Air quality and particulate detection system
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aspirated smoke detection systems do not effectively treat air for airborne microorganisms before returning it to protected areas, potentially harming occupants.
Innovation Solution
An air quality and particulate detection system that includes a particulate detection chamber with a blower, particle filter, and laser source, coupled with an air quality member featuring a HEPA filter and ultraviolet light emitting diodes (LEDs) for treating air before return.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If air is continuously circulated through detection and return to protected areas, then early smoke detection capability is improved, but airborne microorganisms are dispersed and potentially harmful to occupants
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes harmful microorganisms from the circulated air through a HEPA filter positioned in the air return path. The filter physically separates and removes particulates including microorganisms from the air stream before returning it to the protected area, while maintaining the continuous air circulation needed for smoke detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a HEPA filter as an intermediary component between the air detection chamber and the protected area. This filter acts as a mediator that allows beneficial air circulation and smoke detection while blocking harmful microorganisms from being returned to occupants.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If HEPA filter is added to treat air before return, then air quality is improved by removing microorganisms, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The HEPA filter serves multiple functions simultaneously: it filters microorganisms to improve air quality, removes particulates that could interfere with laser detection, and maintains pressure differential for proper airflow. This multi-functionality justifies the added component within the existing aspirated smoke detection system.
3Reliability
If air sampling is performed from multiple intake points, then detection coverage is improved, but energy consumption increases due to continuous blower operation
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the protected area into multiple zones with separate intake points distributed throughout. Each intake point samples air independently, providing comprehensive coverage without requiring a single high-power blower. The segmented approach allows lower-power blowers to serve specific zones while maintaining overall detection reliability.
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 air particulates, separates and treats them using HEPA filtration and UV germicidal irradiation, significantly improving air quality by removing harmful microorganisms before returning treated air to protected areas.
Implementation Method 1
the sensor configured to detect at least one of an amount of laser scatter and laser fluorescence in response to interaction of the laser and air particulates
Implementation Method 2
the sensor configured to detect at least one of an amount of laser scatter and laser fluorescence in response to interaction of the laser and air particulates
Implementation Method 3
an infrared light source configured to generate an infrared light, and to a sensor configured to detect an infrared signature of an air particulate in response to interaction of the infrared light and the air particulate
Implementation Method 4
a channel having substantially parallel sides for operably coupling a HEPA filter adjacent and substantially parallel to the orifice
Implementation Method 5
one or more ultraviolet light emitting diodes (LEDs) downstream from the HEPA filter
Data Source
AI summary
An air quality and particulate detection system comprising: an air quality and particulate detector comprising a particulate detection chamber in fluid communication via an orifice with an adjacent air quality member, the particulate detection chamber comprising a blower adjacent to a particle filter and a laser source, and the air quality member comprising a channel having substantially parallel sides for operably coupling a HEPA filter adjacent and substantially parallel to the orifice, and for operably coupling one or more ultraviolet light emitting diodes (LEDs) downstream from the HEPA filter, and an exhaust pipe for returning treated air to a protected area; one or more pipe runs fluidly connected to the particulate detection chamber, wherein each of the one or more pipe runs includes one or more sampling points configured to allow air particulate entry from the protected area, into at least one of the one or more pipe runs.