A unique, innovative concept is proposed to suppress fires, which does not involve the use of any deleterious material whatever. This concept, when developed into a portable device used in accordance with a protocol to be developed as part of the proposed program, results in an increase in the ignition delay time of hydrocarbon-based flames by many orders-of-magnitude, effectively self-extinguishing the flame or permitting the use of innocuous, conventional flame-extinguishing methods. The approach is based on the fact that the kinetic chain mechanism describing the finite-rate oxidation of hydrocarbon-air mixtures can be diverted into slow-reacting side chains by the introduction of water dissociation products, coupled with the use of selective laser radiation to excite the species that divert the kinetic mechanism into the side chains. As a result, halon 1301 can be replaced by a method involving nothing more than the introduction of water and laser irradiation, perhaps followed by a conventional smothering technique to ensure that no re-ignition of the fire occurs.
Benefits: The benefits derived from the proposed research include the replacement of halon with a completely innocuous method for suppressing fires of all types and the creation of a new industry to design, fabricate and market laser-based fire extinguishment equipment. The potential markets are enourmous and span both the military and private sectors.
