Review of Water Mist Fire Suppression Systems: Fundamental Studies.
Review of Water Mist Fire Suppression Systems:
Fundamental Studies.
(1839 K)
Liu, Z.; Kim, A. K.
Journal of Fire Protection Engineering, Vol. 10, No. 3,
32-50, 2000.
Keywords:
water mist; fire suppression; nozzles; extinguishing;
cooling; oxygen; kinetics; drop sizes; sprays;
temperature; mixing; additives; computer programs
Abstract:
The progress on the research and application of water
mist systems in fire suppression has been substantial
over the last decade. To bring this work into focus, a
review has been undertaken td identify future
developments and potential efficacy improvements for
water mist fire suppression systems. This paper, as a
first step, provides a review of the fundamental
research in water mist fire suppression systems. This
includes a review of extinguishing mechanisms and the
factors that influence the performance of water mist,
such as spray characteristics, enclosure effects,
dynamic mixing, the use of additives and methods of
generating water mist. Recent studies on the use of
computer modeling for the development of water mist fire
suppression systems are also reviewed and discussed. The
review shows that the extinguishing mechanisms and the
role of spray characteristics in fire suppression have
become well understood and identified. Water mist does
not behave like a "true" gaseous agent in fire
suppression. The effectiveness of a water mist system in
fire suppression is dependent on spray characteristics
(the distribution of droplet sizes, flux density and
spray dynamics) with respect to the fire scenario
(shielding of the fuel, fire size and ventilation
conditions). Other factors, such as enclosure effect and
the dynamic mixing created by the discharge of water
mist, also affect the performance of water mist in fire
suppression. A combination of experimental and
computational modeling studies with validation by fire
tests will make the development of water mist systems
much more efficient and effective.
Building and Fire Research Laboratory
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, MD 20899