Firefighting training fluid and method for making same

Abstract

A firefighting training fluid (FFTF) comprising an isoparaffin blend. The blends of isoparaffins typically have no less than about two carbon atoms and no more than about twelve carbon atoms. The blends of isoparaffins may possess Reid vapor pressures in the range from about 2 to about 6.5 pounds per square inch. The blends also typically possess an initial boiling point of not less than about 80 degrees Fahrenheit and an end boiling point of not more than about 370 degrees Fahrenheit. The blends burn relatively cleanly and keep emissions of volatile organic compounds, compounds containing sulfur, smoke, particulates, olefins, and aromatics to a minimum. The blend components mixed to create the blends of isoparaffins are controlled in order to maintain Reid vapor pressure and initial and end boiling points. Oxygenates may be added to an FFTF in order to further reduce smoke emissions.

What we claim as our invention is:  
     
         1 . A firefighting training fluid comprising: 
 an isoparaffin blend having an RVP of no less than about 2 psi.    
     
     
         2 . The firefighting training fluid of  claim 1  wherein said isoparaffin blend comprises isoparaffins having no less than about 2 carbon atoms and no more than about 12 carbon atoms.  
     
     
         3 . The firefighting training fluid of  claim 1  wherein said isoparaffin blend comprises isoparaffins having no less than about 4 carbon atoms and no more than about 12 carbon atoms.  
     
     
         4 . The firefighting training fluid of  claim 1  wherein said isoparaffin blend comprises isoparaffins having no less than about 5 carbon atoms and no more than about 11 carbon atoms.  
     
     
         5 . The firefighting training fluid of  claim 1  wherein said isoparaffin blend comprises a Reid vapor pressure of from about 2 to about 6.5 pounds per square inch.  
     
     
         6 . The firefighting training fluid of  claim 1  wherein said isoparaffin blend has an RVP of no less than about 2.5 psi.  
     
     
         7 . The firefighting training fluid of  claim 1  wherein said isoparaffin blend has an RVP of no less than about 3 psi.  
     
     
         8 . The firefighting training fluid of  claim 1  wherein said isoparaffin blend comprises an initial boiling point of no less than about 80 degrees Fahrenheit and an end boiling point of no more than about 370 degrees Fahrenheit.  
     
     
         9 . The firefighting training fluid of  claim 1  wherein said isoparaffin blend comprises an initial boiling point of no less than about 100 degrees Fahrenheit and an end boiling point of no more than about 370 degrees Fahrenheit.  
     
     
         10 . The firefighting training fluid of  claim 1  wherein said isoparaffin blend comprises a concentration of aromatics of no more than about 10 liquid volume percent.  
     
     
         11 . The firefighting training fluid of  claim 1  wherein said isoparaffin blend comprises a concentration of olefins of no more than about 10 liquid volume percent.  
     
     
         12 . The firefighting training fluid of  claim 1  wherein said isoparaffin blend comprises a concentration of olefins of no more than about 1 liquid volume percent.  
     
     
         13 . The firefighting training fluid of  claim 1  wherein said isoparaffin blend comprises a concentration of aromatics of no more than about 1 liquid volume percent.  
     
     
         14 . The firefighting training fluid of  claim 1  wherein said isoparaffin blend comprises a sulfur content of no more than about 10 parts per million by weight.  
     
     
         15 . The firefighting training fluid of  claim 1  wherein said isoparaffin blend comprises 
 a heavy isoparaffin blend component comprising at least about 55 weight percent decane; and  
 a light isoparaffin blend component comprising at least about 80 weight percent octane.  
 
     
     
         16 . The isoparaffin blend of  claim 15  comprising 
 no less than about 15 liquid volume percent of said heavy isoparaffin blend component; and  
 no more than about 85 liquid volume percent of said light isoparaffin blend component.  
 
     
     
         17 . The isoparaffin blend of  claim 15  comprising 
 no more than about 60 liquid volume percent of said heavy isoparaffin blend component; and  
 no less than about 40 liquid volume percent of said light isoparaffin blend component.  
 
     
     
         18 . The firefighting training fluid of  claim 15  wherein said isoparaffin blend further comprises 
 an isopentane blend component having at least about 95 weight percent isopentane.  
 
     
     
         19 . The isoparaffin blend of  claim 18  comprising 
 from at least about 5 to about 30 liquid volume percent of said isopentane blend component;  
 from at least about 35 to about 60 liquid volume percent of said heavy isoparaffin blend component; and  
 from at least about 30 to about 45 liquid volume percent of said light isoparaffin blend component.  
 
