DTM Audi TT Pitlane Fire
04-23-2007, 04:46 PM
#1
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
DTM Audi TT Pitlane Fire
This video illustrates the issues that can arise when a
fire starts. Does your pit extinguisher work? Does it
have enough capacity for any contingency?
.
fire starts. Does your pit extinguisher work? Does it
have enough capacity for any contingency?
.
Last edited by Slalom4me; 04-23-2007 at 04:49 PM.
04-23-2007, 05:43 PM
#3
How did that fire continue to burn?Most cars definitely would've burned to the ground with that fire. They were lucky that they were in the pits and that the fire truck was nearby.
04-23-2007, 09:53 PM
#4
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
My vote is that something made of magnesium might have been involved.
Unusual Fire And Explosion Hazards
If the addition of a fire fighting agent intensifies the reaction
(which suggests magnesium has become involved), fire fighting operation with
water should be immediately stopped.
If the FRH continues to smoke or sizzle after the flames are out, hydrogen
is being produced. The addition of water, if indoors, should be stopped since
it can increase hydrogen generation.
Photos From Ohio Magnesium Fire(which suggests magnesium has become involved), fire fighting operation with
water should be immediately stopped.
If the FRH continues to smoke or sizzle after the flames are out, hydrogen
is being produced. The addition of water, if indoors, should be stopped since
it can increase hydrogen generation.
What is the chemical reaction of water on a magnesium fire?
Water is normally used in fire fighting in order to cut off the oxygen and remove the heat. However, magnesium reduces water to hydrogen and oxygen..so putting large streams of water on blazing magnesium produces both fuel and oxygen...hence the large explosions that you see when there is a large magnesium fire and water is applied. The major problem here is education...There are very few firefighters that don't believe that enough water will put out any fire. The idea that using water will increase the fire and cause explosions is quickly rejected by most people. At the moment, the Ohio firefighters that attempted to put out the Garfield Alloys fire with water have learned some good lessons about how ineffective water is on a large magnesium fire.
Any magnesium parts in your car?.
04-23-2007, 10:07 PM
#5
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
Selected exerpts from 'Too Hot Fire and Water' at Ask A Scientist
Magnesium burns at 3600
F (2000 C) and at close distance is brighter than the Sun! Paper,
on the other hand, burns at a measly 454 F (220 C). Since magnesium
burns so very hot, it can actually split water into hydrogen and
oxygen (2 H2O --> 2 H2 + O2). Then the hydrogen and oxygen undergo
combustion due to the excessive heat to form water again. While you
might think that this cycle would keep going, it take an incredible
amount of energy to split water into hydrogen and oxygen--more than
you get back out when you reform the water. All of this heat is
lost to the atmosphere and the fire will eventually burn itself
out. A magnesium fire is so hot that it can burn a hole right
through a car's engine block (since the engine is made of
aluminum/cast iron and melt at a lower temperature than magnesium
burns).
F (2000 C) and at close distance is brighter than the Sun! Paper,
on the other hand, burns at a measly 454 F (220 C). Since magnesium
burns so very hot, it can actually split water into hydrogen and
oxygen (2 H2O --> 2 H2 + O2). Then the hydrogen and oxygen undergo
combustion due to the excessive heat to form water again. While you
might think that this cycle would keep going, it take an incredible
amount of energy to split water into hydrogen and oxygen--more than
you get back out when you reform the water. All of this heat is
lost to the atmosphere and the fire will eventually burn itself
out. A magnesium fire is so hot that it can burn a hole right
through a car's engine block (since the engine is made of
aluminum/cast iron and melt at a lower temperature than magnesium
burns).
...there are 4 classes of extinguishers, A, B, C and D.
ABC extinguishers put out most fires with carbon dioxide, while
class D extinguishers put out metal fires using dry powder. How do
they do this? Table salt! Believe it or not, there is powdered
sodium chloride (regular table salt) that comes out of a class D
extinguisher and puts out the fire by smothering it! Sodium
chloride will put out most types of metal fires, though those fires
containing lithium, it is preferred to use copper to extinguish the
fire. There are a couple of others including sodium carbonate or
graphite, but those have limited uses and drawbacks.
.
ABC extinguishers put out most fires with carbon dioxide, while
class D extinguishers put out metal fires using dry powder. How do
they do this? Table salt! Believe it or not, there is powdered
sodium chloride (regular table salt) that comes out of a class D
extinguisher and puts out the fire by smothering it! Sodium
chloride will put out most types of metal fires, though those fires
containing lithium, it is preferred to use copper to extinguish the
fire. There are a couple of others including sodium carbonate or
graphite, but those have limited uses and drawbacks.