Self-Heating Sensor Array for Continuous Fire Sprinkler Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Monitoring and testing of fire sprinkler systems with flow switches are complex and require frequent manual inspections, posing a burden on property owners and managers, and existing automated systems do not provide continuous checking between regular maintenance intervals.
Innovation Solution
A monitoring apparatus with at least three sensors, including temperature sensing devices, that can detect fluid characteristics by self-heating and comparing responses to determine the fluid's properties, allowing for continuous testing and easy identification of faulty sensors without disrupting the system, using a power circuit with variable and fixed current sources, and a comparison circuit to output test signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual inspection and testing of flow switches is performed regularly, then system reliability is maintained, but maintenance burden and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring device performs self-testing by automatically heating its own temperature sensing elements and comparing their responses to detect faults. The device uses its three temperature sensing devices to test itself without requiring external manual intervention, thereby maintaining reliability while eliminating maintenance time burden
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors and tests the temperature sensing devices between scheduled maintenance intervals, detecting potential faults before they lead to system failure. This preliminary detection approach maintains system reliability while reducing the frequency and intensity of manual maintenance interventions
2Productivity
If automated monitoring systems are implemented, then manual inspection frequency is reduced, but continuous monitoring capability is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring device continuously performs self-tests by repeatedly heating and comparing the responses of its three temperature sensing devices. This continuous automated monitoring operates between scheduled maintenance intervals, providing uninterrupted surveillance that enhances both productivity and reliability simultaneously
3Measurement precision
If multiple temperature sensing devices are used for comparison, then fault detection accuracy improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each of the three temperature sensing devices serves dual purposes: they function as operational sensors for fire detection and simultaneously as test subjects for self-diagnosis. By comparing the heating responses of these multi-functional sensors, the system achieves high fault detection accuracy without adding dedicated test equipment, thereby limiting complexity increase
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 continuous monitoring and quick identification of faulty sensors, reducing the need for frequent manual inspections and improving safety and reliability by providing on-demand checking and verification of the sprinkler system's functionality.
Implementation Method 1
each comprising a probe arranged to enclose a temperature sensing device
Implementation Method 2
the first current source and the second current source arranged to power respective first and second temperature sensing devices so as to cause self heating
Data Source
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AI summary
There is described a monitoring apparatus comprising at least three sensors capable of detecting a characteristic of a fluid, the sensors located within a fluid to be monitored; each sensor comprising a probe arranged to enclose a temperature sensing device; a power circuit including a first current source, a second current source and a third current source, the first current source connected to a first temperature sensing device, the second current source connected to a second temperature sensing device, the third current source connected to a third temperature sensing device, the first current source and the second current source arranged to power respective first and second temperature sensing devices so as to cause self heating of the first temperature sensing device and the second temperature sensing device to a first temperature; the third current source arranged to power the third temperature sensing device so as to cause a minimum self heating of the third sensing device to a second temperature; wherein the first temperature is a higher temperature relative to the second; a sensing circuit connected to each said sensor, each circuit comprising a member arranged to compare the voltage across a temperature sensing device and to output a signal indicative of a response of the probe of the temperature sensing device, a first comparator and a second comparator and a comparison circuit for comparing the response of the second temperature sensing device with the response of the first temperature sensing device and adapted to output a second compare signal, and an output circuit adapted to receive a test signal and comprising means for indicating the characteristics of the fluid to be monitored.