Abstract: A fire suppressant, fire suppressant mist, and method of atomizing a water mist for suppressing a fire are provided by in-situ atomization of water droplets within a fire using water-in-oil microemulsions. The discrete phase of emulsion is a low boiling point oil or water immiscible fluid additive combined with water and a surfactant or cosurfactant. Each dropet provides a microemulsion. During the heating of the microemulsion droplet inside the flame, the water immiscible fluid vaporizes and causes fragmentation of the water droplet, producing extremely small droplets useful in fire suppression.

Abstract: A cooling method and apparatus including a mist-generating device is configured to generate a mist of droplets from water, dielectric liquids or any cooling liquids. The mist is produced having such volume, momentum, concentration and quality of scale so as to deter or avoid impingement or deposition of the mist droplets on a surface to be cooled or on surfaces within a heat dissipating system to be cooled. Effective cooling is provided by the high latent heat of vaporization of water or other suitable fluid, while surfaces normally subject to possible damage by wetting are protected from harmful contact from the fluid. Tangential flow technology and electronic ultrasonic atomizing devices may be used as one possible means to generate the required mist and control mist volume, momentum, concentration and quality. Other variables may be controlled to enhance the cooling of the mist, such as flow patterns and flow directions of the mist. Vaporized mist may be condensed and recovered.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and device for production, extraction and delivery of an aerosol mist with ultrafine droplets. A high frequency wave generating device or other process generates very small particles or droplets from a reservoir of liquid or material to be atomized. A helical flow of a carrier gas medium such as air is directed into a container and creates a high throughput aerosol of air and fine droplets. The aerosol is delivered through a suitable outlet such as by deflecting the aerosol upwards and providing a tube centrally situated with respect to the helical flow such that the aerosol will discharge through the tube in high quantity of throughput and high quality of stable aerosol of very fine mist droplets. The methods described utilize in-situ extraction of fine mist droplets using helical flow behavior as opposed to forced convection ejection of mist or inertial separation of droplets by separators.

Abstract: A cooling method and apparatus including a mist-generating device is configured to generate a mist of droplets from water, dielectric liquids or any cooling liquids. The mist is produced having such volume, momentum, concentration and quality of scale so as to deter or avoid impingement or deposition of the mist droplets on a surface to be cooled or on surfaces within a heat dissipating system to be cooled. Effective cooling is provided by the high latent heat of vaporization of water or other suitable fluid, while surfaces normally subject to possible damage by wetting are protected from harmful contact from the fluid.

Abstract: A micro gas burner is provided that generates a stable, pre-mixed flame that produces little to no soot or unburned hydrocarbons. The gas burner includes a fuel inlet, nozzle, oxygenation chamber with at least one air inlet, a mixing chamber having a frustoconical inner wall, at least one permeable barrier and a flame holder. The gas burner thoroughly mixes fuel and entrained air to form a nearly stoichiometric mixture prior to combustion. The gas burner mixes the fuel and air so thoroughly that it requires a lower fuel flow rate than would otherwise be necessary to produce a stable, pre-mixed flame. The gas burner may include an optional flame tube in which a flame is contained and sequestered from diffusing air.

Abstract: A micro gas burner is provided that generates a stable, pre-mixed flame that produces little to no soot or unburned hydrocarbons. The gas burner includes a fuel inlet, nozzle, oxygenation chamber with at least one air inlet, a mixing chamber having a frustoconical inner wall, at least one permeable barrier and a flame holder. The gas burner thoroughly mixes fuel and entrained air to form a nearly stoichiometric mixture prior to combustion. The gas burner mixes the fuel and air so thoroughly that it requires a lower fuel flow rate than would otherwise be necessary to produce a stable, pre-mixed flame. The gas burner may include an optional flame tube in which a flame is contained and sequestered from diffusing air.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for generating a homogeneous aqueous mist solution containing a solvent such as water and a biocide agent such as chlorine dioxide, which would otherwise be unstable. The unstable biocide agent or chlorine dioxide is quickly dissolved or mixed with a mist of solvent causing the biocide agent to co-exist or co-mist therewith. The mist microencapsulates the biocide gas so that it does not decompose in the fumigation volume or space. The resulting homogenous mist solution provides a mist for delivering the biocide agent in a chemically stable form.

Abstract: A method of sterilizing a site or contained volume includes providing an aqueous biocide solution containing a biocide agent such as hydrogen peroxide. A mist of reactive biocide droplets is generated by atomization at ambient pressure from the biocide solution and a flow of carrier medium or air is provided in communication with the mist. The flow of carrier medium is controlled to generate a biocide mist comprising a concentration of stable mist droplets within the carrier medium. By controlling aersolization, extraction and delivery of the stable mist droplets, a sufficient portion of the stable mist droplets for a sterilizing treatment of a designated site do not coalesce prior to treatment interaction with the treatment site. The process of formation, stabilization and extraction are done in-situ so that droplets do not coalesce during transport.

