Fire safety is a critical concern in modern life, and the development of effective and efficient fire extinguishing systems is essential. Traditional automatic fire extinguishers rely heavily on complex structures, including smoke and temperature sensors, control circuits, and piping systems. While these systems can be effective, they are costly, prone to damage, and difficult to maintain. To address these issues, innovation in fire extinguisher design has led to the development of a simple yet reliable automatic dry powder fire extinguisher. This new system incorporates activated carbon as a key additive, enhancing overall functionality and performance.
The Challenge with Traditional Automatic Fire Extinguishers
Existing automatic fire extinguishers depend on the precise coordination of smoke and temperature sensors, control circuits, and fire pipelines. However, these systems have significant drawbacks:
• Complexity: The intricate design makes them prone to mechanical failures.
• High Cost: Installation and maintenance are expensive.
• Fragility: Sensors and circuits can be easily damaged in harsh environments.
These limitations highlight the need for a simpler, more reliable, and cost-effective solution.
A Simpler and More Reliable Automatic Fire Extinguisher
The newly designed automatic dry powder fire extinguisher eliminates the reliance on fragile electronic systems and instead uses a compact and efficient design. The extinguisher consists of:
A Cylindrical, Hollow Metal Shell: The metal shell has a spray nozzle at the top and a layered internal structure.
Layered Contents:
• Expansion Agent Layer: Located at the bottom, responsible for generating gas upon heat exposure.
• ABC Dry Powder Layer: Positioned above the expansion agent and separated by a latex film.
• Latex Film Separator: A thin membrane isolating the layers, ensuring controlled activation.
When exposed to fire, the expansion agent generates a large volume of gas, causing the latex film to rupture. This rupturing action propels the ABC dry powder through the nozzle, effectively extinguishing the fire.
The Role of Activated Carbon
Activated carbon is a crucial additive in the fire extinguisher’s formulation. The expansion agent layer is composed of a mixture of sodium bicarbonate, activated carbon powder, copper sulfate pentahydrate, and citric acid in a 1:7:6:7 mass ratio. Each component plays a unique role:
• Sodium Bicarbonate (NaHCO₃): At high temperatures, sodium bicarbonate decomposes to release CO₂ gas, which displaces oxygen and interrupts the combustion process.
• Copper Sulfate Pentahydrate (CuSO₄·5H₂O): This compound decomposes at around 150°C, releasing water vapor. The water triggers a reaction between citric acid and sodium bicarbonate, rapidly producing large volumes of CO₂ gas.
• Citric Acid (C₆H₈O₇): Reacts with sodium bicarbonate to enhance CO₂ release.
Activated Carbon: Improves gas release efficiency and prevents clumping, ensuring a smooth and effective extinguishing process.
The inclusion of activated carbon in the formulation is a breakthrough in fire extinguisher technology. Its ability to enhance the permeability of the powder mixture and improve the efficiency of CO₂ generation makes the system not only more effective but also more reliable. Additionally, activated carbon’s role in preventing clumping ensures the extinguisher’s functionality remains consistent over time, even in demanding environments.
Conclusion
The integration of activated carbon into the formulation of an automatic dry powder fire extinguisher represents a significant advancement in fire safety technology. By simplifying the system’s design and improving its efficiency, this innovative approach addresses the limitations of traditional extinguishers and provides a reliable, cost-effective solution. With its ability to enhance gas release efficiency, prevent blockages, and optimize reaction speed, activated carbon proves to be an indispensable additive in modern fire extinguishing systems.
If you’re interested in learning more about how activated carbon can enhance fire safety or want to explore our range of fire suppression solutions, contact Zhulin Carbon today. Together, we can create a safer future with smarter, more sustainable fire protection technology.