Acoustic Fire Detection in Utility Tunnels Under High Noise
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional systems for detecting fire situations in underground facilities face limitations due to poor image quality from CCTV cameras and vulnerability of optical and vibration sensors to environmental factors, leading to inaccurate detection and noise interference in high-noise environments, which complicates early fire detection and risk inference.
Innovation Solution
A sound-based fire situation detection system using acoustic sensors that collect real-time acoustic signals, process them to remove noise, and predict the probability of electric spark occurrence, inferring fire risk to support on-site decision-making before a fire occurs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If acoustic sensors are used for fire detection in underground facilities, then detection capability in high-noise environments is improved, but noise interference from vibration, mechanical noise, and water pressure distorts sound signals and reduces detection accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the useful fire-related acoustic signal from the complex noisy environment by using acoustic sensors to capture sound waves and applying signal processing techniques to separate the target signal from background noise, vibration, and other interfering factors
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary signal processing system that acts as a mediator between the acoustic sensor and the detection algorithm. This intermediary layer processes the raw acoustic signals to remove noise and enhance the fire detection signal, resolving the contradiction between maintaining sensitivity in noisy environments and achieving accurate measurement
2Ease of operation
If CCTV images are used for abnormal situation analysis, then visual monitoring is provided, but image quality deteriorates due to limited lighting in underground spaces resulting in low recognition rate
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces the optical-based CCTV imaging system with an acoustic-based detection system. Instead of relying on light and cameras that fail in low-light underground environments, the patent uses acoustic sensors to detect fire-related sound signals, substituting one physical domain (optical) with another (acoustic) that is more suitable for the environment
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the detection parameter from visual (optical) to acoustic. By detecting sound waves generated by fires instead of relying on visible light images, the system overcomes the limitation of poor lighting conditions in underground facilities while maintaining effective abnormal situation detection
3Device complexity
If optical sensors are used for monitoring, then flexible and thin material structure is achieved, but environmental influences such as high humidity, dust, and vibration damage optical fibers and affect sensor operation
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces contact-type vibration sensors and optical fiber sensors with non-contact acoustic sensors. This substitution eliminates the physical contact and fragility issues associated with optical fibers in harsh underground environments, while maintaining the ability to detect abnormal conditions through sound wave analysis
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively detects electric spark events in high-noise environments, providing timely information to prevent fire safety accidents and minimize damage by accurately inferring fire risks through noise-removed data analysis.
Implementation Method 1
a sound acquisition device installed in the underground facility collects acoustic signals in real time
Implementation Method 2
acoustic sensors that collect real-time acoustic signals
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a system and a method for detecting fire event in underground utility tunnels based on acoustics. The system is for early detection of fire situations in an underground facility based on sound. The system includes a sound acquisition device that is installed in the underground facility and collects acoustic signals in real time, and a fire situation early detection server that predicts occurrence of electric sparks and infers a fire risk based on the acoustic signal collected by the sound acquisition device.