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Flammable Water tanks

Tank of water which ruptures during a fire.
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I think the idea's name pretty much sums up the description. The tank would be flat and wide and cover the entire ceiling and composed of a flammable material. In the event of a fire, the fire would melt or burn an area of the tank above the fire causing the tank to slowly pour water over the fire.

Despite the fact that the tank will be ruptured long after the fire has begun and will not stop a fire which may have begun to burn furniture which is too high to be flooded by the water. It will release water over any hot areas which may emerge.

This idea may also be useful in aircraft and trains, where a sprinkler system may not activate in the event of a collision. The material used would be preferably a plastic which weakens with heat letting the water 'push' through.

Of course a sprinkler system is still more effective in the home.

Bear in mind that during a plane crash you are about to be coverred in a flow of burning fuel and will suffer an agonising death as plastic melts onto your skin and face whilst you slowly cook in an aluminium cabin. Having water sprayed on your slowly as opposed to having your cabin flooded as quickly as possibly is preferable.

0_owaffleo_0, Feb 12 2004

Sprinklers http://rollinsfire.com/learn.html
Same principle as this, well sort of, but more effective. [Worldgineer, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 21 2004]

Roof Pools http://www.halfbake...m/idea/Roof_20Pools
For [sirius] sake [Worldgineer, Oct 04 2004]

Boiling water in a paper cup http://collection.n...ctivities/pots.html
"The temperature necessary to ignite paper is far higher than needed to boil water. Although the fire is hot enough to ignite the paper cup, the heat energy is absorbed by the water, causing it to boil. Wherever water is in contact with the cup, the paper will not burn." [Klaatu, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 21 2004]

[link]






       You have a tank which is mounted overhead and is pressurized by gravity. Sprinkler heads which are activated by proximate heat are already widely available, and could be readily plumbed to that gravity tank for spot control of flare-ups in the event of fire.   

       Why is a ruptured burning polyethylene-type tank a more efficient method of delivering water in an emergency than the targeted spray produced by the sprinkler?   

       And, in regard to plane and train crashes, if there's no fire to activate the sprinklers, perhaps an unnecessary flood of onrushing water would just make a bad situation worse.
jurist, Feb 12 2004
  

       This is how "The Towering Inferno" ends.
waugsqueke, Feb 12 2004
  

       oh, so you'll crash in a plane and, while the flames eat you alive, you pray for the plastic to melt..
sweet, Feb 12 2004
  

       See vehicle fire extinguisher system that works by melting pressurised plastic tube nearest to fire, already widely used in racing.
unclepete, Feb 12 2004
  

       Any system like this would need to be made from a material that melts well below the boiling point of water. Otherwise, it won't activate until the fire has had a chance to grow significantly.   

       (you can actually boil water in a paper cup on a campfire. The cup above the water will burn away, and the rest of the paper will be kept cool by the water.)
Freefall, Feb 12 2004
  

       Baked. Well, as long as you're melting your tank instead of burning it. And as long as the entire tank doesn't have to melt. And if the part that does have to melt is actually just a little piece of solder that opens a sprinkler valve.
Worldgineer, Feb 12 2004
  

       I can imagine a farm of tanks sitting the the middle of a sultry California landscape ... just waiting for a fire.
Letsbuildafort, Feb 12 2004
  

       How about a tank of flames that explodes when it rains?
k_sra, Feb 12 2004
  

       Install both for true mahem.
Worldgineer, Feb 12 2004
  

       Learn from the Inuit. Igloos never burn down because the sprinkler system turns on as soon as it gets above freezing.
kbecker, Feb 13 2004
  

       "And, in regard to plane and train crashes, if there's no fire to activate the sprinklers, perhaps an unnecessary flood of onrushing water would just make a bad situation worse."   

       To prevent you from burning to death.   

       "oh, so you'll crash in a plane and, while the flames eat you alive, you pray for the plastic to melt.."   

       No, you'll pray to be coverred in cool extinguishing water. This preferable to having water sprinkled one you.   

       In a plane crash, tons of burning fuel enters the cabin and melts and cooks everyone within. I would prefer to have half a ton of water pour over me as opposed to nothing or a sprinkle of water.
0_owaffleo_0, Feb 14 2004
  

       I like the idea of the tank in the roof, but i would improvise and use the tank for roof top pool parties in summer. I'm sirius!!
siriusness, Feb 14 2004
  

       //I'm sirius!!// No, you are not. Sirius died at the end of Order of the Phoenix.
Saruman, Feb 14 2004
  

       NO, I'M SIRIUS! - jeez
Letsbuildafort, Feb 14 2004
  

       Why not a tank of liquid nitrogen under great pressure, as well as this idea? Then when the fire breaks out, the water will coat the inside of the area where it's burning and the liquid nitrogen will freeze it instantly. Then the fire will be unable to burn anywhere else until it has expended a significant amount of its energy melting the ice.   

       Of course, you'd need a way of safely defrosting people who had been put in instant cryo-stasis by being encased in ice (well, that's the way it works in Sci-Fi movies anyway).   

       The other great advantage to this idea is that it allows all your furniture/art/et cetera to be protected from fire with an icy coating.
Macwarrior, Feb 15 2004
  

       Weight is at a premium in an aircraft so carrying large amounts of extra water in case of a fire is probably a non-starter.
Aristotle, Feb 15 2004
  

       // In the event of a fire, the fire would melt or burn an area of the tank above the fire causing the tank to slowly pour water over the fire //   

       No, it won't. <link>
Klaatu, Feb 23 2004
  
      
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