Conductive device can fight fires

A prototype aerosol launcher suppresses flames using electricity to help fight fires.

Researchers at the Ohio State University, USA, have created an alternative to traditional firefighting techniques.

The aerosols – small particles that direct electricity – are carried by vortex rings that release short pulses of wind. This transforms nearby oxygen into ozone, stopping one aspect of the fire triangle.

The device resembles a small bucket with an arm brace and is effective from 2m. It is likely that several of these devices are needed in a real-life situation.

Seven mixtures were tested across two trials, with the most conductive one, a course copper solution, used as the cortex ring material. Since vortex rings also retain their shape as they dissipate, they can carry the chemical payloads over longer distance, a further advantage over traditional methods.

The authors say the research has implications for industrial automation and aerospace technologies, possibly protecting military vehicles.

The research is published in a paper that is Open Access in the MDPI journal.