Sensor Head for Dry Powder Fire Extinguishing Agent Calibration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems are unable to measure aerosol cloud fire extinguishing agent concentrations and calibrate dry powder fire suppression systems for aircraft certification, as they lack the capability to measure both aerosol cloud concentrations and ensure sufficient agent distribution across all zones simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
A sensor system with a powderizer calibration column and sensor head that uses a modulated He-Ne laser to measure powder scattering signal intensity, allowing for the calibration and measurement of dry powder agent concentrations through light transmission principles, enabling accurate determination of mass density concentration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a sensor system is designed to measure aerosol cloud fire extinguishing agent concentrations, then measurement capability is improved, but the ability to calibrate for aircraft dry powder fire suppression system certification is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor system is designed to perform multiple functions: it can measure aerosol cloud concentrations during fire suppression system operation and simultaneously calibrate the system using the powderizer calibration column. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by enabling both measurement and calibration capabilities within a single system, making it suitable for both research and aircraft certification purposes.
Solution Approach 2:
The powderizer calibration column acts as an intermediary device that introduces known concentrations of dry powder agent into the measurement path. This intermediary mechanism enables calibration of the sensor system without requiring external calibration equipment, thereby maintaining both measurement and calibration capabilities simultaneously.
2Device complexity
If a single sensor system is used to measure agent concentration in all zones, then system simplicity is improved, but the ability to ensure sufficient agent distribution across all zones simultaneously is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The protected volume is divided into multiple zones with separate sensor heads positioned in each zone. Each sensor head independently measures agent concentration in its specific zone, allowing the system to verify sufficient agent distribution across all zones simultaneously while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular sensor head design.
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 calibrates and measures dry powder agent concentrations, ensuring adequate fire suppression capabilities across all zones, with an error margin of +/- 16 g/m^3, and can be installed in various protected structures like aircraft engine nacelles.
Implementation Method 1
a housing defined along an axis along which light is communicated
Implementation Method 2
measuring the powder scattering signal intensity
Implementation Method 3
A mirror is within the housing to reflect the light through the measurement volume
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 defines a multiple of apertures (52) transverse to the axis, the multiple of apertures being in communication with a measurement volume (66) along the axis. A mirror (62) is within the housing to reflect the light through the measurement volume.