Source: Simplex Manufacturing submitted to NRP
INVESTIGATION OF FIRE FIGHTING GEL INJECTION FOR USE WITH HELICOPTER WATER TANK SYSTEM TO COMBAT FOREST FIRES
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
SMALL BUSINESS GRANT
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0225325
Grant No.
2011-33610-30591
Cumulative Award Amt.
$89,927.00
Proposal No.
2011-00256
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Jul 15, 2011
Project End Date
Mar 14, 2012
Grant Year
2011
Program Code
[8.1]- Forests & Related Resources
Recipient Organization
Simplex Manufacturing
13340 NE. Whitaker Way
Portland,OR 97230
Performing Department
Engineering
Non Technical Summary
The company estimates that if this new tank capability can be developed it has the potential to replace older helicopter tank systems and become the industry standard, included in mandated specifications for helicopter tanks by the USFS. The company estimates that new product sales of the resulting product could be in excess of twenty million dollars over the next five years This project will serve to preserve and enhance the country's forest resources by providing an improved means of delivering fire fighting gel to the nation's forests.
Animal Health Component
100%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
100%
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
12253102020100%
Knowledge Area
122 - Management and Control of Forest and Range Fires;

Subject Of Investigation
5310 - Machinery and equipment;

Field Of Science
2020 - Engineering;
Goals / Objectives
Simplex Manufacturing entends on securing support for research dealing with the feasibility of adding gel concentrate injection capability to helicopter fire fighting tanks used to fight forest fires. A gel concentrate injection system on a helicopter tank would allow the pilot to choose a water source closer to the fire being worked, and complete a hover refill using the attached hover pump (standard equipment on most helicopter fire fighting tanks) as he would normally, if not using gel. While performing a hover refill with the systems hover pump the pilot could merely press a button from his seat in the helicopter cockpit to energize a miniature pump, which would then inject a preselected amount of gel concentrate into the water tank. The gel concentrate injection system could be designed to meter the proper amount of gel concentrate in accordance with the recommended application use. Simplex proposes to research the feasibility of developing an alternate more efficient means of adding a gelling agent to the water used in the helicopter fire fighting tank.
Project Methods
During this initial phase (Phase I) it is hoped that through discovery the research team will learn that material compatibility of the gel in concentrate form will be compatible with hardware and other surfaces associated with the helicopter water tank. Since most helicopter water tanks are made of conforming shapes using a glass composite resin it is believed that it is likely components will be gel tolerant. Gel in a batch mix state has already been approved for use by helicopter and fixed wing air tankers by the USFS Wildland Fire Chemical Office. The company's director of engineering, Stan Franz will act as the chief investigator for this project. Mr. Franz will also explore the mechanical requirements of developing a gel injection capability. The work plan proposed will utilize a total of five researchers. Four of the required researchers are currently employees of the company. One consultant will be used for the gel injection project. The following disciplines will be explored in the execution of the gel injection work plan: market, mechanical, electrical, chemical, and program management.

Progress 07/15/11 to 03/14/12

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Our research team traveled to Cal Fire and Los Angeles City Fire Department to observe present-day aerial firefighting equipment and methods, research potential application in the field and discuss any modifications needed in order to meet the needs of firefighting agencies. The team also visited with the gel manufacturer Thermo-Gel, to learn more about the chemical properties of gel concentrate in liquid and powder form. Studying the chemical properties of gel, lead to the conclusion that Pre-mix Thermo-Gel is 100% non-corrosive to all metals that will potentially compose the injection system. Our goal was to determine the proper percentage of gel concentrate and velocity of agitation necessary to achieve the desired gel/water mixture. Analysis indicates that the proper solution mix for aerial application in firefighting is 1% for liquid gel concentrate and can be adjusted to a larger percentage if needed. If a dry powder form of the gel retardant is used, research results prove that a 0.6% solution is the proper mix. This solution mix can be increased or decreased dependent upon the fuel source of the fire. When using the powder form of the gel it can be more difficult to adjust to the proper solution versus adjusting the liquid concentrate solution. This is due to the makeup of the gel polymers. Solution velocity for the agitation to occur with liquid gel is achieved by using a viscometer with a #2 spindle rotating at 5 rpm's. This creates a viscosity (cps) of 1833 which is roughly .80% using R/o water. This means that it will require minimal action to agitate the liquid gel. A powder form of the gel (Thermo Gel 500P) was tested and it can be mixed in a static container as it relies on time vs. agitation and this gel powder will only require some agitation to speed up the absorption process. The research team shared the project plans and objectives with California fire agencies Cal Fire and Los Angeles City Fire Department in order to obtain expert feedback and recommendations. PARTICIPANTS: Collaborators include California fire agencies Cal Fire and Los Angeles City Fire Department and gel manufacturer Thermo-Technolgies LLC. TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audiance: Firefighting agencies and helicopter firefighting operators. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Going forward the team will test the feasibility of both liquid and powder gel concentrate injection methods as opposed to only liquid gel concentrate as originally proposed. Different fire fighting agencies require different forms of gel concentrate. To limit the feasibility testing to only one form of gel would drasticially limit the potential long term benefit of this project as only part of the helicopter firefighting community would be able to incorporate the gel injection system into their operations.

Impacts
Our team discovered the state firefighting agencies are very supportive of the feasibility and benefits of gel injection. They also learned that some agencies use liquid gel concentrate while others require powder gel concentrate. In light of the realization that some state firefighting agencies require liquid gel concentrate and others require solid our team will experiment with both gel mediums during the course of the project. This research will be applied to the development of potentially two gel injection systems to enhance the effectiveness of helicopter aerial firefighting operations.The ability to carry gel concentrate on the helicopter and inject it directly into the tank of water will eliminate the costs associated with having personnel and equipment involved in repeatedly preparing the batch mix gel at separate distant ground fill locations. Equipping helicopters with gel injection/mixing capabilities will allow for the rapid and frequent deployment of gel close to the fire. This innovation will save on fuel consumption, human and equipment resources needed during a fire.

Publications

  • None 2012