Abstract: In order to study the fire extinguishing effect of compressed gas foam with different gas sources on low boiling point flammable liquid fires, the fire extinguishing performance of compressed gas foam based on different types of gas on n-pentane fires is studied by an experimental model of a 1 m2 tank fire using a positive pressure multi-agent combined foaming device. The types of gas sources suitable for the n-pentane fuel with low boiling point are discussed. The results indicate that compressed argon foam, compressed nitrogen foam and compressed air foam can extinguish n-pentane fires and have good resistance to reignition under the condition that the foam solution foam application rate is 10 L/(min·m2)；carbon dioxide had poor compatibility with existing aqueous film-forming foam, resulting in significant defoaming effects, and the 25% liquid separation time was only 86 s, which was unable to successfully extinguish the fire; under the same test conditions, the fire control and extinguishing performance of compressed argon foam was the best, with a 90% fire control time of 45 s and an extinguishing time of 118 s. The research can provide technical support for the application of compressed gas foam system in petrochemical industry.

Key words: low-boiling flammable liquid, inert gas, compressed gas foam, fire extinguishing performance