Why carbon dioxide is the best fire extinguisher?

Why carbon dioxide is the best fire extinguisher?

It’s heavier than air, As Fire needs oxygen to burn, Carbon Dioxide Covers the fire like an blanket and cuts the contact of fire to the oxygen present in the air, So Fire stops burning. That is why Carbon Dioxide is Considere as the best Fire Extinguisher.

Is helium good in fire extinguishers?

Helium may be a superior fire suppression agent at microgravity on several bases. First, helium is more effective than CO2 on a mole basis (thus pressure times storage volume basis) at microgravity, meaning that the size and weight of storage bottles would be smaller for the same fire-fighting capability.

Why is carbon dioxide used in fire extinguishers instead of nitrogen?

Carbon dioxide is the most commonly used “inert” gas extinguishing agent, followed by nitrogen (Friedman 1992). However, because carbon dioxide is 1.57 times heavier than nitrogen [44 and 28 molecular weight (MW), respectively] for a given volume, the two gases have nearly equivalent effectiveness on a weight basis.

On what type of fires is carbon dioxide preferred and why?

CO2 extinguishers They are suitable for use on fires involving burning liquids (Class B), and electrical fires, such as of large computer equipment, so are practical in offices. CO2 works by suffocating the fire and does not cause damage to the electrical items or cause the system to short circuit.

How does carbon dioxide gas control the fire?

Carbon dioxide covers the fire and cut-off the contact of oxygen and fuel. This is because carbon dioxide is heavier than the oxygen. When carbon dioxide is released, it expands enormously and cools down. Due to this temperature it brings down and this helps in controlling the fire.

What type of fires are carbon dioxide CO2 extinguishers used for?

A carbon dioxide (CO2) fire extinguisher is typically used for Class B (flammable liquids and gases) and Class C (energized electrical) fires.

How does helium react to fire?

As we mentioned above, helium gas is not flammable. It is not explosive either. You can heat it up or cool it until it turns to a liquid (at below absolute zero) and it still won’t catch fire. Helium is one of the most stable elements, which means that it is not very reactive with other elements.

Why do we use carbon dioxide in fire extinguishers?

Carbon dioxide extinguishers work because carbon dioxide molecules are heavier than oxygen molecules. When the liquid carbon dioxide inside the extinguisher expands into a gas, the carbon dioxide pushes out any oxygen surrounding the fire.

How does a wet chemical fire extinguisher work?

Wet Chemical has a nozzle that creates a fine spray which allows you to apply the extinguishing agent gently. Carbon dioxide has a discharge horn which slows down the jet of gas and prevents air being entrained. It is important to choose CO2 extinguishers with frost-free horns to avoid getting frost-burn.

Why is nitrogen gas used as an extinguisher?

Nitrogen gas (N2) is in use across the United States as an extinguishing agent for sensitive electronic equipment. Much like CO2, it is an inert gas that operates on the principle of displacing oxygen to collapse the tetrahedron.

Which is a bad gas to use in a fire extinguisher?

Oxygen is a gas that is part of the fire tetrahedron. Therefore, oxygen would only accelerate the reaction, making it a terrible choice for use in a fire extinguisher. A great example of this is the Apollo 1 fire First, a primer on what you need in order for combustion to occur.