Technical note: Smoke dissipation by solid particles and charged water spray in enclosed spaces

This research investigated the effectiveness of various particles in clearing smoke in enclosed spaces. Metal oxide nanostructured particles, conventional particles (i.e., calcium hydroxide, sodium bicarbonate), or water (electrostatically charged or uncharged) were sprayed into an enclosed experimental chamber filled with combustion smoke. Improvement in visible light transmission through the chamber served as a measure of the effectiveness of the material in clearing smoke. Results showed that the negatively charged water spray was most effective in clearing smoke and improving visibility in the chamber. The smoke treated with charged water spray dissipated approximately 15 times faster than the untreated smoke. Also, compared with the solid particulate materials, the charged water spray resulted in a 3-12-fold increase in the speed of smoke dissipation.