Polymeric Composite Odorant Release for Electrical Overheating Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for detecting pre-fire situations in electrical equipment are unreliable, prone to false responses, and fail to detect overheating early enough, as they react to smoke or gases after ignition has started, or are costly and lack continuous monitoring.
Innovation Solution
A polymeric composite material filled with sulfur dioxide, low-molecular-weight mercaptans, or dialkyl sulfides, using thermosetting polymers that release odorants at specific temperatures, ensuring early detection of overheating without foaming or detaching from the substrate, and allowing repeated responses to temperature changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If infrared spectroscopy devices are used to detect thermal decomposition products, then detection capability is provided, but the device reacts only after ignition has started and gives a signal too late
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by detecting thermal decomposition products (such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and other volatile organic compounds) that are released during the pre-fire stage before actual ignition occurs. The infrared spectroscopy device monitors these decomposition products in real-time, enabling early warning of overheating conditions before they progress to open flame, thus resolving the contradiction between detection reliability and detection timing.
2Reliability
If temperature change sensors with microprocessor control are used, then continuous monitoring is provided, but the device cost is relatively high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex electronic temperature sensing and microprocessor control systems with an optical detection system based on infrared spectroscopy. Instead of using expensive electronic sensors and digital processing units, the invention uses infrared light absorption characteristics of thermal decomposition products to detect pre-fire conditions, achieving continuous monitoring functionality at lower cost through optical rather than electronic means.
3Reliability
If electromagnetic releases in circuit breakers are used for protection, then short circuit protection is provided, but they cannot detect prolonged breakdown with increased resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by creating a detection system that can identify multiple types of electrical faults through a single mechanism. The infrared spectroscopy-based system detects thermal decomposition products regardless of whether the underlying cause is short circuit, prolonged resistance increase, or other electrical malfunctions. This multi-functional approach extends protection capability beyond what electromagnetic releases alone can provide, covering both sudden short circuits and gradual degradation scenarios.
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
The solution enables early and reliable detection of pre-fire situations by releasing odorants at defined temperatures, reducing the risk of false alarms and ensuring continuous monitoring, allowing for timely intervention before ignition occurs.
Implementation Method 1
A polymeric composite material filled with sulfur dioxide, low-molecular-weight mercaptans, or dialkyl sulfides, using thermosetting polymers that release odorants at specific temperatures
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to the means for controlling pre-fire situations resulting from local overheating of electrical equipment and is intended to prevent fires arising as a result of such malfunctions, in particular faults in wall outlets. Character of the invention: The polymer composite material which continuous phase consists of a thermosetting polymer, is filled with an odorant that is sulfur dioxide, low-molecular-weight mercaptans, dialkyl sulfides, dialkyl disulfides or mixtures thereof and has an explosive destruction temperature in the range of 80-200 ° C, can be used to generate a signal for local overheating of electrical equipment. In some embodiments of the invention, the odorants, in pure form or as a solution, can be contained inside the microcapsules with a shell of polymeric material distributed in the polymer binder. In other embodiments of the invention, the polymeric composite material is a polymer gel formed by crosslinked polymer particles swollen in an odorant solution placed in a polymeric matrix. In other embodiments of the invention, the polymeric composite material is a sorbent particles with an odorant occluded thereon, placed in a thermosetting polymeric matrix. In other embodiments of the invention, the polymeric composite material is porous polymer particles with closed-type pores or channels filled with an odorant or odorant solution placed in a polymeric matrix.