Sensor Head Calibration for Dry Powder Fire Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems are unable to measure aerosol cloud fire extinguishing agent concentrations for aircraft dry powder fire suppression systems and lack calibration for certification purposes, failing to ensure effective fire extinguishing capabilities across all zones.
Innovation Solution
A sensor head and calibration system that uses a powderizer calibration column to calibrate light transmission measurements, allowing for the determination of mass density concentration of dry powder agents, enabling accurate measurement of aerosol cloud concentrations and ensuring sufficient fire suppression capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional detectors are used to measure particles, then particle detection is possible, but the system cannot be calibrated to measure dry powder fire suppression agent concentrations for aircraft certification
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calibration using a powderizer calibration column before actual fire suppression testing. The calibration column is pre-loaded with known concentrations of dry powder agent, allowing the sensor head to establish a baseline relationship between light transmission and agent concentration. This preliminary calibration ensures that subsequent measurements during fire tests are accurate and certification-valid.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary calibration column filled with dry powder agent that mediates between the sensor head and the fire suppression system being tested. This calibration column contains known concentrations of agent and allows the sensor to measure light transmission through controlled agent densities, establishing a calibration curve that links optical measurements to actual agent concentrations for certification purposes.
2Measurement precision
If the sensor head measures light transmission through aerosol cloud, then agent concentration can be determined, but the measurement cannot be calibrated for certification
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor head is designed with multi-functionality to serve both calibration purposes and actual fire suppression testing. The same sensor head that measures light transmission during certification testing is also used during actual fire suppression operations. The calibration column provides a universal reference standard that can be used to calibrate the sensor for any fire suppression system, making the measurement system adaptable to different applications while maintaining certification validity.
3Device complexity
If no calibration system is used, then the measurement system is simpler, but the analyzer cannot prove the fire suppression system is capable of extinguishing fires
Solution Approach 1:
The calibration column is self-contained and pre-loaded with known concentrations of dry powder agent. The system uses the calibration column itself as the reference standard, eliminating the need for external calibration equipment. The column is designed to be inserted into the measurement system and automatically provides calibration references at multiple known concentrations, allowing the system to self-calibrate without requiring complex external equipment or procedures.
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 system effectively measures aerosol cloud concentrations, ensuring that the dry powder fire suppression system can extinguish fires in all protected zones, providing a calibrated and reliable measurement for certification.
Implementation Method 1
The sensor head includes a light source and a detector that communicate with each other through a fiber optic cable. The light source communicates with the detector through a fiber optic cable, passes through the transparent window, enters the measurement volume in communication with the aperture, reflects off the mirror and is communicated through a multiple of the fiber optics to the detector.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3A~3B
Figure 3C
AI summary
A sensor head (24A) for a dry powder agent according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes a housing (50) defined along an axis (S) along which light is communicated, the housing (50) defines a multiple of apertures (52) transverse to the axis (S) and in communication with a measurement volume (72) along the axis (S). Each of the multiple of apertures (52) defines a longitudinal length along the axis (S) which is less than a lateral length defined around the axis (S). A mirror (62) is within the housing to reflect the light through the measurement volume (72).