.

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  • Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • Emergency Management (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Solid-Fuel Combustion (AREA)
  • Fireproofing Substances (AREA)
  • Fire-Extinguishing Compositions (AREA)
US00057255A 1970-07-22 1970-07-22 Habitable combustion-suppressant atmosphere comprising air,a perfluoroalkane and optionally make-up oxygen Expired - Lifetime US3715438A (en)

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Cited By (19)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4606832A (en) * 1982-11-10 1986-08-19 Daikin Kogyo Company, Limited Fire extinguishing composition
US4722766A (en) * 1984-09-11 1988-02-02 Graviner Limited Extinguishing of fires and explosions
US4807706A (en) * 1987-07-31 1989-02-28 Air Products And Chemicals, Inc. Breathable fire extinguishing gas mixtures
US5113947A (en) * 1990-03-02 1992-05-19 Great Lakes Chemical Corporation Fire extinguishing methods and compositions utilizing 2-chloro-1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane
US5117917A (en) * 1990-07-26 1992-06-02 Great Lakes Chemical Corp. Fire extinguishing methods utilizing perfluorocarbons
EP0592019A1 (en) * 1989-10-04 1994-04-13 E.I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company Fire extinguishing composition and process
WO1997010029A1 (en) * 1995-09-15 1997-03-20 Great Lakes Chemical Corporation Method for the suppression of hydrogen fires
US5679175A (en) * 1991-06-14 1997-10-21 Petroferm Inc. Cleaning process including use of solvating and rinsing agents
US6187729B1 (en) 1993-12-14 2001-02-13 Petroferm Inc. Cleaning composition comprising solvating agent and rinsing agent
WO2001078843A3 (en) * 2000-04-17 2002-06-27 Igor K Kotliar Hypoxic fire suppression systems and breathable fire extinguishing compositions
US20020185283A1 (en) * 2000-04-21 2002-12-12 Taylor Timothy Nathaniel Breathable fire control system
US20030105368A1 (en) * 2001-09-28 2003-06-05 Yuichi Iikubo Materials and methods for the production and purification of chlorofluorocarbons and hydrofluorocarbons
US20040217322A1 (en) * 2003-04-17 2004-11-04 Vimal Sharma Fire extinguishing mixtures, methods and systems
US20040226725A1 (en) * 2003-05-01 2004-11-18 Bennett Joseph Michael Method of inerting high oxygen concentrations
EP0570367B2 (en) † 1989-11-14 2004-12-29 E.I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company A method for preventing a fire
US20050038302A1 (en) * 2003-08-13 2005-02-17 Hedrick Vicki E. Systems and methods for producing fluorocarbons
EP1671681A1 (en) 2004-12-20 2006-06-21 Sant'Angelo, Joseph Germano Improved system for delivery of breathable fire extinguishing gas
EP1261398B2 (en) † 1999-07-20 2016-04-13 3M Innovative Properties Company Use of fluorinated ketones in fire extinguishing compositions
US10639508B2 (en) 2015-01-09 2020-05-05 Amrona Ag Method and system for preventing and/or extinguishing a fire

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2407003A1 (fr) * 1977-10-27 1979-05-25 Breting Olivier Moyen de prevention contre les atmospheres explosibles

