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PRELIMINARY EXPERIMENTS ON THE USE OF WATER ADDITIVES FOR FRICTION REDUCTION IN FIRE HOSE

Thorne, P.F. and Jordan, K., 1973. PRELIMINARY EXPERIMENTS ON THE USE OF WATER ADDITIVES FOR FRICTION REDUCTION IN FIRE HOSE. Fire Research Notes 959


ABSTRACT

Measurements have been made of the Fanning friction factor (f) for 19 mm hose-reel hose and 70 mm non-percolating fire hose for plain water and dilute (10 to 50 ppm) solutions of Polyethylene Oxide Polymer (PEO). Friction factors were reduced by about 50 per cent by the addition of PEO to the water. Passage of the dilute solutions through a small transportable fire pump destroyed the friction-reducing phenomenon. The presence of PEO in the water enhanced the coherence of water jets, contributing to increased 'throw'. The scope for the application of PEO in practical fire fighting operations is discussed.



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