FIRE-EXTINGUISHING AGENT COMPOSITION

Abstract: Disclosed is a fire-extinguishing agent composition which is used for extinguishing various kinds of fires. The fire-extinguishing agent composition can firstly extinguish the fire by generating foam which isolates the fire from an oxygen of an air, and can secondarily extinguish the fire by an incombustible liquified gas, which is contained in foam and comes out therefrom when foam bursts, thereby improving the fire-extinguishing effect. The fire-extinguishing agent composition of the present invention is made by filling an aqueous foaming agent, which is dissolved in water in the ratio of 6 to 20 volume percent, into a pressure vessel together with the incombustible liquified gas having pressure of 30 kg/cm<2>.

Description: FIRE-EXTINGUISHING AGENT COMPOSITION Background of the Invention 1. Field of the Invention 5 The present invention relates to a fire-extinguishing agent composition which is used for extinguishing various kinds of fires, and more particularly to a fire-extinguishing agent composition which can firstly extinguish the fire by generating foam ■ 0 which isolates the fire from an oxygen of an air, and can secondarily extinguish the fire by an incombustible liquified gas, which is contained in foam and is come out therefrom when the foams bursts, thereby improving the fire extinguishing effect. The fire-extinguishing agent 15 composition of the present invention is made by filling a predetermined amount of an aqueous foaming fire-extinguishing agent, which is dissolved in water in a predetermined volume percent, into a pressure vessel together with the incombustible liquified gas in a predetermined weight ratio in such a manner that the incombustible liquified gas can be contained in foam. As is well known, the aqueous foam fire-extinguishing agent isolates the fire from the oxygen of the air by using foam, thereby extinguishing various fires. 2. Prior Arts Generally, a fire-extinguishing agent is classified into a foam fire-extinguishing agent, a powder fire-extinguishing agent such as an ammonium dihydrogen phosphate, and a halogenated alkane-based volatile liquid fire-extinguishing agent. The foam fire-extinguishing agent, which extinguishes the fire by using foam isolating the fire from the oxygen of the air or by using a cooling effect of water, is divided into a chemical foam fire-extinguishing agent and a mechanical foam fire-extinguishing agent. In the chemical foam fire-extinguishing agent, foam is generated from fire-extinguishing agent by a vapor produced by a chemical reaction. However, though the chemical foam fire-extinguishing agent can effectively extinguish the fire, the agent contained in the chemical foam fire-extinguishing agent is frozen at the temperature about five degrees below zero, so the chemical foam fire-extinguishing agent is not proper to use in the winter season. In addition, in the mechanical foam fire-extinguishing agent, a stock solution of the foam fire-extinguishing agent is dissolved in a large amount of water, and is mixed with the air by a foaming device, thereby generating foam. Accordingly, in order to use the mechanical foam fire-extinguishing agent, not only is required a foam generator including a mixing device and a pressure device, but also a large amount of water is required, so the mechanical foam fire-extinguishing agent is not proper to widely use under the limited conditions. In addition, the powder fire-extinguishing agent(such as an ammonium dihydrogen phosphate, a sodium bicarbonate, and a calcium bicarbonate) produces an ammonia, a carbonic gas, and water while it is being decomposed by a heat. The ammonia and the carbonic gas dilute the density of the oxygen in the air or restraint the supply of the oxygen, and water exerts an cooling effect on the fire, thereby extinguishing the fire. At this time, an anhydride of the powder fire-extinguishing agent is generally melted on the surfaces of combustibles, thereby forming a film thereto. The film further restraints the air from contacting with the fire so that the fire-extinguishing effect is improved. Accordingly, the powder fire-extinguishing agent having the ammonium dihydrogen phosphate as a main component is widely used in the various kinds of fires. However, since the powder agent has an absorptive property, the agent of the powder fire-extinguishing agent can be solidified or deteriorated when it is preserved for a long time. Further, the powder fire-extinguishing agent has a large volume, so a volume of a fire-extinguisher is become larger. Furthermore, the combustibles uncleanly remain when the fire has been extinguished. Accordingly, it is not proper to use the powder fire-extinguishing agent when an expensive equipment or goods are burning. In addition, a fire-extinguishing agent including a halogenated alkane, such as a halon 1301 (CF3, Br) and halon 1211 (CF 2 ,ClBr) or compounds thereof, is decomposed by a flame so that it prevents a continuous combustion reaction of materials, and thereby effectively and cleanly extinguishing the fire. However, when it is applied to a well- ventilated place or an open place, the fire-extinguishing agent should has a sufficient density so as to extinguish the fire. For this reason, a large amount of the fire-extinguishing agent, which is more expensive than the powder fire-extinguishing agent, is required to extinguish the fire so that the cost is increased. In addition, since it has a high volatility, the halogenated alkane-based volatile