Investigation of Feasibility of Developing Intelligent Firefighter-Protective Garments Based on the Utilization of a Water-Injection System

• Published in: Numerical heat transfer. Part A, Applications Vol. 49; no. 5; pp. 427 - 450
• Main Authors: Chitrphiromsri, P., Kuznetsov, A. V., Song, G., Barker, R. L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Taylor & Francis Group 01-08-2006; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Combustion. Flame; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Exact sciences and technology; Miscellaneous; Theoretical studies. Data and constants. Metering; Water injection; Prototype; Firefighting; Finite volume method; Evaporation; Mathematical model; Optimization; Heat transfer; Mass transfer
• ISSN: 1040-7782; 1521-0634
• DOI: 10.1080/10407780500359869

This research develops a new approach to designing and creating a prototype of an intelligent firefighter thermal-protective garment. During a flash fire exposure, this intelligent garment will absorb a significant amount of the incident heat flux due to evaporation of the injected water, thus limiting the temperature increase and the total heat flux to the firefighter's skin. A comprehensive mathematical model of heat and mass transport in the fabric layer during the flash fire exposure is suggested and numerically implemented using a finite-volume technique. A computational investigation is performed to optimize the performance of this novel garment system in terms of the activation temperature and the necessary amount of injected water.