Novel Nitrogen Enriched Air for Fire Suppression

描述（由申请人提供）：目前的灭火系统使用水、化学试剂、气体试剂（例如“哈龙”、二氧化碳和七氟丙烷）或其组合。几乎所有这些都是臭氧消耗，有毒和环境不友好。 这一建议采用了一种完全不同的方法。特别是使用高气体通量膜来供应低氧可呼吸空气，以预防和抑制火灾。除了低成本之外，高气体流量膜还提供了与消防车上所需的便携性相关的紧凑性。14-16%氧气的目标低氧环境消除了易燃材料的点燃和燃烧，同时仍然对人类呼吸完全安全。高气体流量膜将空气（21%氧气）转化为低氧空气（12-14%氧气）。通过用12-14%的氧气淹没建筑物，可以消除对不可呼吸空气供应的担忧。第一阶段将展示快速和成本有效地供应这12-14%氧气的能力，以及快速将室内空气减少到14-16%氧气的能力。测试将包括首先启动受控火灾，然后展示系统抑制火灾的能力，同时保持氧气水平在14- 16%。在此过程中，我们将监测CO和其他有毒气体的形成。平行动物研究将验证环境的呼吸能力。 我们与主要的工业膜公司有着良好的合作关系。这些关系增强了我们成功商业化这些系统的能力，如果这个SBIR被证明是成功的。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Current fire suppression systems employ either water, chemical agents, gaseous agents (such as "Halon", carbon dioxide, and heptafluoropropane) or a combination thereof. Virtually all of them are ozone depleting, toxic and environmentally unfriendly. This proposal employs a radically different approach. Specifically the use of high gas flux membranes to supply hypoxic breathable air for the prevention and suppression of fire. The high gas flow membranes provide compactness associated with desired portability on fire trucks in addition to low cost. The targeted hypoxic environment of 14-16% oxygen eliminates ignition and combustion of flammable materials while still being completely safe for human breathing. The high gas flow membranes convert air (21% oxygen) to hypoxic air (12-14% oxygen). By flooding the building with 12-14% oxygen one eliminates the concern for pockets of unbreathable air supply. Phase I will demonstrate the ability to rapidly and cost effectively supply this 12-14% oxygen and it's ability to rapidly reduce the room air to 14-16% oxygen. Tests will include first starting controlled fires and then demonstrating the systems ability to suppress the fire while maintaining oxygen levels at 14-16%. During the process, we will monitor for CO and other toxic gas formation. Parallel animal studies will validate the breath ability of the environment. We have strong relationships with major industrial membrane companies. These relationships enhance our ability to successfully commercialize these systems if this SBIR is shown to be successful.