Capacitive Fire Suppression Level Sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for determining the level of clean agent in fire suppression cylinders are tedious and limited to welded cylinders, lacking accuracy and efficiency, especially for seamless cylinders.
Innovation Solution
A fire suppression system utilizing a processor to determine the amount of suppressant based on capacitance between electrodes, with a siphon tube and cylinder wall acting as electrodes, and a pressurant as a dielectric medium, allowing for real-time monitoring and suitable for both seamless and welded cylinders.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If magnetic float and reed switch based techniques are used to determine clean agent level, then the measurement can be performed, but the process is tedious and limited to welded cylinders only
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical float and reed switch mechanisms with a capacitive sensing system that uses electrical fields to detect suppressant levels. This substitution eliminates the need for mechanical components that require specific cylinder configurations, enabling the system to work with both welded and seamless cylinders equally effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
The capacitive sensing system is designed to be universally applicable to different cylinder types (welded and seamless) by using electrical field interactions rather than mechanical interactions. The system performs level detection across multiple cylinder configurations without requiring type-specific adjustments or components.
2Measurement precision
If traditional level determination methods are used, then suppressant level can be detected, but the process is tedious and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces tedious mechanical measurement processes with automated capacitive sensing that provides rapid, continuous level monitoring. The electrical field-based measurement occurs instantaneously without manual intervention, significantly reducing measurement time while maintaining or improving detection accuracy through precise capacitance measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables continuous monitoring of suppressant levels through constant capacitive sensing, eliminating the need for periodic manual measurements. This continuous action provides real-time level information without time loss, allowing the system to continuously track suppressant levels and provide immediate alerts when thresholds are reached.
3Productivity
If capacitance measurement between siphon tube and wall is used, then real-time monitoring is achieved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the existing structural components (siphon tube and cylinder wall) as capacitive sensors, giving these components a dual function: their original mechanical function plus electrical sensing function. This approach enables real-time monitoring without adding separate dedicated sensor components, thereby maintaining system simplicity while achieving continuous monitoring capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes the inherent electrical properties of existing structural components (siphon tube and wall) to perform sensing functions. These components essentially 'self-serve' as capacitive sensors, eliminating the need for additional dedicated sensing components and reducing overall system complexity while enabling real-time monitoring.
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
Provides accurate, real-time monitoring of suppressant levels with improved sensor life and ease of retrofitting, suitable for seamless cylinders, and offers reliable and linear sensing capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
a capacitance sensor operable to measure a capacitance between the siphon tube and the cylinder wall
Implementation Method 2
the capacitance being an effective capacitance based on a first capacitance between the siphon tube and the wall with the suppressant as a dielectric medium, a second capacitance between the siphon tube and the wall with the pressurant as a dielectric medium
Data Source
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AI summary
An example fire suppression system 10 includes a cylinder 12 having a wall 22 defining an inner chamber 24, and a processor 18 operable to determine an amount of a suppressant 36 in the inner chamber 24 based on a capacitance between a first electrode and a second electrode that are both in contact with the suppressant 36. An example method for determining an amount of suppressant 36 in the cylinder 12 includes measuring a capacitance between a first electrode and a second electrode that are both in contact with the suppressant 36 within the cylinder 12, and determining an amount of suppressant 36 within the cylinder 12 based on the capacitance.