Auxiliary Power Unit for Emergency Light Fire Activation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Emergency lights in buildings do not automatically turn on during a fire when the regular power is still live, as the emergency power supply is blocked, making it difficult for people to safely escape due to the manual operation requirement and visibility issues caused by smoke.
Innovation Solution
An auxiliary power unit (APU) that includes a regular power input unit, emergency power input unit, changeover switch, firefighting power monitoring relay, fire driving unit, and emergency light auto lighting switch, which automatically turns on the emergency light using emergency power when a fire occurs, even if the regular power is still live, by connecting the emergency light to the regular power input unit through the fire driving unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If emergency power supply is blocked when regular power is live, then regular power can be used for normal lighting, but emergency lights cannot automatically turn on during fire emergencies
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service by automatically detecting fire conditions through the firefighting power monitoring relay and autonomously activating emergency lights without requiring manual intervention. The fire driving unit and emergency light auto lighting switch work together to create a self-activating system that responds automatically to emergency conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The firefighting power monitoring relay is pre-configured to monitor for fire conditions and is ready to activate the emergency lighting system immediately when a fire is detected. The circuit is prepared in advance with the emergency light auto lighting switch positioned to enable automatic activation, eliminating the need for manual switch operation during the emergency.
2Productivity
If manual switch operation is required during fire, then power consumption can be controlled, but people cannot quickly escape due to smoke obscuring the switch location
Solution Approach 1:
The emergency lighting system performs self-service by automatically detecting fire conditions and activating without human intervention. The firefighting power monitoring relay detects the emergency condition and triggers the emergency light auto lighting switch, which immediately activates the emergency lights, eliminating the need for people to locate and operate manual switches in smoky conditions.
3Extent of automation
If emergency power is supplied through ATS, then power can be automatically switched between regular and emergency sources, but the emergency light still requires manual activation when regular power remains live
Solution Approach 1:
The system extends automation to the lighting activation function. The fire driving unit, in conjunction with the emergency light auto lighting switch, creates a self-activating mechanism that automatically turns on emergency lights when fire conditions are detected, building upon the existing automated power switching capability of the ATS system.
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
Enables the automatic activation of emergency lights during a fire in a live wire state of regular power, allowing people to safely exit the building without manual switch operation, even when visibility is impaired by smoke.
Implementation Method 1
a firefighting power monitoring relay operated by firefighting power when a fire occurs
Implementation Method 2
When the regular power is applied, a relay (Ry1) 10 is energized, and a contact switch (Rs1) 12 of the relay is opened
Implementation Method 3
the emergency light 60 is automatically turned on
Data Source
AI summary
An APU for an emergency light in case of a fire or power failure includes: a regular power input unit; an emergency power input unit; a changeover switch configured to switch the power input such that the emergency light is automatically turned on by the emergency power in case of a power failure of the regular power; a firefighting power monitoring relay operated by firefighting power when a fire occurs; a firefighting-power-monitoring-relay contact switch configured to connect power from an ATS to the emergency power input unit in connection with the firefighting power monitoring relay; a fire driving unit operated by the power inputted to the emergency power input unit; and an emergency light auto lighting switch configured to connect the emergency light to the regular power input unit, such that the emergency light is automatically turned on.