Aerosol AFCI Fire Suppression for Electrical Control Panels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing arc-fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs) fail to effectively interrupt power circuits and extinguish fires in electrical control panels, relying on external activation and lacking structural compactness for DIN rail installation, leading to potential damage and re-ignition risks.
Innovation Solution
An arc-fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) with an integrated aerosol-forming or gas-forming composition and a self-igniting thermal igniter, capable of automatic or manual activation, which interrupts power and discharges extinguishing agents directly, combined with a shutdown mechanism triggered by the igniter's heat, ensuring rapid fire suppression and circuit interruption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If external fire alarm units or thermal cords are used to activate circuit breakers, then fire detection capability is provided, but activation efficiency is reduced due to dependency on external means and delayed response until high temperature is reached
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the fire detection function and circuit breaking function into a single integrated device. The thermal cord is incorporated directly within the circuit breaker housing, eliminating the need for separate external fire alarm units. This merging allows the device to detect fire conditions and execute circuit interruption in one unified system, improving both reliability and response time.
Solution Approach 2:
The circuit breaker is designed to automatically detect fire conditions through the integrated thermal cord and execute the circuit interruption without requiring external activation signals. The device serves itself by having the thermal cord directly trigger the tripping mechanism, eliminating dependency on external fire alarm systems and reducing activation delay.
2Reliability
If standard AFCI devices are used, then arc-fault protection is provided, but fire extinguishing capability is lacking
Solution Approach 1:
The circuit breaker is designed to perform multiple functions: arc-fault detection and interruption, fire detection via thermal cord, and fire extinguishing through integrated aerosol or gas-forming composition. This multi-functional design allows a single device to address both electrical safety (arc-fault protection) and fire safety (detection and suppression), eliminating the need for separate fire suppression systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces aerosol-forming or gas-forming composition as an intermediary substance within the circuit breaker housing. This composition serves as the fire extinguishing agent that is released when fire is detected, providing the fire suppression function while the device maintains its arc-fault protection capabilities. The intermediary substance enables the transition from mere detection to active fire suppression.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If complex fire-extinguishing systems with airblowers and thermal keys are integrated into circuit breakers, then fire extinguishing capability is achieved, but device complexity and structural unwieldiness increase, preventing DIN rail installation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates unnecessary components from complex fire-extinguishing systems. Instead of including airblowers, thermal keys, and complex control mechanisms, the design uses a simplified approach: a thermal cord for detection, a spring-loaded plunger for actuation, and aerosol/gas-forming composition for suppression. This extraction of essential functions only reduces complexity while maintaining fire suppression capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the fire-extinguishing system by using low activation temperature thermal cords (activated at lower temperatures than traditional systems) and aerosol/gas-forming compositions that require minimal pressure or mechanical complexity to discharge. This parameter change allows the system to achieve fire suppression with simpler mechanical components suitable for compact DIN rail mounting.
4Reliability
If thermal cords with high activation temperature are used, then reliable fire detection is achieved, but equipment damage occurs before activation due to delayed response
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the activation temperature parameter of the thermal cord to a lower value that enables earlier detection of fire conditions. By selecting thermal cords with lower activation temperatures, the system responds to fire threats before they escalate to high-temperature combustion, preventing equipment damage while maintaining reliable detection. This parameter optimization balances early detection with accurate fire identification.
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 device provides timely fire extinguishing and circuit interruption, preventing fire spread and re-ignition, while maintaining compactness for DIN rail installation, enhancing reliability and efficiency over existing solutions.
Implementation Method 1
a self-igniting thermal igniter (22) which triggering temperature is below the aerosol module
Implementation Method 2
capable of automatic or manual activation, which interrupts power and discharges extinguishing agents directly
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to the field of electrical engineering and power engineering and can be used for the timely emergency shutdown of electrical equipment under the effect of high temperatures, for example in the event of fire, as well as in the event of arcing. The technical result consists in improving the timeliness of an initial fire-extinguishing action and more effectively impeding the spread of fire in an enclosed space such as, in particular, an electrical control panel, while simultaneously interrupting an electrical circuit. The proposed device, which acts like a standard arc-fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) for single-phase or three-phase connections, includes a module containing an aerosol-forming or gas-forming composition (aerosol module), which projects beyond a housing of the device, a self-combusting heat-sensitive igniter disposed on the projecting portion, and a heat-sensitive shutdown device that is connected by conductors to a mechanism for the automatic shutdown of neutral and phase A in the case of a single-phase embodiment and of any phase in the case of a three-phase embodiment.