Non-radioactive Detection Source Using Nanocellular Aerogel

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional ionization detectors for gas and smoke detection rely on radioactive materials, such as Americium 241, which pose safety concerns and are costly to replace with current excimer sources that are large and expensive.

Innovation Solution

A non-radioactive detection source using a pair of electrodes coupled to a nanocellular material, such as a silicon-based aerogel, is employed to create a stable ionization or excimer source for detecting airborne particulates and gases, with a voltage bias applied to generate an ionization or photoelectric condition for detection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional ionization detectors use radioactive materials like Americium-241, then detection capability is achieved, but safety concerns and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection capabilityVSAvoidradioactive safety concerns

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the radioactive material (Americium-241) from the detection system while maintaining the ionization detection capability through alternative means using nanocellular materials that generate ions without radioactivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces expensive, hazardous radioactive materials with inexpensive, non-radioactive nanocellular materials that can be easily manufactured and disposed of, eliminating safety concerns while maintaining detection functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If current excimer sources are used to replace radioactive materials, then radioactivity is eliminated, but device size and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveradioactivity eliminationVSAvoiddevice size

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses nanocellular (porous) materials with high surface area to volume ratios that enable ionization functionality in a compact form factor, eliminating the need for large excimer sources while maintaining non-radioactive operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite nanocellular material structures that combine multiple properties (high surface area, electrical conductivity, stability) to achieve compact ionization detection without requiring large-scale components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Object-affected harmful factors

If current excimer sources are used to replace radioactive materials, then radioactivity is eliminated, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveradioactivity eliminationVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces expensive excimer sources with inexpensive nanocellular materials that can be manufactured using standard techniques, dramatically reducing cost while eliminating radioactivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the fundamental parameters of the ionization source from complex, expensive excimer devices to simple, cheap nanocellular materials by altering the physical and chemical properties of the detection medium

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 solution provides a safer, smaller, and more cost-effective means of detecting airborne particulates and gases by using a non-radioactive source, enabling effective detection through changes in ionization or light emission, and producing alerts when particulates are present.

Implementation Method 1

The non-radioactive detection source includes a pair of electrodes operably coupled to a nanocellular material... applying a voltage bias to the pair of electrodes... creating a stable ionization or excimer source

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectIonization: Ionisation

Implementation Method 2

The amount of ionization varies depending on the contents of the detection chamber... measuring the voltage or current at a collector electrode of the detector

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectIon detection:

Data Source

PatentUS10473621B2Methods of creation and use of a non-radioactive detection methodology

Publication Date: 2019.11.12 KIDDE FIRE PROTECTION LLC

AI summary

A device, including a non-radioactive detection source, configured to detect airborne particulates and/or gases in an environment by applying a voltage bias to the non-radioactive detection source to create at least one detecting condition, and determining if airborne particulates are present within the at least one detection condition. A method of creating a detecting condition for airborne particulates and/or gases in an environment, the method including the steps of coupling a pair of electrical conductors to a nanocellular material, and applying a voltage bias to the pair of electrical conductors.