SBIR/STTR Award attributes
Hi-Ex foams are highly effective in suppressing fires and reducing the heat transfer from the fire to nearby assets through radiative blockage and evaporative cooling. While they are highly effective in putting out fires, accidental Hi-Ex foam releases in hangars have killed and injured personnel. In 2014 an accidental release of foam killed two contractors at Eglin AFB, FL. We propose the development of an innovative technology that uses a combination of heat and environmentally friendly chemicals to rapidly collapse Hi-Ex aqueous foams. The proposed technology can be used in aircraft hangars after the Hi-Ex foam has been used to put out fires. The proposed technology collapses the Hi-Ex foams at rates faster than 6 feet/min. In Phase I, we propose to conduct a series of small and bench scale tests to demonstrate the technical feasibility of the proposed concept. In Phase II, we propose to build the prototype system and perform full scale tests it in an aircraft hangar.
