In what can only be described as the most unlikely of scenarios, two George Mason University students, one a computer engineering major, the other an electrical engineering major, have created a new piece of technology that uses sound to extinguish fires.
Viet Tran, the computer engineer, and Seth Robertson, the electrical engineer, have figured out how to use sound waves to put out fires. They started out with the simple idea that sound waves are also mechanical or pressure waves — this is due to the back and forth motion of the medium in which they pass through). As such, they can cause an impact, if you will, on objects in their path.
In this instance, the target is not the fire but rather, the source of the fire — the material actually burning, as well as the oxygen around it. If the two are separated by these waves, the students reasoned the fire would go out.
Taking a trial-and-error approach, Tran and Robertson aimed speakers at small fires and sent out different types of sound at different frequencies. While ultra-high frequencies didn’t have much impact, lower frequencies in the 30 to 60 Hertz range, led to the fires going out.
With a new sense of encouragement, the two engineering majors decided to take their idea further by building a portable device capable of focusing the pressure waves directly at the fire. The device they designed is composed of an amplifier, a power source, and a collimiotor made of cardboard (used to focus the waves). Basically, it looks like a small fire extinguisher, with the only difference being that it doesn’t dispel chemicals or water.
Tran and Robertson said their initial goal was to create the technology for small kitchen fires, but now that it’s proven effective, it’s likely going to have far wider use.
To see the sound extinguisher in action, check out the video below:
The future engineers say there’s still a lot of work to do before knowing if their technology is capable of putting out real fires; that is, those created in real life situations, and not in controlled environments. One of the issues they plan on tackling is expanding its power so that it can be used on bigger fires. Another thing they will consider is how to keep the fire from reigniting once the flame is out — after all, the material will still be hot. Where water or chemicals are able to cool the material, sounds waves cannot do this.
Advertisement
Learn more about Electronic Products Magazine
