Experimental study of discharge influence on 2-bromo-3,3,3-trifluoropropene extinguishing efficiency

Abstract

Ever since Halon 1301 was targeted as a serious ozone-depleting substance, developing and manufacturing non-ozone-depleting replacement agent has attracted the international research interests. 2-Bromo-3,3,3-trifluoropropene (1323) was proposed as a potential candidate for replacement of Halon 1301 (CF 3 Br) as fire suppressant. However, 1323 is liquid at room temperature and atmospheric pressure, so the discharge of 1323 will strongly affect the fire-suppression efficiency. In this paper, an experimental technique to study how the discharge of 2-bromo-3,3,3-trifluoropropene (1323) fire-suppression agent from a pressurized vessel affects the fire-suppression efficiency. A photo-electric flame detector and a solenoid valve were used as a rapid release mechanism for discharging an agent from the vessel to the fire scene. Two parameters that could influence the discharge process were studied. These parameters were (1) nozzle diameter and (2) initial operation pressure. In general trend, 1323 fire-suppressant dosage and extinguishing time decreased with increasing initial operation pressure. The fire extinguishant dosage decreased with reducing nozzle diameter, and correspondingly, the fire extinguishing time shortened with reducing nozzle diameter, but when the nozzle diameter reduced to 0.4 mm, the fire extinguishant dosage and extinguishing time increased again.