We have CO2 fire extinguishers, we have water fire extinguishers, why not combine the two and make a carbonated water fire extinguisher! It would have a lot more range than water alone, and would last longer than CO2 alone. This was inspired by stories of a guy using shaken bottles of Pepsi Max to put out spot fires when the mains water failed.-- simonj, Feb 17 2009 //It would have a lot more range than water alone//
...Ackshully, I think this might not be the case. One advantage to water extinguishers is the stream does a reasonably good job of staying together, much because of the nozzle design and largely laminar flow. If the water were carbonated, I'm sure this would cause it to de-carbonate as it comes out the nozzle (commensurate with the pressure drop). By "fizzing" as it comes out of the nozzle, it'd break up the stream, and I beleive the stream wouldn't have nearly the same range.
...or then agian I could be wrong.-- Custardguts, Feb 18 2009 The old soda-acid fire extinguishers generate CO2 to pressurise water.
I'm sure your idea has been partly baked in the form of using a soda syphon as an impromptu extinguisher.-- spidermother, Feb 18 2009 ... so why does the can of pop explode when you shake it up ?-- FlyingToaster, Feb 22 2009 random, halfbakery