Flame Detection System Using Exclusion Zones
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flame detection systems, including radiation and camera detectors, face challenges in quickly and accurately identifying flame events in areas where both desired and undesired flames occur, with radiation detectors being too global and camera detectors being slow due to time-consuming image analysis.
Innovation Solution
A method and detector system that utilize a radiation detector and at least one camera detector to define exclusion areas within the detection zone, allowing for rapid detection of flame events outside these areas by combining radiation and camera indications, with initial evaluations by the camera detectors to confirm the presence and location of flames.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If radiation detectors are used for global monitoring of the detection area, then flame events can be detected quickly (within 300 ms or faster), but they cannot exclude specific areas from monitoring, making them unsuitable for areas with planned flame events
Solution Approach 1:
The detection area is divided into multiple pixel elements, with each pixel element corresponding to a specific spatial location. This segmentation allows the system to treat different areas differently - some areas can be marked as exclusion zones where flame events are ignored, while other areas maintain rapid flame detection capability. The radiation detector's global monitoring is thus segmented into location-specific responses.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the detection area are assigned different functional qualities. Exclusion areas are marked with a specific characteristic (exclusion flag) that modifies how radiation events are interpreted in those locations. This local quality differentiation allows the system to rapidly detect flames in non-exclusion areas while ignoring similar radiation signatures in exclusion areas where planned flame events occur.
2Adaptability or versatility
If camera detectors are used for reliable flame event detection with area exclusion capability, then areas can be excluded from monitoring, but the detection speed decreases due to time-consuming image analysis (often several seconds)
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of performing complete image-by-image analysis of all camera data, the system performs a partial evaluation focused specifically on detecting radiation events and their spatial locations. The camera detector provides supplemental information about flame characteristics, but the core rapid detection function relies on the radiation detector's event detection capability, which is then filtered through the exclusion area logic.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary processing layer that receives data from both the radiation detector and camera detector. This intermediary layer correlates the rapid radiation event detection with camera-based spatial information, applying the exclusion area logic as a filtering mechanism. This intermediary processing enables the system to maintain rapid response times while incorporating the area exclusion capability.
3Reliability
If complete image-by-image analysis is performed by camera detectors, then flame events can be detected reliably with low error rate, but the processing time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by using the radiation detector to quickly identify potential flame events and their approximate locations before committing to more time-consuming camera-based analysis. This preliminary detection step allows the system to filter out false positives early and only perform detailed camera analysis when necessary, significantly reducing overall processing time while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by using radiation detector results to guide and control the camera detector's analysis activities. When the radiation detector identifies a flame event, the system triggers targeted camera analysis to confirm and characterize the event. This feedback-driven approach avoids unnecessary complete image analysis and focuses computational resources only when needed, reducing processing time while maintaining high 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
Enables fast and accurate detection of flame events, particularly in areas with planned flames, by using a combination of radiation and camera detectors to differentiate between desired and undesired flames, reducing false alarms and improving response times.
Implementation Method 1
radiation detectors can be used to detect flame events, which in particular monitor the surroundings of the radiation detector for the occurrence of a radiation signature that is characteristic of flame events, particularly preferably in the infrared spectral range
Implementation Method 2
camera detectors which, for example, record image sequences in the visual and/or infrared spectral range
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for detecting a flame event (4) by a detector system (1), wherein the detector system (1) comprises a radiation detector (10) and at least one camera detector (20) and monitors a detection area (3) for the occurrence of flame events (4) by the radiation detector (10) and the at least one camera detector (20). The invention further relates to a detector system (1) for detecting a flame event (4), comprising a radiation detector (10) and at least one camera detector (20) for monitoring a detection area (3) for the occurrence of flame events (4).