Fire mitigation system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Automated building operational systems in agricultural facilities can contribute to the spread of fires while also compromising animal care during false alarms, as shutting them down can harm the animals.
Innovation Solution
An automated thermal event controller that regulates the systems between normal and safety modes, deactivating devices during a fire alarm for a predetermined time unless confirmed, and reverting to normal mode if no confirmation is received, to mitigate fire spread while ensuring animal safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the automated building operational system is shut down in response to a thermal event signal, then fire spread is mitigated, but animal care and wellbeing are compromised in the event of a false alarm
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by temporarily placing the automated building operational system in safety-mode condition for a predetermined time interval before confirming fire shutdown. This preliminary temporary shutdown allows verification of the thermal event while preparing the system for potential fire mitigation, resolving the contradiction by providing a buffer period that prevents immediate harmful shutdown while still preparing to mitigate fire spread if confirmed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback by requiring confirmation of the thermal event before maintaining the safety-mode condition. The controller monitors whether the thermal event persists during the predetermined time interval and adjusts the system state based on this feedback. If the thermal event is confirmed, the system maintains safety-mode to mitigate fire spread; if not confirmed (false alarm), the system reverts to normal mode to preserve animal care, thus resolving the contradiction through feedback-based decision making.
2Reliability
If the automated building operational system remains in normal mode during a thermal event, then animal care is maintained, but fire spread is accelerated
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by temporarily switching to safety-mode condition upon receiving a thermal event signal, before confirming whether it is a true fire event or false alarm. This preliminary shutdown prepares the system to mitigate fire spread if needed, while the temporary nature allows verification. If confirmed as fire, the shutdown continues to prevent fire spread; if false alarm, the system reverts to normal mode to maintain animal care, thus resolving the contradiction.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback by monitoring the thermal event during the predetermined time interval and adjusting the operational mode based on confirmation status. The controller receives feedback about whether the thermal event persists and makes decisions accordingly: maintains safety-mode if fire is confirmed to mitigate fire spread, or reverts to normal-mode if false alarm to preserve animal care, resolving the contradiction through feedback-driven adaptive control.
3Reliability
If the automated building operational system is kept running during a thermal event, then animal wellbeing is preserved, but the thermal event spreads faster
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by temporarily switching to safety-mode condition upon thermal event detection, which slows or stops operations that could accelerate fire spread. This preliminary temporary shutdown prepares the system to mitigate fire spread while allowing verification of the event. If confirmed as fire, the shutdown continues to slow fire spread speed; if false alarm, the system reverts to normal mode to preserve animal wellbeing, thus resolving the contradiction between controlling fire spread speed and maintaining animal wellbeing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback by monitoring the thermal event during the predetermined time interval and adjusting the operational mode based on confirmation. The controller receives feedback about whether the event is a true fire or false alarm and makes decisions: maintains safety-mode to reduce fire spread speed if confirmed, or reverts to normal-mode to preserve animal wellbeing if false alarm, resolving the contradiction through feedback-driven adaptive control of fire spread speed versus animal wellbeing.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method of controlling an agricultural facility for housing a plurality of animals includes the step of regulating the environment within the agricultural facility with an automated building operational system. An automated thermal event controller is operationally coupled with the automated building operational system and generates a thermal event signal in response to a thermal event in progress, whereby the automated thermal event controller, upon receipt of the thermal event signal indicating that the thermal event is in progress, activates an alarm state. In the alarm state, the automated thermal event controller: sends an alarm signal to a system administrator; places the automated building operational system in a safety-mode condition for a first predetermined time interval; and places the automated building operational system in a normal-mode operational condition after the first predetermined time interval and if a confirmatory signal is not yet then received from the system administrator.