Mexican student develops acoustic fire extinguisher

Ángela Karime Venegas Hernández, a 16-year-old electronics student at CETis 78 in Altamira, Tamaulipas, has developed an acoustic fire extinguisher named Vortex-TEC. The device uses low-frequency sound waves, specifically around 30 hertz, to interrupt the combustion process by physically displacing oxygen molecules around the flames.

Unlike traditional extinguishers that use water, foam, or dry chemicals, this sonic system operates completely dry. This makes it a potential solution for protecting sensitive environments where chemical residues could cause irreparable damage, such as data centers, research laboratories, museums, and historical archives.

Following her development of the prototype, Venegas has earned an international pass to represent Mexico at the International Science and Invention Fair in Jakarta, Indonesia.