Firefighter Mask

描述(申请人提供)：据估计，每年有8万名消防员与野火搏斗，长期呆在火灾前线，暴露在高水平的烟雾和高温下。天气或火灾条件的突然变化增加了被野火困住或被推进的火线烧毁的可能性。野火烟雾含有有毒成分，包括颗粒物、高浓度挥发性有机化合物、酸性气体和一氧化碳。然而，死亡或受伤的最大原因是呼吸过热的空气对呼吸道或肺造成的热损伤；这种风险实际上比外部烧伤更大。消防专家强调，在野火附近工作时，保护最重要的方面是保护呼吸道。目前，还没有合适的设备来保护消防员免受这些危险的影响。TDA Research，Inc.计划开发一种便携式设备，当消防员被困在消防站内时，该设备将保护消防员免受过热空气和一氧化碳(CO)的伤害。在第一期项目中，TDA展示了我们可以将过热空气的温度从3500F降低到1000F，并保持冷却30分钟以上，我们还可以用我们的设备将CO浓度从3600ppm降低到35ppm以下。在第二阶段，我们将优化设计，将尺寸、重量和成本降至最低，同时提高设备的性能。这将使用数值传热建模和实验工作相结合的方法来完成。在第二阶段项目结束时，TDA将有该设备的原型设计。 与公共健康相关：在这项研究中，将开发一种便携式设备，以保护荒野消防员在燃烧期间在消防站避难时免受过热空气和一氧化碳的伤害。这项研究与公共健康相关，因为它将在野地消防员扑灭威胁公共资源和居民区的火灾时保护他们。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Each year an estimated 80,000 fire fighters battle wildfires, spending long durations at the fire front where they are exposed to high levels of smoke and heat. Sudden changes in weather or fire conditions increase the chances of being entrapped by a wildfire or caught in the burnover of an advancing fire front. Wildfire smoke contains toxic components, including particulates, high levels of volatile organic compounds, acid gases, and carbon monoxide. However, the single largest cause of death or injury is heat-damage to the airways or lungs, caused by breathing superheated air; this risk is actually greater than that from external burns. Fire experts stress that the MOST important aspect of protection when working near a wildfire is to protect the respiratory tract. Currently, there is no suitable device available to protect fire fighters from exposure to these dangers. TDA Research, Inc. proposes to develop a portable device that will protect firefighters from superheated air and carbon monoxide (CO) when trapped inside a fire shelter. In the Phase I project, TDA demonstrated that we could reduce the temperature of superheated air from 3500F to 1000F, and maintain that the cooling for more than 30 min, and that we could also reduce the concentration of CO from 3600 ppm to less than 35 ppm with our device. In Phase II, we will optimize the design to minimize size, weight and cost, while improving the performance of the device. This will be done using a combination of numerical heat transfer modeling and experimental work. At the end of the Phase II project, TDA will have a prototype design for this device. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: In this study, a portable device will be developed to protect wildland firefighters against superheated air and carbon monoxide when taking refuge in a fire shelter during a burnover. This research is relevant to public health because it will protect wildland firefighters when they are fighting fires that threaten public resources and residential areas.