A group of researchers in the Philippines have created a device that uses sound waves to extinguish fires, removing the need for harmful chemicals.
Fire Exterminator
Created by engineering graduates and their advisor at the University of Mindanao, the device has been designed to extinguish fires specifically caused by electrical wires or gadgets, which otherwise may be dangerous to extinguish using water.
How Does It Work?
The device includes a small sensor that automatically detects a fire within two meters, creating shock waves through sound vibration with a speaker amplifier to extinguish the fire. The prototype device is powered by a rechargeable sodium ion battery.
Thanks to its small size making it portable, the device would be ideal for home usage, and could reduce serious incidents by instantaneously extinguishing a fire.
Revolutionary Fire Extinguisher
The reason that this fire extinguisher is a turning point for firefighting, is due to the device being chemical-free. Not only does this mean that the device is safe for human use, but it also means that no chemical residue is left behind after the fire has been destroyed, unlike some traditional fire extinguishers.
Although the fire extinguisher uses sound vibration to work, these waves are only 80 decibels, equivalent to a vacuum cleaner, further making it safe for human use.
The Future
The fire exterminator has already won two prizes – the 2021 Regional Invention Contest and the second place at the 2022 National Invention Contest and Exhibit of the Department of Science and Technology – and has since been patented. The creators continue to study the device’s design, focusing on increasing the range of sound waves, and improving its efficiency.
Outlook
The fire exterminator is a breakthrough in firefighting, and with the new technology, it could introduce a new generation of environmentally-friendly alternatives to fire extinguishers.
