Abstract: An air aspirating nozzle for propelling a stream of foam or a slurry of solid particulates to a target surface includes a stream shaping member within the nozzle to form a rotating, columnar stream of liquid and air that maintains a high degree of coherence over a considerable throw distance. The stream shaping member includes a cylindrical body portion held axially in place within the nozzle body by a plurality of vanes extending between the body portion and the inner nozzle wall. The vanes are arranged in a forward-raked attitude, and the vane surfaces are configured to impart a rotation to a fluid column passing through the nozzle.

Abstract: The performance and throw distance of a nozzle discharging a water stream is enhanced by injecting a liquified gas, suitably liquid nitrogen or liquid carbon dioxide, into the water entering the nozzle at a point sufficently upstream from the nozzle to allow complete vaporization or solidification of the liquified gas before it leaves the nozzle. A second material, that may be a foam producing composition or a particulate solid, may be introduced into the water entering the nozzle simultaneously with the introduction of the liquified gas.

Abstract: Fires in tanks storing combustible liquids are extinguished using water from a settled layer at the tank bottom to form a foam that is transported to the top of the combustible liquid by the lifting action of an inert gas stream introduced into the tank at a location below the liquid surface. A stream of water is removed from the tank, mixed with a foam-forming concentrate, merged with a flowing stream of inert gas, and circulated back to the tank at a point below the surface of the stored liquid to form an upwelling foam column which explodes upon the liquid surface and spreads across that surface to extinguish the fire and prevent its reignition.

Abstract: A dry, particulate sorbent composition containing an organic absorbent, a combustible adsorbent, a water swellable polymer and a water soluble polymer is used to soak up and contain flammable liquids and to render the resulting product fire-safe by misting the product surface with water. Water contacting the polymers contained in the sorbent composition forms with those polymers a surface film which is resistant to the passage of combustible gases thus rendering the sorbed mass fire-safe even when briefly exposed to an open flame.

Abstract: Fires in tanks storing combustible liquids are extinguished by injecting a mixture of water, a foam-forming concentrate and an inert gas into the tank at a point below the surface of the stored liquid forming an upwelling foam column which explodes upon the liquid surface and spreads across that surface to extinguish the fire and prevent its reignition.

Abstract: Particles of water soluble polymers such as poly(olefin oxides) are formulated to readily dissolve without agglomerating by associating polymer particles with particles of gas producing compounds, suitably a bicarbonate and an acid salt, which are non-reactive to the polymer but produce gas when wetted with water whereby the generated gas maintains polymer particles in separation as the particles dissolve.

Abstract: An air aspirating nozzle for propelling a stream of foam or a slurry of solid particulates to a target surface includes a stream shaping member within the nozzle to form a rotating, columnar stream of liquid and air which maintains a high degree of coherence over a considerable throw distance. The nozzle assembly may include a flow control unit for the introduction of a foam concentrate or a fluid suspension of particulate solids into the nozzle.