Date: Tue, 3 Aug 2004 10:58:12 -0500
Reply-To: John Rodgers <jh_rodgers@BELLSOUTH.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: John Rodgers <jh_rodgers@BELLSOUTH.NET>
Subject: Fire Suppression Solutions
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Having had the good fortune to survive two fuel hose breaks in the
engine compartment without a fire - and for the life of me I don't know
why it didn't burn except perhaps my Maker was with me - I have given
the fire suppression thing a great deal of thought.
What comes to mind that could be installed in our vans is a system
similar to that found in airplanes. There are many different ways fire
detection and suppression is handled in aircraft but essentially fire
control systems consist of two parts. Fire Detection and Fire Suppression.
The fire detection subsystem would of course have some type of smoke and
UV sensors mounted in the engine bay, connected to alarms - both light
and sound - installed in the dash somewhere. There are so many choices
of both the sensors and alarms that I won't try to address the specifics
here.
For the fire suppression side of things, in aircraft, fire suppression
materials in cylinders are often used, in conjunction with a
distribution system, and discharge control handles. Similar to this, in
a special computer building I once worked on for the USAF and Corps of
engineers, was installed a huge network of plumbing under the floors of
the main computer room and all had discharge points strategically
placed. Additionally, there was plumbing on the ceiling with discharge
points into the room. This plumbing was connected to a bank of Halon
cylinders, each the size of a 100 lb propane tank. There were ten of
these as I recall. There were sensory zones, and if a fire/smoke
detection was made by any one sensors in one zone, the alarms went off.
If two sensors detected fire/smoke in a zone the halon discharged
automatically. The system was designed to completely flood the the space
with halon forcing out all oxygen. The alarm system was to give people
time to get out before the halon discharged and air was cut off.
Using the principles and examples just discussed, something similar
could be installed in the Vanagons. A copper tubing fire suppression
ring - stainless or other if one can afford it - could be mounted over
and around the engine. A CO2 cylinder or a halon cylinder could be
mounted under the back seat or even forward somewhere - under the floor,
or up between the front seats where one can get at it easily and read
the cylinder pressure, . someplace anyway, with discharge line back to
the fire suppression ring. A pull handle for the cylinder would be
available to actuate the cylinder - by cable if the the tank is remote,
by simply squeezing the handle on the tank if it is mounted between the
seats. But some means to actuate the cylinder would need to be
provided. The chemical cylinder would need to be big enough to
completely flood the engine compartment sufficiently so that even with
the chemicals that would escape out the bottom under the engine, there
would be enough going into the area to suffocate any flames.
Tied to this system would be a fuel shut off of some type- automatic or
manual.
This entire thing could be automated, if one has the money for the
extras, or it can be set up to be done manually
Of course if there is enough money, anything can be built, but then on
the other hand, if superior preventive maintenance practices are
applied, and the fuel lines are continually checked for wear and tear,
and hoses routinely replaced with new, so they don't get a chance to get
"Old" and rotten, the chances of ever having an engine fire are reduced
to the minuscule.
Just my thoughts on it this morning - reflecting on what happened with
my fuel lines. In my case, it was new fuel lines that failed. But not
through rot, but through vibration wearing holes in places unseen.
Can't be careful enough.
Regards,
John Rodgers
88 GL Driver
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