Modular Smoke Controller for Multi-Zone Fire Protection Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fire protection systems face challenges in accurately defining and executing smoke control strategies due to limitations in control capabilities, leading to complex and error-prone configuration processes for smoke control devices, which require coordination across multiple zones and ensure stability and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A modular smoke controller approach that integrates smoke zone control elements to coordinate exhaust and supply devices within a unified control element, ensuring seamless coordination and stability by implicitly adding negation of exhaust conditions to pressurize conditions, simplifying configuration and maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If smoke control strategies are implemented in typical fire control systems, then smoke control capabilities are provided, but the configuration becomes complex and error-prone due to limitations in control capabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments smoke control into separate smoke control elements that can be independently configured and executed. Each smoke control element represents a discrete strategy component that can be defined, stored, and activated independently, reducing the complexity of overall system configuration while maintaining comprehensive smoke control capabilities across multiple zones.
2Reliability
If smoke control strategies coordinate multiple zones, then smoke propagation is reduced, but the control mechanism becomes more complex requiring evaluation of multiple local and global conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces smoke control elements as intermediary components that mediate between detection events and device activation. These elements encapsulate the complex logic for evaluating multiple local and global conditions, acting as intermediaries that simplify the control mechanism while ensuring reliable coordination across multiple smoke zones based on the smoke control strategy.
3Stability of the object's composition
If indicator control elements are added to ensure strategy stability, then device coordination is improved, but the system configuration and maintenance becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the indicator control elements directly into the smoke control elements, combining the stability-indicating functionality with the control logic in a unified structure. This integration eliminates the need for separate indicator elements, reducing configuration complexity while maintaining strategy stability through the inherent design of the smoke control elements.
4Manufacturing precision
If timing for indicator elements is carefully set, then device state changes are correctly controlled, but the programming becomes more error-prone and difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The smoke control elements automatically manage their own timing and state indication without requiring external indicator elements. The elements inherently track and respond to alarm conditions and zone states, self-managing the timing aspects of control logic. This self-service approach eliminates programming errors related to indicator timing while maintaining precise control over device state changes.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates a control panel of a fire protection system, and a method thereof, having multiple smoke controllers. The smoke controllers correspond to zones of a facility. An alarm condition of the fire protection system is detected. An exhaust mode for a first smoke controller is entered, including activating exhaust effects and deactivating supply effects, in response to determining that an exhaust cause of the first smoke controller is active. A pressurize mode for a second smoke controller is entered, including activating the supply effects and deactivating the exhaust effects, in response to determining that an exhaust cause of the second smoke controller is non-active and a pressurize cause of the second smoke controller is active. The exhaust mode of the first smoke controller and the pressurize mode of the second smoke controller are maintained in a stable active mode.