r/Firefighting 13d ago

Videos Firefighting drones make their debut in China

610 Upvotes

115 comments sorted by

View all comments

157

u/blackmamba329 13d ago

I wonder what the friction loss is on that

83

u/ironmatic1 13d ago

Nothing compared to elevation

28

u/Fif112 13d ago

Forgive me if I’m wrong, but since they’re using hose and not pumping up a standpipe, isn’t the pressure loss per hydraulic length more than the pressure loss due to elevation?

Assuming they’re using a smaller diameter hose, considering the drone has to lift the hose plus the water in it.

Sorry, I’m new to pumping and any explanation would be appreciated!

8

u/Jessejets 13d ago

When calculating operating pressures, you must account for friction loss, elevation loss, and—if applicable—the nozzle operating pressure. Friction loss will vary depending on the diameter of the hose being used. As a general guideline, elevation loss is approximately 5 psi per floor when dealing with vertical applications.

Based on current observations, most drones are not discharging plain water but rather a water/solution mixture (foam). The use of foam significantly reduces the overall load on the drone by making the hose lighter and easier to manage. This reduction in weight may also decrease the pressure required to effectively operate these devices.