Optimizing fire extinguishing effects of pneumatic sandblasting fire extinguishers based on experiments and CFD-DEM coupling simulations

Abstract

This study focuses on addressing specific issues and research gaps related to pneumatic sandblasting effects for forest fire prevention and control. The primary objective is to determine the sensitivity of geometric parameters and recommend optimal design parameters for the extinguisher. The investigation employs a combination of Computational Fluid Dynamics-Discrete Element Methods (CFD-DEM) coupling simulations and experiments. The simulation and experimental results suggest flat outlets have the farthest sandblasting distance. Further experimentation shows that the outlet with different diameters show different sandblasting distances and accumulation effects, and the increased air duct length leads to decreased average airflow velocity at the outlet. In addition, the blade number of impellers was also studied for a longer sandblasting distance. Finally, the study found that the optimal parameters (79 cm air duct with the flat outlet of 8 cm diameter, 20-blade impeller), resulted in longer fire extinguishing length in fire extinguishing experiments compared to the original extinguisher. The findings provide valuable insights for improving the effectiveness of fire extinguishers and enhancing forest fire management strategies. The research outcomes have the potential to make a substantial impact in mitigating the devastating effects of forest fires and safeguarding natural resources and human lives.