Abstract: A non-combustible smoking article is provided in which a flavor generating medium, such as a commercially available cigarette, is heated with a fuel element including a liquid fuel therein to generate flavors or other components in vapor or aerosol form. A reusable fuel element is inserted in one end of a tubular member and a flavor generating medium, such as a cigarette, is positioned in the opposite end of the tubular member. Spacing between the fuel element and the cigarette is sufficient so that the cigarette is not lit but hot gases come into contact with tobacco or the like in the cigarette to vaporize the flavor components therein.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process of cooking foods using a hydro-fuel to produce super heated in-situ steam. The hydro-fuel is propelled at a regulated flow rate into a pre-heating tube situated near a burner that is used in cooking, but also heats the tube. The pre-heating hydro-fuel is mixed with air in a mixing chamber to form a fuel-air mixture that is then transported to a burner tip on the burner. The fuel-air mixture is ignited at said burner tip to cause combustion producing the release of hot gases and in-situ steam that rise to cook food supported above said burner.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and device for production, extraction and delivery of an aerosol mist with ultrafine droplets. A high frequency wave generating device or other process generates very small particles or droplets from a reservoir of liquid or material to be atomized. A helical flow of a carrier gas medium such as air is directed into a container and creates a high throughput aerosol of air and fine droplets. The aerosol is delivered through a suitable outlet such as by deflecting the aerosol upwards and providing a tube centrally situated with respect to the helical flow such that the aerosol will discharge through the tube in high quantity of throughput and high quality of stable aerosol of very fine mist droplets. The methods described utilize in-situ extraction of fine mist droplets using helical flow behavior as opposed to forced convection ejection of mist or inertial separation of droplets by separators.

Abstract: A non-combustible smoking article is provided in which a flavor generating medium, such as a commercially available cigarette, is heated with a fuel element including a liquid fuel therein to generate flavors or other components in vapor or aerosol form. A reusable fuel element is inserted in one end of a tubular member and a flavor generating medium, such as a cigarette, is positioned in the opposite end of the tubular member. Spacing between the fuel element and the cigarette is sufficient so that the cigarette is not lit but hot gases come into contact with tobacco or the like in the cigarette to vaporize the flavor components therein.

Abstract: A lighter integral with a smoking article includes a gas burner and a tube for receiving a smokable material, such as a cigarette. The gas burner generates a stable pre-mixed flame that is used to heat the material to be smoked. The smokable material may be separated from the heat source, such as a flame or a catalyst bed, by a barrier that allows heat to flow between the heat source and an interior portion of the tube. Various configurations of barriers are provided. Furthermore, an attachment is provided that allows for the conversion of a conventional lighter into a lighter that may be integrally combined with a smoking article.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for producing an extremely fine micron and sub-micron size water mist using an electronic ultrasonic device that produces the mist at ambient-pressure and delivering the mist for application in suppressing fire. A piezoelectric transducer is arranged to produce a water mist having at least a portion of sub-micron size droplets. The water mist is produced by high frequency pressure waves or ultrasonic waves of predetermined or variable frequency, including frequencies which may exceed 2.5 MHz. The water mist is directed to a firebase to be self-entrained by the fire's flame. The momentum provided the water mist in directing the mist is minimized to enhance the ability of the fire to entrain the mist, and the flow of the carrier medium is usually directed tangentially about the water fountain creating the mist. Further, the throughput and concentration of the mist is controlled to ensure that the entrained mist will be sufficient to cool and suppress the fire.

Abstract: A non-burning cigarette holder is comprised of an upstream cylindrical section of a low heat conducting material and a downstream cylindrical section of a relatively high heat conducting material. The upstream cylindrical section has a first upstream chamber for receiving a fuel source and a second downstream chamber defining a fuel mixture chamber which is in flow communication with the first upstream chamber. The downstream cylindrical section is provided with a flame holder downstream of the chamber and a flame chamber is disposed between the flame holder and a cigarette receiving chamber adapted to receive a tobacco rod or a cigarette. The fuel source may be an ethanol-water mixture disposed within the upstream cylindrical section or the fuel source may be attached to the upstream end of the upstream cylindrical section.

Abstract: The present invention contributes a novel device and method of controlling fire growth by diverting the heat release site from the flame zone to an easily extinguishable catalytic surface. The invention introduces a screen or mesh having a catalytic coating into a flame and causes severe flame instability. The catalytic surface of the screen has a significantly lower activation energy than the flame zone. Therefore, upon insertion of the catalytic screen into the flame plume, the heat release site transitions from the flame zone to the catalytic screen, and the glowing surface of the screen replaces the violent fire plume above a burning object. Because the glowing surface is less violent and combustion occurs at a much lower temperature, the fire is prevented from propagating to nearby structures. Further, without the strong buoyancy forces of hot gases rising upward and flame being augmented by crosswinds, the glowing surface of the catalytic screen is readily extinguished.

Abstract: A fire suppressant, fire suppressant mist, and method of atomizing a water mist for suppressing a fire are provided by in-situ atomization of water droplets within a fire using water-in-oil microemulsions. The discrete phase of emulsion is a low boiling point oil or water immiscible fluid additive combined with water and a surfactant or cosurfactant. Each dropet provides a microemulsion. During the heating of the microemulsion droplet inside the flame, the water immiscible fluid vaporizes and causes fragmentation of the water droplet, producing extremely small droplets useful in fire suppression.

Abstract: A lighter integral with a smoking article includes a gas burner and a tube for receiving a smokable material, such as a cigarette. The gas burner generates a stable pre-mixed flame that is used to heat the material to be smoked. The smokable material may be separated from the heat source, such as a flame or a catalyst bed, by a barrier that allows heat to flow between the heat source and an interior portion of the tube. Various configurations of barriers are provided. Furthermore, an attachment is provided that allows for the conversion of a conventional lighter into a lighter that may be integrally combined with a smoking article.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process of cooking foods using a hydro-fuel to produce super heated in-situ steam. The hydro-fuel is propelled at a regulated flow rate into a pre-heating tube situated near a burner that is used in cooking, but also heats the tube. The pre-heating hydro-fuel is mixed with air in a mixing chamber to form a fuel-air mixture that is then transported to a burner tip on the burner. The fuel-air mixture is ignited at said burner tip to cause combustion producing the release of hot gases and in-situ steam that rise to cook food supported above said burner.