| Publication Date |
2009 |
| Personal Author |
Srinivas, G.; Copeland, R. J.; Galloway, D.; Dubovik, R.; Elliot, J.; Gebhard, S. |
| Page Count |
25 |
| Abstract |
TDA Research Inc. has developed a device that can be used to cool super-heated air to temperatures that are safe to breathe when fighting wildland fires. The device also destroys carbon monoxide. We have called our device the "Wild Fire Rescue Respirator" (WFRR). Wild-land firefighters normally wear a heavy jacket, durable trousers, heavy duty boots, gloves, a hardhat, eye protection, and frequently, a bandana type of particulate filter for smoke. A burn-over, is the situation where a wild-land firefighter is trapped and cannot escape the advancing fire. To survive a burn-over, wild-land firefighters carry an aluminized "fire shelter." The fire shelter is basically a one-person tent that is designed to reflect radiative heat from the fire as it passes close to (or over) the firefighter. It affords much less protection against direct flames; therefore, the firefighter tries to deploy the shelter in an area relatively devoid of fuel (such as a dirt road). While the fire shelter protects against radioactive heat, if any of the air outside the shelter during a burn-over gets inside, there is a serious risk of death because the lungs are far more susceptible to injury by even brief exposures to super-heated air compared to exposed skin. Since one can survive brief exposures to air as hot as 300 degrees F as long as the lungs are protected, TDA Research Inc. in collaboration with a major personal protective equipment manufacturer, has developed the wildfire rescue respirator, which allows the firefighter inside the shelter to breathe normally while the lungs are protected against super-heated air. As an added benefit, our device also destroys carbon monoxide, the partial oxidation product of any carbon containing fuel. The WRFF is small and lightweight enough to be carried easily with the wild-land firefighter's normal equipment and is designed to be used when deploying a fire shelter in the event of the firefighter being trapped in a burn-over. The device can be donned while setting up the fire shelter, and then used inside the shelter until it is safe to exit. The firefighter breathes normally through the device and any super-heated air that enters the shelter (due to, for example, strong winds blowing up the edges of the shelter) is cooled to approx. 98 degrees F before entering the lungs. In Phase I, TDA demonstrated that the device would cool air from 300 degrees F to 98 degrees F continuously for more than 30 min. In theory, the unit can be cycled indefinitely. We also demonstrated that we could destroy >2000 ppm of CO entering the device. In Phase II, TDA is working with our industrial partner to optimize the design of the WFRR and determine the best way to package the device. |
| Keywords |
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| Source Agency |
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| NTIS Subject Category |
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| Corporate Authors |
TDA Research, Inc., Wheat Ridge, CO.; National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Atlanta, GA. |
| Document Type |
Technical Report |
| Title Note |
Final rept. |
| NTIS Issue Number |
201923 |
