CO Sensor Foam System for Submerged Fire Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for composting and bio-drying of municipal solid waste and storage of combustible solids face challenges in detecting and containing submerged fires, which can be insidious and difficult to detect with conventional sensors, leading to potential disruptions and losses.
Innovation Solution
Integration of a carbon monoxide sensor in the air aspiration system to detect submerged fires, followed by automatic foam coverage and controlled ventilation to isolate and extinguish the fire, allowing for quick restoration of operations without manual intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional temperature and smoke sensors are used to detect fires, then surface fires can be detected, but submerged fires remain undetected leading to production disruptions and material losses
Solution Approach 1:
Carbon monoxide acts as an intermediary substance that indicates the presence of submerged fires. The CO sensor detects this intermediary chemical substance produced during combustion, allowing indirect detection of fires that are not visible or detectable by conventional temperature and smoke sensors. This resolves the contradiction by enabling detection of previously undetectable submerged fires through a chemical intermediary.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If manual fire intervention procedures are implemented, then fire containment can be achieved, but production downtime increases and operational efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs fire containment automatically without requiring manual intervention. When the CO sensor detects elevated carbon monoxide levels indicating a submerged fire, the control system automatically activates the foam injection system to extinguish the fire. This self-service automated response eliminates the need for manual intervention, containing fires quickly while minimizing production downtime and maintaining operational efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from the CO sensor to automatically trigger fire containment actions. The sensor continuously monitors carbon monoxide levels, and when a threshold is exceeded, the control system receives feedback and automatically activates the foam injection system. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enables rapid automatic response to submerged fires, containing them before they spread while minimizing disruption to production operations.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If foam injection system is activated for fire containment, then submerged fires can be effectively extinguished, but system complexity and operational procedures increase
Solution Approach 1:
The foam injection system operates automatically based on CO sensor detection, eliminating the need for complex manual activation procedures. The system self-activates when carbon monoxide levels indicate a submerged fire, automatically delivering effective fire containment without requiring operators to navigate complex manual control sequences. This reduces operational complexity while maintaining effective fire extinguishment.
Solution Approach 2:
The foam injection system serves multiple functions: it can be automatically activated by CO detection for submerged fires, and manually activated for surface fires. This multi-functionality allows a single system to handle different fire types effectively, reducing the need for separate specialized systems and thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining comprehensive fire protection capability.
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
Effectively detects and extinguishes both surface and submerged fires with minimal disruption, reducing production downtime and material loss, while ensuring safety and maintaining operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
detecting the presence of a fire... by the detection of carbon monoxide
Implementation Method 2
a mixture of water and foam... covering the waste with a layer of foam
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The method that forms the object of the present invention is applied to closed areas where heaps or large layers of solid and potentially combustible material are placed, subjected to forced aeration due to process needs such as drying, bio-drying and the composting of the waste, or more simply to storage systems. A system for the bio-drying of waste comprises a substantially closed chamber C containing a support surface B and having apertures distributed uniformly for the passage of air, means for the depositing of the material on the support surface D, means for the aspiration of air V and for its conveying through the apertures of the support surface so as to traverse the layered materials 1,3,4 on the aforesaid support surface, and means of treatment of the aspirated air, such as for example bio-filters F. The method uses a system of monitoring of the carbon monoxide CO positioned on the air outgoing from the layer of materials 1,3,4 which acts on a system A of production and distribution of foam through the ejectors J, and a procedure for the search of the sector wherein the fire is found and for its extinguishing.