Using Sound Waves to Put Out Fire: Story of Two George Mason University Students
10 months ago
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- #innovation
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- Two George Mason University students, Viet Tran and Seth Robertson, invented a device called the 'Wave Extinguisher' in 2015 that uses low-frequency sound waves to put out fires.
- The device works by disrupting the air and fuel molecules around a flame with sound waves between 30-60 Hz, effectively starving the fire of oxygen.
- The concept of using sound to fight fires wasn't new; DARPA had been researching it since 2012, but Tran and Robertson's portable prototype was a significant leap forward.
- Challenges include scalability for larger fires, high energy requirements, and environmental factors like wind affecting the sound waves' effectiveness.
- Research continues, with studies exploring different frequencies and combining sound waves with drones or water mist for more efficient fire suppression.
- The technology is part of a broader revolution in firefighting, including drones, AI, and robots, aimed at making firefighting safer and more effective.