Mitigating ignition of fluids by hot surfaces

Abstract

A platform, housing, conduit, exhaust duct or other structural element that encloses or supports a hot operating engine or other machinery is described wherein a pattern of micro-cavities is defined on the outer surface of the structure for mitigating ignition of a flammable liquid that comes into contact with the structure, the micro-cavities being sized to minimize seepage into the cavities of the liquid because of its surface tension, thereby preventing wetting of the interior of the cavities by the liquid.

1. A structural element for enclosing or supporting hot operating machinery, comprising:
 (a) a structural member for enclosing or supporting a hot operating machinery; and  
 (b) means defining a plurality of micro-cavities of preselected width and or preselected depth less than the thickness of said structural member on the outer surface of said structural member for mitigating ignition of a flammable liquid that comes into contact with said structural member, said micro-cavities being about one millimeter in width to minimize seepage of the liquid into said micro-cavities because of the surface tension of the liquid.  
 
   
   
     2. The structural element of  claim 1  wherein said micro-cavities are in the form of holes of selected shape defined in the surface of said structural member. 
   
   
     3. The structural element of  claim 1  wherein said micro-cavities are in the form of grooves defined in the surface of said structural member. 
   
   
     4. The structural element of  claim 2  wherein the centerline of said holes is non-perpendicular to said surface of said structural member.