Method of regulating flow through ventilation hood and fire detection by means of a sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fire suppression systems in exhaust ventilation systems for cooking appliances fail to differentiate between flare-ups from regular cooking and actual fires, leading to unnecessary activation or failure to suppress fires effectively due to reliance on fixed temperature measurements.
Innovation Solution
A method that utilizes a control module with infrared (IR) and optical sensors to determine the status of cooking appliances by measuring radiant and exhaust temperatures, distinguishing between cooking states, flare-ups, and fires through pattern recognition and signal processing, and adjusts exhaust flow rates and activates fire suppression mechanisms accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If fixed absolute temperature measurement is used for fire detection, then the system is simple to operate, but it cannot differentiate between flare-ups and actual fires leading to false alarms or failure to suppress
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from static fixed-temperature thresholds to dynamic multi-parameter monitoring that adapts to different cooking states. By continuously monitoring temperature trends, radiant heat patterns, and exhaust conditions, the system dynamically adjusts detection criteria to distinguish between normal flare-ups and actual fires.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes from single-parameter (fixed temperature) detection to multi-parameter detection including temperature trends, radiant heat intensity, exhaust flow conditions, and temporal patterns. This parameter expansion enables reliable differentiation between cooking flare-ups and fire conditions.
2Reliability
If exhaust flow rate is continuously high to ensure fire suppression capability, then fire suppression reliability is improved, but excessive air exhaust increases energy loss and reduces system efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The exhaust flow rate transitions from continuous high operation to dynamic adjustment based on real-time cooking state detection. The system maintains high flow rates only when fire conditions are detected or cooking activity requires it, otherwise reducing to minimal necessary flow to capture cooking emissions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses sensor feedback from temperature, radiant heat, and exhaust monitoring to continuously adjust exhaust flow rates. This closed-loop control ensures adequate flow for fire suppression capability while minimizing energy waste during normal cooking operations.
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
Effectively differentiates between normal cooking and fire conditions, ensuring minimal excess air exhaust and efficient fire suppression by regulating exhaust flow rates and activating fire suppression mechanisms only when necessary, thereby improving safety and reducing false alarms.
Implementation Method 1
A method that utilizes a control module with infrared (IR) and optical sensors to determine the status of cooking appliances by measuring radiant and exhaust temperatures
Implementation Method 2
A method that utilizes a control module with infrared (IR) and optical sensors to determine the status of cooking appliances
Data Source
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AI summary
Systems, devices, and methods for determining whether a fire condition exists based on a status of a cooking appliance, and systems, devices, and methods for controlling an exhaust air flow rate in an exhaust air ventilation system based on the status of the cooking appliance. At least one sensor type generating a predefined signal is used to detect fire condition and appliance cooking state, the predefined signal being applied to a controller which differentiates, responsively the predefined signal, in combination with other sensor signals, at least two cooking states each of the cooking states corresponding to at least two exhaust flow rates which the controller implements in response to the controller's differentiation of the two states and which predefined signal is simultaneously used to differentiate a fire condition, in response to the differentiation of which, the same controller activates a fire suppression mechanism.