Comprehensive coverage

Extinguishing fires without water - and with a little electricity

The researchers connected a powerful electric amplifier to a probe in the shape of a long staff, and with the help of the device shot 'electrical beams' in the direction of a flame more than thirty centimeters high. The flame went out almost instantly. The experiment was repeated again and again with success

Firefighters put out a fire in Canada. From Wikipedia
Firefighters put out a fire in Canada. From Wikipedia

Scientists have made a discovery that may form the basis of a new breed of devices for extinguishing fires without water or any substance, but using electric currents. This way may protect devices and objects that are sensitive to water, such as paperwork and computers.

The report came from the 241st National Meeting of the American Chemical Society. The researchers made use of the fact that has been known for two centuries, that electricity can affect the shape of flames, cause them to distort, twist, flicker and even go out.

The researchers connected a powerful electric amplifier to a probe in the shape of a long staff, and with the help of the device shot 'electrical beams' in the direction of a flame more than thirty centimeters high. The flame went out almost instantly. The experiment was repeated again and again with success.

The device itself is based on a 600 watt amplifier, or roughly the same power that a particularly powerful car stereo system requires. The researchers believe that a power source with a tenth of the power could also be used to achieve similar flame extinguishing results. This tool may be particularly suitable for fire departments, as they will not have to be connected to a water supply constantly.

The mechanism of action of the device is still not understood, and the suspicion is that it involves several complex effects occurring simultaneously. One of the factors is probably the electrical effect on the carbon particles, or soot, that are produced in the flame and can easily react to the electrical charge and affect the stability of the flame.

The system will probably not be suitable for extinguishing large forest fires, but it may be particularly suitable for extinguishing fires in closed buildings, such as armored trucks, airplanes and submarines. For evidence, the research project was funded by DARPA and the United States Department of Energy.

13 תגובות

  1. If there are people in the burning area, then they will be electrocuted to death??

  2. By the way, I think you are arrogant and despicable, your way of speaking towards a person who risked her life and as a result paid with her life
    If the beloved lady had saved a life, then you would have written differently that she deserves a talisman (even though she already received it at her death)
    Thanks to the people who sacrifice their lives (and not everything requires deep thought except for your words)
    At the risk of their lives you have the ability to write your nonsense
    I think a big apology is due here especially to her family
    Think before you write

  3. Today firefighters have many limitations in their sky scrapers, the solution can help develop "additional tools" that they can use in very high places. And maybe in the future automatic systems will be developed to be installed in every building.

  4. If the late beloved idiot wouldn't bypass barriers and ignore the firefighters running back from the area and think she's in some Hollywood action movie where everyone gets out with a miracle
    So the miraculous bus would not have caught fire...

    In any case, a fire at such a level burns very fast and very hot... the moment the fire caught them there was no chance... that we won't talk about those who fled to Wadi

  5. The enlarged image is worthless for the purpose of the article.
    It would be nice to see a picture of the experiment in question.

  6. Prof. Eran Sher from Ben-Gurion University discovered the eye 15 years ago and engaged in several experiments on the subject,
    The realization of the technology is a bit problematic

  7. BSD

    "Electric rays"? What did the poet mean? I know rays of light but not rays of electricity...

  8. It is interesting if a system operating on this principle would have succeeded in preventing a certain area from lighting up. For example - a bus with passengers on it
    Good night
    Sabdarmish Yehuda

Leave a Reply

Email will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismat to prevent spam messages. Click here to learn how your response data is processed.