Integrated Tunnel Sensor Combining Visibility and Gas Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current tunnel monitoring sensors are difficult to assemble and maintain, and they often produce false alarms, leading to costly consequences such as tunnel closure and increased ventilation system operation, due to the need for separate sensor modules and complex evaluations.
Innovation Solution
A tunnel monitoring sensor with a common housing integrating both visibility and gas concentration sensor modules, along with an electronic logic unit that generates a combined environmental condition signal, reducing the risk of false alarms by bundling and evaluating signals within the sensor itself, and allowing for direct connection to control units for more effective action.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If separate sensor modules are used for visibility and gas concentration monitoring, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases and ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensor modules (visibility sensor, gas concentration sensor, temperature sensor, humidity sensor) and a control unit into a single integrated housing. This merging approach maintains the measurement precision of individual sensors while reducing device complexity and improving ease of operation through unified installation and maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated sensor system performs multiple functions simultaneously - monitoring visibility, gas concentration, temperature, and humidity - all within a single device. This multi-functionality allows the system to detect various environmental conditions (fog, smoke, fine dust, traffic jams) without requiring separate specialized devices.
2Measurement precision
If separate sensor modules are used for visibility and gas concentration monitoring, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating all sensor modules and the control unit into a single housing with unified electrical connections, the system becomes easier to install and maintain. Operators no longer need to handle multiple separate modules and their individual wiring, reducing installation time and simplifying maintenance procedures.
3Measurement precision
If individual sensor evaluations are performed separately, then measurement precision is improved, but false alarms increase
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit receives signals from all sensor modules and performs combined evaluation, using feedback from multiple sources to make more reliable decisions. For example, it distinguishes between fog (high visibility obstruction without gas concentration increase) and smoke/fire (simultaneous visibility obstruction and gas concentration increase), thereby reducing false alarms while maintaining measurement precision.
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 integrated solution simplifies installation, reduces false alarms, and enables more precise classification of environmental conditions, allowing for timely and effective responses to disturbances, while also simplifying maintenance and reducing operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
The ambient air of the tunnel monitoring sensor can enter the housing through the air inlet opening, so that the first sensor module can, for example, use the light scattering over a predetermined distance to determine the visibility.
Implementation Method 2
Visibility in the tunnel and the concentrations of CO and NO are determined on the basis of light absorption.
Data Source
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AI summary
The sensor (11) has a scattered light-sensor module (22) outputting a digital obscuration signal (23). A gas concentration-sensor module (25) outputs a digital gas concentration signal (27). The modules are integrated in a common housing (12). An electronic linkage unit (31) is accommodated in the housing. The linkage unit receives the obscuration signal and the gas concentration signal, and outputs a combined environmental condition signal (33) via a standard interface e.g. PROFIBUS interface, due to linking of the obscuration signal and the gas concentration signal. An independent claim is also included for a tunnel monitoring method for monitoring environmental conditions in a tunnel.