     
     
         20 . The firefighting training fluid of  claim 1  wherein said isoparaffin blend comprises 
 a heavy isoparaffin blend component comprising at least about 55 weight percent decane;  
 an isopentane blend component comprising at least about 95 weight percent isopentane; and  
 an alkylate blend component comprising at least about 50 weight percent octane.  
 
     
     
         21 . The isoparaffin blend of  claim 20  comprising 
 from at least about 40 to about 70 liquid volume percent of said heavy isoparaffin blend component;  
 from 0 to about 20 liquid volume percent of said isopentane blend component; and  
 from at least about 25 to about 45 liquid volume percent of said alkylate blend component.  
 
     
     
         22 . The firefighting training fluid of  claim 20  wherein said isoparaffin blend further comprises 
 a light isoparaffin blend component comprising at least about 80 weight percent octane.  
 
     
     
         23 . The isoparaffin blend of  claim 22  comprising 
 from at least about 50 to about 80 liquid volume percent of said heavy isoparaffin blend component;  
 from 0 to about 10 liquid volume percent of said light isoparaffin blend component;  
 from 1 to about 5 liquid volume percent of said isopentane blend component; and  
 from at least about 10 to about 40 liquid volume percent of said alkylate blend component.  
 
     
     
         24 . The firefighting training fluid of  claim 1  further comprising one or more oxygenates.  
     
     
         25 . The firefighting training fluid of  claim 24  wherein said oxygenates comprise no less than about 5 and no more than about 50 liquid volume percent of said firefighting training fluid.  
     
     
         26 . The firefighting training fluid of  claim 24  wherein said oxygenates comprise no less than about 10 and no more than about 30 liquid volume percent of said firefighting training fluid.  
     
     
         27 . The firefighting training fluid of  claim 24  wherein the oxygen content from said oxygenates comprises no more than about 6 weight percent and no less than about 0.5 weight percent.  
     
     
         28 . The firefighting training fluid of  claim 24  wherein the oxygen content from said oxygenates comprises no more than about 3.5 weight percent and no less than about 1.5 weight percent.  
     
     
         29 . The firefighting training fluid of  claim 24  wherein the oxygen content from said oxygenates comprises no more than about 2.2 weight percent and no less than about 1.8 weight percent.  
     
     
         30 . The firefighting training fluid of  claim 24  wherein said oxygenates are selected from the group consisting of alcohols, ethers, carboxylic acids, and epoxides having boiling points of no less than about 80 degrees Fahrenheit and no more than about 370 degrees Fahrenheit.  
     
     
         31 . The firefighting training fluid of  claim 24  wherein said oxygenates are selected from a group consisting of at least methyl tertiary butyl ether, ethyl tertiary butyl ether, ethanol, propyl acetate, butyl acetate, and 2-ethoxyethanol.  
     
     
         32 . The firefighting training fluid of  claim 15  further comprising ethyl tertiary butyl ether or ethanol.  
     
     
         33 . The firefighting training fluid of  claim 18  further comprising ethyl tertiary butyl ether or ethanol.  
     
     
         34 . The firefighting training fluid of  claim 20  further comprising ethyl tertiary butyl ether or ethanol.  
     
     
         35 . The firefighting training fluid of  claim 22  further comprising ethyl tertiary butyl ether or ethanol.  
     
     
         36 . The firefighting training fluid of  claim 1  wherein ignition produces less than about 0.0130 pounds of volatile organic compounds per pound of composition.  
     
     
         37 . The firefighting training fluid of  claim 1  wherein ignition produces less than about 0.010 pounds of volatile organic compounds per pound of firefighting training fluid.  
     
     
         38 . The firefighting training fluid of  claim 1  wherein ignition produces less than about 0.030 pounds of particulate matter per pound of firefighting training fluid.  
     
     
         39 . A firefighting training fluid comprising one or more oxygenates.  
     
     
         40 . A method of simulating fires in firefighting training comprising: 
 blending isoparaffins to form an isoparaffin blend having an RVP of no less than about 2 psi;    dispensing said isoparaffins according to an appropriate simulation apparatus;    igniting said isoparaffins; and    extinguishing said ignited isoparaffins.    
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40  further comprising mixing oxygenates with said isoparaffins.  
     
     
         42 . A method for making a firefighting training fluid comprising: 
 supplying one or more blend components comprising isoparaffins; and    combining said blend components to form said firefighting training fluid having an RVP of no less than about 2 psi.    
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42  further comprising mixing oxygenates with said isoparaffins.