New fire-fighting technology is explored in an article published in the Open Access journal Technologies. Researchers from The Ohio State University looked at how Conductive Aerosol-Assisted Vortex Rings can aid in efficiently diminishing wildfires which currently require resources with high energy and water consumption and even toxic substances.

Using a combination of electricity and this vortex ring technology, we found a more efficient way of solving an environmental problem that will improve our quality of life. – John LaRocco, lead author of the study

These impressive pieces of technology could revolutionise how first responders approach and diminish fires, particularly wildfires at great risk of rapidly and viciously spreading across large expanses. This is seen in the latest fires across the January 2025 Southern California Wildfires. Advancing effective fire-fighting tools is critical to preserve both lives and the environment.

How do ionic wind aerosols extinguish wildfires?

Ionic wind is a fire suppression technique in which voltage is applied to particles suspended in the air, giving them an electric charge. Ionizing the air results in turbulent and rapid airflow that can quickly diffuse flames in enclosed spaces.

To generate ionic wind, an electric current is required. Air however requires quite a high voltage to generate the ionic wind and the device must be placed very close to the flames.  Here, the authors of the study discuss how non-combustive, conductive aerosols could be used. Conductive aerosoles contain particles that can carry an electric current extending the range and enabling a controlled discharge of ionic wind.

Furthermore, previous research shows that rings of turbulent air generated by vortex ring generators can effectively suppress fires. Thus, combining the two fire suppression methods proposes a new and effective method of firefighting. Ionic vortex rings using conductive aerosols could, in theory, extinguish the fire by dispersing heat away from the fire more effectively.

Designing aerosol-assisted vortex rings

To test how vortex rings can diminish fires, a device prototype called Thunderhead was used. This handheld device can generate vortex rings and diminish fires from a distance, according to previous findings.

Here, two prototypes were designed. The first included a compressed air prototype, which used compressed air to generate the vortex ring. The second used an elastic air diaphragm with an attached elastic cord that can be pulled back and released to generate the ring.

In addition, a conductive aerosol solution was selected in combination with the vortex ring generator by experimenting with different non-toxic materials. These materials included salt, baking soda, graphite and fine or coarsely shredded copper leaf solutions. From testing each solution, they found that using a solution of coarse copper was the most conductive material, and therefore selected it for use as the aerosol.

Following this, the researchers carried out 2D and 3D simulations by using computer programming software such as Python and C++ to optimise the device and create different prototypes. These simulations tested how effectively each prototype generated vortex rings and suppressed fires.

John Simonis, co-author of the study, discusses the benefits of using vortex rings as potential fire-fighting tools:

The design of our Vortex Launcher is actually really simple in nature; it’s manoeuvrable in tight spaces so that you can walk through doors and indoor environments, but also large enough to have the practical benefits of generating those vortex rings

Testing the prototypes to extinguish wildfires

After testing the effectiveness of each vortex ring, they found that the compressed air prototype, with a range of up to 1.98 metres, was significantly more effective at extinguishing flames compared to the elastic air diaphragm.

Furthermore, the researchers found that using conductive aerosols in addition to the vortex ring generator ensured a higher efficiency at shorter distances (less than 1m). The authors discuss how their design of the vortex rings could be enhanced by using sensors and computer programming, to allow the devices to target fires from different sources.

The use of vortex rings could also be applied to different contexts and not just wildfires. Due to its compact design, it could be useful to industries such as aerospace engineering and industrial automation.

Regarding the use of aerosols with the vortex ring generators, no differences were seen between the ability of aerosol and non-aerosol prototypes to extinguish flames. The authors conclude, therefore, that vortex ring generators alone could be sufficient for suppressing fires. Additionally, conductive aerosols could be beneficial in the future for the precise transport of thermal energy in industries such as manufacturing and metallurgy.

Find out more

To read more about research on the latest developments and advancements in environmental technology, including fire-fighting technology, visit the Environmental Technology Section within the Technologies journal, where all articles are free and available to read immediately. Alternatively, see the full list of MDPI journals.