- Author
- Beyler, C. L. | DiNenno, P. J. | Budnick, E. K. | Back, G. G. | Younis, S. E.
- Title
- Review of Water Mist Technology for Fire Suppression.
- Coporate
- Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC
- Sponsor
- Office of Naval Research, Arlington, VA
- Report
- NRL/MR/6189-94-7624, September 30, 1994, 93 p.
- Keywords
- water mist | fire suppression | evaluation
- Identifiers
- total flooding agent
- Abstract
- The potential efficacy of water mist fire suppression systems has been demonstrated in a wide range of applications and by numerous experimental programs. These applications have included Class B spray and pool fires, aircraft cabins, shipboard machinery and engine room spaces, shipboard accommodation spaces, and computer and electronics applications. To summarize these experimental efforts, the efficacy of a particular water mist system is strongly dependent on the ability to not only generate sufficiently small droplet sizes but also distribute sufficient mist concentrations throughout the compartment. A widely accepted critical concentration of water droplets required to extinguish a fire is yet to be determined. Factors that contribute to the success or failure of a water mist system for a particular application include droplet size, velocity, the spray pattern geometry as well as the momentum and mixing characteristics of the spray jet, and the geometry and other characteristics of the protected area. At this time, the effect of these factors on system effectiveness is not well known. This will necessitate evaluation of water mist in context of a specific system for unique applications for the reasonable future unless breakthroughs in understanding of mist distribution and flame interaction occur through research.