liquid fire-extinguishing agent is ineffective than the powder fire-extinguishing agent when a conflagration occurs. Further, since the halon is stable, the halogenated alkane-based volatile liquid fire-extinguishing agent is slowly decomposed in the air, so it does not rapidly extinguish the fire. Furthermore, since the halogenated alkane-based volatile liquid fire-extinguishing agent destroys an ozone layer in the stratosphere, the halogenated alkane-based volatile liquid fire-extinguishing agent may impose the green house effect on the earth. Summary of the Invention The present invention has been made to overcome the above described problems of the prior arts, and accordingly it is an object of the present invention to provide a fire-extinguishing agent which can rapidly extinguish the fire in its early stage. To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a fire-extinguishing agent composition produced by the method comprising the steps of: dissolving 6 to 20 volume percent of an aqueous foaming agent in a water; injecting the dissolved aqueous foaming agent into a pressure vessel; and filling an incombustible liquified gas into the pressure vessel by applying a pressure, wherein the fire-extinguishing agent composition discharged from the pressure vessel has foam containing the incombustible liquified gas therein. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, fire-extinguishing foam, which is generated by the incombustible liquified gas filled in the pressure vessel, is constantly produced until the incombustible liquified gas has been completely evaporated. In addition, the fire-extinguishing agent of the present invention should not be frozen by an evaporation heat of the incombustible liquified gas, so the weight or volume ratio of the aqueous foam fire-extinguishing agent to the incombustible liquified gas is very important. The applicant of the present invention has made various tests, thereby obtaining the improved fire-extinguishing agent composition. Description of the Preferred Embodiments Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail. A fire-extinguishing agent composition according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is produced by the method comprising the steps of dissolving 6 to 20 volume percent of an aqueous foaming agent in a water, injecting the dissolved aqueous foaming agent into a pressure vessel, and filling an incombustible liquified gas into the pressure vessel by applying a pressure of 30 kg/cm 2 . Light-Water 3%, which is manufactured by 3M company of U.S.A., is preferably used as an aqueous foaming agent of the present invention. Light-Water (commonly called AFFF 3%) consists of 60 weight percent of water, 30 weight percent of 2-2-butoxy ethoxy ethanol, below 5 weight percent of fluoroalkyne surfactant, below 6 weight percent of synthetic detergent, and below 0.1 weight percent of methyl benzotriazol. Light-Water is an aqueous foaming agent, and is generally used for extinguishing the fire caused by petroleum products. As is well known, Light-Water is diluted with water in the density of 3% or 6% when it is used, and produces foam by means of a pressure pump or a water supply pump. In the present invention, the aqueous foaming agent (AFFF 3%) mixed with water is injected into the pressure vessel and a incombustible liquified gas (Halon 1301) is filled in the pressure vessel as a foam generator. In addition, in order to measure the volume and condition of foam discharged from the pressure vessel, both the pressure vessel, which has a capacity of 3. 55 1 and is endurable at the pressure of 150 kg/cm and a measuring instrument which can measure 751 of foam are used. In this state, the applicant has measured not only the mixing ratio of the aqueous foaming agent to water, but also the volume and discharging time of foam, thereby obtaining numerical value which satisfies the optimum condition. The results attained by the various tests are illustrated in below graphs 1 to 3. anuHinl nf Irani uflvnl dissolv d in wuUTitl (graph 1) - foam producing test according to a mixing ratio of an aqueous foaming agent to water (Halon 1301) (graph 2) - foam producing test according to a variation of an amount of an aqueous foaming agent dissolved in water (Halon 1301) (graph 3) - foam producing test according to an amount of Halon 1301 As shown in the above graphs, when the ratio of the aqueous foaming agent to water in a volume is below 6%, a small amount of foam is produced, and foam discharged out from the pressure vessel can be frozen caused by the evaporation of the incombustible liquified gas. In addition, when the ratio of the aqueous foaming agent to water in a volume is above 20%, the amount of foam does not increase. Accordingly, it is preferred to set the volume ratio of the aqueous foaming agent to water in the range of 6 to 20%. As shown in graph 1, it is more preferred to set the volume ratio of the aqueous foaming agent to water to 11. 