Floating foam for fire fighting
View Patent ↗Foams and methods of using foams for fighting fires in confined areas (i.e., mine shafts) are provided. In one embodiment, a foam for extinguishing a fire is provided. The foam includes a surfactant; a non-flammable liquid; and an inert gas having a density substantially less than air. Preferably, the density of the foam is substantially less than the density of air. The light foam will allow a basic form of directional control of the foam because the light foam will float towards the ceiling of a cavern or mine shaft. This offers fire fighters several options in extinguishing an underground fire.
1. A foam for extinguishing a fire, consisting essentially of:
a surfactant;
a non-flammable liquid; and
an inert gas having a density substantially less than the density of air,
wherein a density of the foam is substantially less than the density of air.
2. The foam of claim 1 , wherein the non-flammable liquid is water.
3. The foam of claim 1 , wherein the inert gas is helium.
4. The foam of claim 1 , wherein the inert gas is a mixture of helium and nitrogen.
5. A method of using the foam of claim 1 , comprising the acts of:
producing the foam of claim 1 ; and
injecting the foam of claim 1 into a confined area to extinguish a fire in the confined area.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the confined area is a mine shaft.
7. A method of producing the foam of claim 1 , comprising the acts of:
mixing the surfactant and the liquid to form a mixture; and
injecting the inert gas into the mixture to form the foam in a proportion so that the density of the foam is substantially less than the density of air.