Authors: J Lindström, M Försth, R Ochoterena, SP Technical Research Institute of Sweden (RISE), department of Fire Research, Sweden, and A Trewe, Cold Cut Systems AB, Sweden
Presented at Fire at Sea, 2014, London, UK
Publisher: Royal Institute of Naval Architects
Abstract
The Cutting Extinguisher is a Swedish invention that is used to fight fires both on land and at sea. The main application is to fight the fire from a safe area. The extinguisher can cut through building materials using an abrasive additive. Experimental measurements show that the spray is characterized by small droplets. The following characteristic diameters were measured at 10 m distance from the nozzle using 260 bar injection pressure: arithmetic mean diameter d10 approx. 60 μm and the Sauter mean diameter d32 approx. 170 μm. The velocity at this distance from the nozzle was approximately 7 ms-1 in the spray core. Droplet diameters decreased significantly when A-foam were mixed into the water, d32 decreased to 110-150 μm. These measurements support previous explanations of the efficiency of the Cutting Extinguisher and also lead to a more detailed understanding of the extinguishing process.