5%. On the other hand, in the fire-extinguishing agent composition of the present invention, the ratio of the incombustible liquified gas to the aqueous foaming agent is preferably in the range of 2.5 : 1 to 1.1 : 1 in a weight percent. It is also preferred that the pressure vessel has pressure of 30 kg/cm . If the pressure vessel has low pressure, foam may remain in the pressure vessel. On the contrary, if the pressure vessel has pressure above 30 kg/cm2, the pressure vessel discharges gas alone at the last stage. On the other hand, according to the applicant's test, the amount of foam is 751 and discharging time is 56 seconds under the following condition (temperature; 12 degree C, a capacity of the pressure vessel; 2.751, the amount of aqueous foaming agent solution; 1.751, the amount of the ; 1.31, pressure in the pressure vessel; 30 kg/cm 2) . The discharging time is being shortened as pressure is being increased. In addition, though Halon is generally used as a incombustible liquified gas of the present invention, it is also possible to use a substitute material as the incombustible liquified gas instead of Halon. For example, at least one selected from the group consisting of 1, 1, 1, 2, 3, 3, 3-heptafluoropropane (commonly called FM-200), chlorodifluoromethane (commonly called HCFC-22), 2,2-dichloro-l, 1, 1-trifluoroethane (commonly called H C FC-123), and 2-chloro-l, 1, 1,2-tetrafluoroethane ( commonly called HCFC-124), or a mixture thereof mixing with isopropenyl-1-methylcyclohexene can be used as a incombustible liquified gas of the present invention. The applicant of the present invention has made tests using FM-200 as a incombustible liquified gas. The results attained by the tests are illustrate d in below graphs 4 to 6. ( graph 4) - foam producing test according to a mixing ratio of an aqueous foaming agent to water ( graph 5) - foam producing test according to an amount of FM-200 (graph 6) - foam producing test according to a variation of an amount of an aqueous foaming agent dissolved in water (FM-200) As is understood from the above graphs, since FM-200 has a higher latent evaporation heat than Halon 1301 and has low steam pressure, FM-200 does not sufficiently evaporate, so it cannot effectively expand foam. However, when the mixing ratio of the aqueous foam agent to water is 25 volume percent and the amount of FM-200 is 0.5 kg, 601 of foam is discharged. Though the amount of discharged foam is less than that of Halon which discharges 751 of foam, FM-200 is preferable to use as an incombustible liquified gas because it does not contaminate the natural environment. In addition, according to the present invention, when an incombustible liquified gas having a low evaporation heat is used as the substitute material, it is possible to mix carbon dioxide having a high evaporation heat with the incombustible liquified gas. Carbon dioxide can be added to the incombustible liquified gas up to 50 percent with respect to the total amount of the incombustible liquified gas. In this case, an 10 weight percent of ethylene glycol is preferably added to the aqueous foaming agent. Ethylene glycol is a sort of an anti-freezing solution, so it may prevent foam from freezing while foam is being discharged from the pressure vessel. As described above, the fire-extinguishing agent composition of the present invention can generate foam, which produces a film on the combustible material so that the fire is isolated from the oxygen of the air, thereby extinguishing the fire. At the same time, the fire-extinguishing agent composition of the present invention can dilute the density of the oxygen in the air by the incombustible liquified gas, which is contained in foam and is come out therefrom when foam bursts, thereby improving the fire-extinguishing effect. While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be effected therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims: What is claimed is: 1. A fire-extinguishing agent composition produced by the method comprising the steps of: dissolving 6 to 20 volume percent of an aqueous foaming agent in a water; injecting the dissolved aqueous foaming agent into a pressure vessel; and filling an incombustible liquified gas into the pressure vessel by applying a pressure, wherein, the fire-extinguishing agent composition discharged from the pressure vessel has foam containing the incombustible liquified gas therein. 2 . The fire-extinguishing agent composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein a ratio of the incombustible liquified gas to the aqueous foam agent is in a range of 2.5 : 1 to 1.1 : 1 in a weight percent. 3. The fire-extinguishing agent composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the incombustible liquified gas includes a halon 1301 (CFaBr) and a halon 1211(CF 2 ClBr) . 4. The fire-extinguishing agent composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the incombustible liquified gas is at least one selected from the group consisting of 1, 1, 1,2, 3, 3, 3-heptafluoropropane(commonly called FM-200) , chlorodifluoromethane (commonly called HCFC-22) , 2,2-dichloro-l, 1, 1-trifluoroethane (commonly called HCFC-123) , 2-chloro-l, 1, 1, 2-tetrafluoroethane (commonly called HCFC-124), and a mixture thereof mixing with isopropenyl-1-methylcyclohexene. 5. The fire-extinguishing agent composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein an 10 weight percent of ethylene glycol (HOCH 2 CH 2 OH) is added to the aqueous foaming agent, and carbon dioxide is added to the incombustible liquified gas in a range of 50 percent with respect to an total amount of the incombustible liquified gas.

Inventors: IM SUNG MUK, JOUNG KI CHUNG, KANG YOUNG KU, KIM HONG, LEE CHANG SUB, IM, SUNG, MUK, JOUNG, KI, CHUNG, KANG, YOUNG, KU, KIM, HONG, LEE, CHANG, SUB
Applicants: IM SUNG MUK, JOUNG KI CHUNG, KANG YOUNG KU, KIM HONG, LEE CHANG SUB, SUNG RAK JOONG, IM, SUNG, MUK, JOUNG, KI, CHUNG, KANG, YOUNG, KU, KIM, HONG, LEE, CHANG, SUB, SUNG, RAK, JOONG
Application year: 1997
Main classification: A62D1
IPC codes: A62C13, A62D1