EFFECT OF OPERATING PARAMETERS UPON PERFORMANCE OF FUNCTIONAL SPECIMENS OF HIGH EXPANSION FOAM GENERATORS

Abstract

The issues related to application of high expansion foam as flooding fire extinguishing agent as well as necessity of the development of high expansion foam generators in Ukraine are considered. Patent search concerning appropriate devices for generation of high expansion foam from foam solutions was conducted and it showed specific features of the components when generating high expansion foam. The results of the research of operating parameters of prototypes of high expansion foam generators of fan and ejection types are presented. For high expansion foam generators of fan type dependence of foam expansion, foam solution flow rate and amount of spent foam solution on the performance of the spray nozzle at different pressures and ratio of fan performance to the spray nozzle performance was established; the ratio of the cross-sectional area of the fan to the total area of the perforated holes in the foaming grid was studied, too. For high-expansion foam generators of the ejection type dependence of foam expansion, foam solution flow rate and amount of spent foam solution on the capacity of the spray nozzle unit at different pressures, foam solution flow rate to the total area of the holes in the foaming grid, and ratio of the cross-sectional area of the generator to the total area of the perforated holes of the foaming grid were studied. Functional models of the mentioned types of generators (both ejection (aspiration) one and generator equipped with fan (air blowing unit)) were developed, created and tested for the purpose of derivation of appropriate relations between their conditions of use and performance. At the same time, high expansion foam generators of fan type by their weight and size parameters are intended for use in the divisions of the Operative and Rescue Service of Civil Protection of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine as portable firefighting units. Such firefighting units are intended to be installed first of all on any state-of-the-art municipal fire engines equipped with autonomous AC generators. High expansion foam generators of ejection type are intended for use as firefighting units in foam firefighting systems of various facilities with fire hazard.