Protective Housing Functional Integrity Test via Thermal Simulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing method for testing the functional integrity of technical systems in protective housings during fires is costly and destructive, requiring multiple fire chamber tests for different systems due to varying heat emissions, leading to unnecessary damage of protective housings and systems.
Innovation Solution
The method is divided into three steps: recording a climatic curve from a non-system protective housing exposed to flames, simulating this curve in a system-free housing to determine control signals for an air conditioning system, and using these signals to test the functional integrity of a technical system within a protective housing, reducing the need for destructive tests.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fire chamber test is conducted for each technical system to ensure functional integrity, then the reliability of the test result is improved, but the cost and number of destructive tests increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The test process is divided into two distinct phases: a one-time destructive fire chamber test to establish the climatic curve, and subsequent non-destructive simulation tests using an air conditioning system to verify functional integrity of different technical systems. This segmentation allows the expensive destructive test to be performed only once while enabling multiple system validations.
Solution Approach 2:
The climatic curve obtained from the fire chamber test is copied and reproduced in the simulation test using an air conditioning system. Instead of physically recreating fire conditions for each test, the thermal profile is replicated through controlled cooling and heating cycles, enabling repeated testing without additional destructive events.
2Measurement precision
If a fire chamber test is performed for each combination of protective housing and technical system, then the measurement precision of functional integrity is improved, but the loss of time and resources increases
Solution Approach 1:
The climatic curve is predetermined through an initial fire chamber test that characterizes the thermal behavior of the protective housing. This preliminary action creates a reference profile that can be used for subsequent testing, eliminating the need to perform full fire chamber tests for each new technical system configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The test methodology transitions from varying physical conditions (different fire chamber tests) to varying operational parameters (air conditioning control signals). By changing from thermal destruction to controlled thermal simulation with adjustable parameters, the same housing can be tested with multiple systems without repeating the destructive event.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple protective housings are subjected to fire chamber tests to test different technical systems, then the coverage of testing is improved, but the quantity of destroyed equipment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The protective housing is tested once for its universal thermal characteristics through the fire chamber test, establishing a climatic curve that applies to any technical system placed within it. The housing's thermal behavior becomes a universal reference, allowing multiple different technical systems to be evaluated against the same baseline without requiring separate destructive tests for each.
Solution Approach 2:
The air conditioning system acts as an intermediary between the protective housing and the technical system under test. Instead of directly applying fire conditions to each system-housing combination, the air conditioning system mediates by reproducing the thermal profile, enabling indirect but equivalent testing that preserves the housing and technical 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
This approach allows for non-destructive testing of multiple technical systems using a single fire chamber-tested protective housing, significantly reducing costs and preserving equipment, while ensuring functional integrity is maintained during simulated fire conditions.
Implementation Method 1
the same climatic curve is simulated in a further, system-free protective housing with an air conditioning device arranged in the protective housing for the same period of time
Implementation Method 2
a sensor device (5) connected to the control device (4) to detect climate values within a predetermined period of time
Implementation Method 3
a control device (4), which is preferably arranged outside the protective housing (1), is designed both for detecting and for specifying control signals for the first and possibly second air conditioning device (3)
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The invention relates to a test method and device for determining the required functional integrity of a technical system (2) arranged in a protective housing (1) during normal operation in the event of a fire.The invention provides that, firstly, within a predetermined time period, a protective housing (1) without any equipment is exposed to external flame and a climate curve resulting in the protective housing (1) is recorded; secondly, in a further protective housing (1) without any equipment, an identical climate curve is replicated for the same time period with an air conditioning device (3) arranged in the protective housing (1), and the necessary control signals for the air conditioning device (3) are recorded; and thirdly, to verify the functional integrity of a technical system (2) operated as intended, the recorded control signals are used within the predetermined time period to control an air conditioning device (3) arranged in a protective housing (1) equipped with the technical system (2).