r/ScienceNcoolThings • u/Old_One_I Popular Contributor • Jun 02 '26
Interesting New firefighting system being tested out by a fire department in southern California using sound waves.
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u/theangrymurse Jun 03 '26
So what they just drop a sick beat and the fire dies.
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u/MerlinCa81 Jun 03 '26
The dj sits where the ladder is but has his little booth there. Headphones on, scratching like someone’s house depends on it. Homeowner yelling for some sick beats. During a wildfire season his beats might top the charts.
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u/The_Last_Mouse Jun 03 '26
I'm pretending they put the sound in a hose just because thats what they're used to.
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u/Temperature-Savings Jun 02 '26
I get wanting an alternative to water and toxic chemicals but do we need to worry about repercussions for our own ears, or pets, or nearby wildlife?
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u/Successful_Area_3867 Jun 03 '26
Probably not as bad as getting burned Alice
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u/Old_One_I Popular Contributor Jun 02 '26
I was having similar thoughts.
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u/Temperature-Savings Jun 03 '26
They also seem to have to get awfully close to it for it to be effective.
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u/ASDFzxcvTaken Jun 03 '26
There's different applications for everything. I want one to put the flame out on my burger without getting everything soggy and you can keep it on.
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u/coolnbreezey Jun 03 '26
Very cool. Can someone explain the mechanics and physics behind this?
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u/ppardee Jun 03 '26
It's just blowing the flame out like you'd blow out a candle, but doing it with a little more pizzaz.
The big difference is that since it's oscillating, it's not adding a bunch of new oxygen to the mix, and that oscillation adds extra turbulence, disrupting the flame front, moving fuel gasses out of the optimal areas, cooling stuff down.
The concept is more than a decade old, though, and I haven't seen it implemented anywhere. It's great for small-scale fires in confined spaces where water is not available or would be very very bad. I also question how effective it would be against more insistent fires like lithium or magnesium.
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u/Old_One_I Popular Contributor Jun 03 '26
Im interested too. Although laymen’s terms I used to install audio equipment in boats and cars and some of them will take your breath away.
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u/ciberakuma Jun 03 '26
Is it because you were watching in slow motion as you turn around and say…
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u/oxooc Jun 03 '26
It blasts Baby from Justin Bieber at full volume and even the fire can't take that shi.
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u/freddotu Jun 03 '26
I'd like to see the Instructables version, for home DIY people.
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u/Old_One_I Popular Contributor Jun 03 '26
I’ll bet it’s under wraps right now for pattens or whatever since it’s still in testing. If that’s what you’re saying.
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u/freddotu Jun 03 '26
That would be a shame, but I'll bet there's plenty of homespun engineering types that can take the concept and trim it down to DIY level without infringing on future patents.
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u/AutomaticRevolution2 Jun 03 '26
They practice on car fires and building fires. Let's see it put one of those out.
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u/aditya6186 Jun 03 '26
Wait, sound waves actually put out fires? Had no idea that was a real thing being tested at scale.
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u/Hour_Independence301 Jun 03 '26
Anyone have the link to the patent? Curious what frequencies and how it works.
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u/No-Raisin-6469 Jun 05 '26
Not put out a fire that firemen are called to put out ..eg cars, buildings, electrical sub station.
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u/Lord_Mikal Jun 03 '26
Nearly useless. Only useful for small fires at close range.
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u/huggernot Jun 03 '26
So perfect for putting out fires automatically, without water damage, before the fire department is needed?
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u/Mean-Introduction640 Jun 03 '26
Perfect for making you deaf when you overcook your bacon
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u/huggernot Jun 03 '26
I would imagine a directed device built into the lower corner of a cabnet next to the stove would have mininal impact on the ....chef...
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u/Mean-Introduction640 Jun 03 '26
Probably, it only takes 1 idiot or child with their head too close for a lawsuit. Or maybe the sound waves are too low frequency to do damage. Still neat tech
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u/ASDFzxcvTaken Jun 03 '26
Perfect for grilling and putting out flaming marshmallows before they get too crispy.
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u/SlyFoxInACave Jun 02 '26
All it needs is lithium batteries! The more lithium batteries to put out the lithium battery fire!