SwedenMaus fire extinguishers can handle many situations such as fires caused by grease, engines, lithium batteries, using chemical technology.
Manufactured in Sweden, the Maus fire extinguisher is only about the size of a flashlight with a length of 24.5 cm and a diameter of 5 cm. It can be placed in any location for 5 years and does not require periodic maintenance like a conventional fire extinguisher. New Atlas reported on June 18. When activated by pulling the drawstring and pressing a small button, the tank releases a stream of cold non-toxic potassium smoke nearly 3 meters long in 9 seconds. Potassium ions in smoke travel forward and bind with oxygen, hydrogen and hydroxide radicals in the air, disrupting the chemical reaction necessary for combustion, extinguishing most fires in their early stages. Due to the long smoke stream, the fire will never rise again.
Once safe, users just need to open the door to let the wind blow away the smoke. While foam or powder fire extinguishers can leave a mess and destroy electronics, the smoke from Maus travels without a trace, causing no damage to the engine or equipment, according to Nicholai Allen, Special advisor to Maus. It is really effective on fires caused by lithium batteries in closed or semi-closed chambers.
The ability to handle battery fires is a big advantage as lithium batteries are increasingly popular as the world moves towards electrification. When a battery fire breaks out, many traditional firefighting equipment are ineffective. “Batteries themselves produce oxygen when they burn. So if you put powder in to block the oxygen source, the battery will produce more oxygen. They can still burn underwater. But if you put it in a chamber with an extinguisher Maus fire, the fire will automatically extinguish. Potassium particles that are lighter than air will float in that space, preventing the fire from re-igniting,” Allen explained.
The smoke from the Maus fire extinguisher is non-toxic and can be safely inhaled. Unlike CO2-based fire extinguishers, it does not cause oxygen molecules in the area to be lost, so it is safe to use around people in enclosed spaces.
Users can choose manual control mode like a regular fire extinguisher and point it straight at the fire. They can also throw the Maus fire extinguisher directly into the burning car or small room so that smoke can quickly cover the space and extinguish the fire. In addition, Maus adds the automatic “Stixx” feature. Users can place the tank in the engine compartment, shelves, battery charging stations and many other enclosed spaces. The tank will activate automatically if the temperature is above 180 degrees Celsius and spray potassium smoke throughout the space to extinguish the fire.
Allen said he is in discussions with several vehicle manufacturers, mainly electric vehicles and off-road vehicles, to integrate Maus fire extinguishers as an option.