Theoretical Aspects of the Application of Compressed Air Foam Generated from a Sodium Polyacrylate-Based Fire Extinguishing Agent for High-Rise Firefighting

Abstract

This article investigates the features of the generation and application of compressed air foam, obtained from an aqueous sodium polyacrylate-based fire extinguishing agent, for firefighting operations, particularly concerning the delivery of extinguishing agents to elevated heights. The relevance of this study is driven by the need to improve the efficiency of firefighting in high-rise buildings. The paper examines an experimental setup for producing compressed air foam, which ensures the formation of a foam stream using compressed air and an aqueous solution of a gelling agent. Experimental studies of the physical characteristics of the generated foam were conducted; specifically, its density, expansion ratio, stability, and formation parameters were determined depending on the concentration of the polymer component. It was established that introducing sodium polyacrylate into the fire extinguishing agent increases the solution's viscosity, promotes the formation of a more stable foam structure, and enhances its water retention capacity. Based on the obtained experimental data, the parameters for the vertical delivery of the generated compressed air foam were calculated. It is demonstrated that using the developed setup in combination with the modified aqueous fire extinguishing agent allows for the formation of stable compressed air foam with improved performance characteristics, thereby expanding its application capabilities for highrise firefighting purposes.