Cited By (35)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4606832A (en) * 1982-11-10 1986-08-19 Daikin Kogyo Company, Limited Fire extinguishing composition
US4722766A (en) * 1984-09-11 1988-02-02 Graviner Limited Extinguishing of fires and explosions
US4807706A (en) * 1987-07-31 1989-02-28 Air Products And Chemicals, Inc. Breathable fire extinguishing gas mixtures
EP0592019A1 (en) * 1989-10-04 1994-04-13 E.I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company Fire extinguishing composition and process
EP0570367B2 (en) † 1989-11-14 2004-12-29 E.I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company A method for preventing a fire
US5113947A (en) * 1990-03-02 1992-05-19 Great Lakes Chemical Corporation Fire extinguishing methods and compositions utilizing 2-chloro-1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane
US5117917A (en) * 1990-07-26 1992-06-02 Great Lakes Chemical Corp. Fire extinguishing methods utilizing perfluorocarbons
US5679175A (en) * 1991-06-14 1997-10-21 Petroferm Inc. Cleaning process including use of solvating and rinsing agents
US5716457A (en) * 1991-06-14 1998-02-10 Petroferm Inc. Cleaning with solvating and rinsing agents
US6187729B1 (en) 1993-12-14 2001-02-13 Petroferm Inc. Cleaning composition comprising solvating agent and rinsing agent
US5615742A (en) * 1995-05-03 1997-04-01 Great Lakes Chemical Corporation Noncombustible hydrogen gas containing atmospheres and their production
WO1997010029A1 (en) * 1995-09-15 1997-03-20 Great Lakes Chemical Corporation Method for the suppression of hydrogen fires
EP1261398B2 (en) † 1999-07-20 2016-04-13 3M Innovative Properties Company Use of fluorinated ketones in fire extinguishing compositions
WO2001078843A3 (en) * 2000-04-17 2002-06-27 Igor K Kotliar Hypoxic fire suppression systems and breathable fire extinguishing compositions
US20020185283A1 (en) * 2000-04-21 2002-12-12 Taylor Timothy Nathaniel Breathable fire control system
US6672397B2 (en) * 2000-04-21 2004-01-06 Timothy Nathaniel Taylor Breathable fire control system
US20040102661A1 (en) * 2001-09-28 2004-05-27 Yuichi Iikubo Processes for purifying chlorofluorinated compounds and processes for purifying CF3CFHCF3
US7151197B2 (en) 2001-09-28 2006-12-19 Great Lakes Chemical Corporation Processes for purifying chlorofluorinated compounds and processes for purifying CF3CFHCF3
US20030105368A1 (en) * 2001-09-28 2003-06-05 Yuichi Iikubo Materials and methods for the production and purification of chlorofluorocarbons and hydrofluorocarbons
US20040102662A1 (en) * 2001-09-28 2004-05-27 Yuichi Iikubo Processes for purifying chlorofluorinated compounds
US7348461B2 (en) 2001-09-28 2008-03-25 Great Lakes Chemical Corporation Processes for halogenating compounds
US7335805B2 (en) 2001-09-28 2008-02-26 Great Lakes Chemical Corporation Processes for purifying reaction products and processes for separating chlorofluorinated compounds
US7332635B2 (en) 2001-09-28 2008-02-19 Great Lakes Chemical Corporation Processes for purifying chlorofluorinated compounds
US7329786B2 (en) 2001-09-28 2008-02-12 Great Lakes Chemical Corporation Processes for producing CF3CFHCF3
US7216722B2 (en) 2003-04-17 2007-05-15 Great Lakes Chemical Corporation Fire extinguishing mixtures, methods and systems
US20040217322A1 (en) * 2003-04-17 2004-11-04 Vimal Sharma Fire extinguishing mixtures, methods and systems
US7223351B2 (en) 2003-04-17 2007-05-29 Great Lakes Chemical Corporation Fire extinguishing mixtures, methods and systems
US20060108559A1 (en) * 2003-04-17 2006-05-25 Vimal Sharma Fire extinguishing mixtures, methods and systems
US7537007B2 (en) 2003-05-01 2009-05-26 Joseph Michael Bennett Method of inerting high oxygen concentrations
US20040226725A1 (en) * 2003-05-01 2004-11-18 Bennett Joseph Michael Method of inerting high oxygen concentrations
US20050148804A1 (en) * 2003-08-13 2005-07-07 Hedrick Vicki E. Systems and methods for producing fluorocarbons
US20050038302A1 (en) * 2003-08-13 2005-02-17 Hedrick Vicki E. Systems and methods for producing fluorocarbons
US7368089B2 (en) 2003-08-13 2008-05-06 Great Lakes Chemical Corporation Systems and methods for producing fluorocarbons
EP1671681A1 (en) 2004-12-20 2006-06-21 Sant'Angelo, Joseph Germano Improved system for delivery of breathable fire extinguishing gas
US10639508B2 (en) 2015-01-09 2020-05-05 Amrona Ag Method and system for preventing and/or extinguishing a fire

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CA930535A (en) 1973-07-24
GB1335582A (en) 1973-10-31
FR2103250A5 (oth) 1972-04-07

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