Vanagon EuroVan
Previous messageNext messagePrevious in topicNext in topicPrevious by same authorNext by same authorPrevious page (April 2005, week 1)Back to main VANAGON pageJoin or leave VANAGON (or change settings)ReplyPost a new messageSearchProportional fontNon-proportional font
Date:         Fri, 1 Apr 2005 13:58:52 -0500
Reply-To:     Don in North Carolina <Don_Dixon@BELLSOUTH.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Don in North Carolina <Don_Dixon@BELLSOUTH.NET>
Subject:      Re: Another Vanagon Burns Up
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
              reply-type=response

John,

I believe that you meant "Halon" as opposed to "Halogen". Halon is an extremely effective firefighting agent, but has been all but eliminated due to its effect on the ozone layer. It has become extremely expensive, and it is difficult to find a place to charge the extinguishers.

CO2 is a poor choice for an extinguishing agent in cars. The rapid cooling effect will quickly crack your engine block. The current agent of choice on the car racing circuit is AFFF. You can get a small (1 to 2 gallon) system for about $350, with two nozzles. AFFF is non-corrosive (unlike many dry chemical agents), and will clean up with water. It is very effective on Class B (oil) fires, effective on Class A (wood, paper, etc.), and somewhat effective on Class C (electrical) fires.

Don in Reidsville, NC 1988 Vanagon GL (Sylvia) "I reject your reality and substitute my own." - Adam Savage ----- Original Message ----- From: "John Rodgers" <inua@CHARTER.NET> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM> Sent: Fri 01 April 2005 13:35 Subject: Re: Another Vanagon Burns Up

I use to work on aircraft that had CO2 fire extinguishing systems installed in the engine nacelles. This was years ago, on piston engine powered aircraft. Those installations consisted of a metal plumbing routed into certain areas to conduct CO2 to the area. There the tubes had holes that would allow the CO2 to exit into the fire zones. The sudden discharge of CO2 drops the temperature way below freezing thereby lowering the ignition point of whatever was burning, as well as displaces the air flow containing oxygen. In most cases this stopped any fire. Not always, but most times.

I have often wondered about the possibility of installing such a system in the engine compartment of the Vanagon. It would seem that a copper pipe/tube loop inside the engine bay, with a connection to a Big CO2 cylinder under the back seat or in the rear somewhere, with a manual or electromechanically controlled valve, whose control - either a button or pull-cable handle - would be within reach of the driver while seated a the wheel, would be a viable - albeit somewhat expensive - solution to the fire protection problem. It may not be so expensive really, when compared to the investment made in say cherrying out a Westy.

If this were done, there would be no need to open either the rear fuel/oil access hatch or to remove/raise the engine hatch cover.

Halogen might be a better choice of gas over the CO2, but I understand it is hard to get nowadays.

Regards,

John Rodgers 88 GL Driver


Back to: Top of message | Previous page | Main VANAGON page

Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!


Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com


The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.

Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.