Thermal Pattern Fire Detection for Selective Extinguishing Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing extinguishing systems often trigger false alarms and extinguish unnecessarily due to thermal interference from vehicles, such as hot mufflers and exhausts, leading to unnecessary damage and inefficiency.
Innovation Solution
An extinguishing system with an electronic controller and image processing device that evaluates thermal images to distinguish critical hotspots from non-critical sources by comparing image regions with stored patterns, and uses noise and vibration analysis to confirm fire presence before activating extinguishing agents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If thermal monitoring is used to detect fires in warehouses, then fire detection capability is improved, but false alarms occur due to thermal interference from vehicles and machinery
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal image is segmented into multiple evaluation zones (center zone, intermediate zone, outer zone) with different weightings. The center zone has higher weighting for detecting actual fire sources, while outer zones help identify thermal interference from surrounding vehicles and machinery. This spatial segmentation allows the system to distinguish between genuine fire threats and background thermal noise.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the thermal image are assigned different evaluation criteria and weightings. The center evaluation zone uses stricter temperature thresholds and higher weightings for alarm triggering, while outer zones use more lenient criteria to account for expected thermal interference from vehicles. This local differentiation of evaluation quality enables the system to maintain high sensitivity where needed while reducing false alarms in peripheral areas.
2Reliability
If extinguishing agent is discharged quickly in large amounts to ensure reliable firefighting, then fire suppression effectiveness is improved, but damage from unnecessary discharge increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary evaluation actions before triggering extinguishing discharge. Multiple evaluation zones are assessed, temperature trends are analyzed over time, and thermal patterns are compared against stored references to confirm actual fire presence. Only after this preliminary verification that a genuine fire threat exists does the system activate the extinguishing agent, preventing waste from false alarms while ensuring rapid response to real fires.
3Measurement precision
If thermal monitoring thresholds are set low for early fire detection, then detection sensitivity is improved, but thermal interference from hot exhaust and engines is misidentified as fire
Solution Approach 1:
The system adds spatial dimensionality to temperature evaluation by dividing the thermal image into multiple zones with different weightings. Instead of using a single global temperature threshold, the system evaluates temperatures in the center zone, intermediate zone, and outer zone separately, with the center zone having higher weighting. This dimensional approach allows low thresholds to detect early fires while the spatial distribution pattern helps distinguish them from peripheral thermal interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates and stores reference thermal patterns from normal operating conditions, including thermal signatures of vehicles and machinery during daytime and nighttime operations. These stored references are copied and compared against current thermal images to identify and filter out recurring thermal interference patterns, allowing the system to maintain low detection thresholds without false alarms from known interference sources.
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
Reduces false extinguishing events by accurately identifying fire sources, minimizing damage, and ensuring efficient use of extinguishing agents.
Implementation Method 1
an image processing device (14) which evaluates image regions (22) indicating a hotspot (6)
Data Source
AI summary
A method for operating an extinguishing system comprises—an electronic controller (15) with a computer module (18) for data processing and a memory device (17), wherein the controller (15) comprises an image processing device which receives and evaluates data from a camera (8), —at least one extinguishing agent dispenser (9) connected to the controller, which extinguishing agent dispenser is connected to an extinguishing agent line for supplying extinguishing agent and—at least one camera (8) connected to the controller. The image processing device evaluates image regions that indicate a hotspot (6) with regard to isothermal regions (22), compares these regions (22) with stored patterns and, depending on the comparison, controls the extinguishing agent dispenser (9) to discharge extinguishing agent or prevents the discharge of extinguishing agent.