Fluid Dynamics of Agent Discharge (NIST SP 861)

Published

April 1, 1994

Author(s)

William M. Pitts, Jiann C. Yang, G. Gmurczyk, Leonard Y. Cooper, William L. Grosshandler, W G. Cleveland, Cary Presser

Abstract

The extinguishment of a fire using gaseous agents is a very complicated process which is not completely understood. Current fire-fighting agents such as halon 1301 and halon 1211 are believed to function by a combination of chemical (catalytic removal of hydrogen atoms at the flame front due to the presence of bromine atoms) and physical (cooling and dilution of flame gases) actions. All of the proposed alternative agents are known to be less effective (i.e., considerably higher molar concentrations of the agent are required) than halon 1301. This reduction in effectiveness is attributed to the absence of bromine atoms in these chemicals and thus the absence of a highly effective chemical means of fire extinguishment.

Citation

Special Publication (NIST SP) - 861

Report Number

861

NIST Pub Series

Special Publication (NIST SP)

Pub Type

NIST Pubs

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.861

Keywords

halons, fluid dynamics, discharge rate, dispersions, equations, sprays

Citation

Pitts, W. , Yang, J. , Gmurczyk, G. , Cooper, L. , Grosshandler, W. , Cleveland, W. and Presser, C. (1994), Fluid Dynamics of Agent Discharge (NIST SP 861), Special Publication (NIST SP), National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, [online], https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.861 (Accessed October 2, 2025)