I'm a high school sophomore and my Chemistry teacher has assigned me the following project:

 

I have to create a fire suppression system using baking soda (NaHCO3) and hydrochloric acid (HCL). I have to simulate a flammable facility, using a 15cm by 30cm by 10cm 3D cardboard structure. In this structure, I will have to have 8 "rooms", each where a candle will be placed and lit. There is no roof or floor for the cardboard cutout. I have to develop an automatic fire suppression system that will be triggered by one or more candle flames. The trigger mechanism will cause the 1M HCl solution and the NaHCO3 to mix, ultimately producing CO2. I will also have to build a delivering system which will deliver the CO2 into the box to extinguish all 8 candles within one minute.

 

I also have to use Stoichiometry to calculate how much baking soda and hydrochloric acid I will need in order to produce a calculated amount of carbon dioxide.

 

I need help thinking of a system that will be able to do this (the triggering, the mixing, and the delivering system). This project is worth a hefty amount of points for my class. This is also my first post in this forum, so I'm really looking forward to your responses!

 

Thanks in advance!

hi fellow flores student! )) gl

Hi Atom...

 

Just an idea - how about the mixture under pressure in a plastic pipe.... when the pipe melts due to the flames the mixture of fluids and gas is projected outwards towards the flame. The extinguisher fluids will be directed to the right place because the tube will melt first in the place where the fire is.

 

Maybe this is too late and you project is over already.... if so, what did you actually do for your project? How is it progressing?

Hi Atom...

 

Just an idea - how about the mixture under pressure in a plastic pipe.... when the pipe melts due to the flames the mixture of fluids and gas is projected outwards towards the flame. The extinguisher fluids will be directed to the right place because the tube will melt first in the place where the fire is.

 

Maybe this is too late and you project is over already.... if so, what did you actually do for your project? How is it progressing?

Hi DrP

 

It's not too late You have an interesting approach for the trigger mechanism. I may look into the mechanics of having something melt to lead to a reaction of CO2!

 

Thanks!