Zoned Electrical Fire Protection with Gas Smoke Heat Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fire protection systems for large electrical installations are not effective in preventing fires or their consequences, as they cannot directly address incipient fires in fuse boxes and other risk areas with electrical causes.
Innovation Solution
A fire protection system comprising detectors, a central unit, and switching devices that detect gas, smoke, or heat from electrical arcing, overloading, or short circuits, triggering a signal to the central unit to activate a switching device and cut off power supply to the fault location, while also alerting external warning systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If gas sensors with a gas sensor circuit are used to detect gas from incipient fires, then fire detection capability is improved, but the system cannot be directly applied to large electrical installations
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the large electrical installation into multiple protected zones, each equipped with its own detector and switching device. The central control unit coordinates these segmented components to provide comprehensive protection across the entire installation, making the fire protection system adaptable to large-scale applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The fire protection system is designed with universal components that can be applied to various types of electrical installations regardless of size. The modular architecture with standardized detectors, switching devices, and central control enables the same system design to serve both small and large installations.
2Reliability
If switching devices are activated to cut off power supply immediately upon detecting incipient fire, then fire prevention effectiveness is improved, but equipment damage and productivity loss increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system activates switching devices to cut off power supply at the earliest stage of incipient fire detection, before the fire can spread and cause significant damage. This preliminary action prevents catastrophic failures while isolating only the affected zone, minimizing impact on overall system productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
By dividing the electrical installation into protected zones with individual switching devices, the system isolates only the specific area where incipient fire is detected. This segmented approach maintains power supply to unaffected zones, preserving productivity while ensuring fire prevention effectiveness.
3Reliability
If multiple detectors and switching devices are deployed throughout the installation, then fire detection and isolation capability is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the electrical installation into protected zones, each with its own detector and switching device. This segmentation provides comprehensive fire protection coverage while organizing the system into manageable modular units that simplify installation and maintenance despite the multi-component architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The central control unit serves as a common coordinating element that merges the functions of multiple detectors and switching devices into a unified system. This centralization simplifies control logic and system management while maintaining the distributed detection and isolation capabilities across the entire installation.
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 prevents incipient fires from developing by quickly isolating the fault location, allowing for quick repair without damaging equipment and providing a pre-warning option to manage sensitive equipment shutdowns, with environment-friendly detector options and robust power supply variants.
Implementation Method 1
Detectors placed in fuse boxes and/or risk areas will detect gas/smoke/heat that is released from equipment and cables when overheating/incipient fire occurs
Implementation Method 2
The detectors can be placed in fuse boxes, risk areas and in electrical equipment/appliances that may be at risk of fire with an electrical cause
Implementation Method 3
When a switching device is activated by the central unit, it will break the current supply to the fault location in question and thus stop the incipient fire
Data Source
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AI summary
A system for detecting and preventing an electrical fire in a domestic electricity distribution system comprising an intake fuse box, a main distribution panel comprised in a main panel housing, a subdistribution panel comprised in a subpanel housing, a main power circuit connecting the intake fuse box to the main distribution panel, and a sub power circuit connecting the main distribution panel to the subdistribution panel. First, second and third gas, smoke and heat detectors are arranged in respective ones of said intake fuse box, said main panel housing, and said subpanel housing, and being adapted to provide respective first, second and third low level outputs if subjected to a gas, smoke or heat exceeding a first threshold and to provide respective first, second and third high level outputs if subjected to a gas, smoke or heat exceeding a second threshold. A remote controlled main level circuit breaker is arranged in the main power circuit, a remote controlled sub level circuit breaker is arranged in the sub power circuit, and a controller unit has first, second and third inputs connected to respective ones of said first, second and third gas, smoke and heat detectors for receiving respective ones of said first, second and third low and high level outputs, an alarm output, and first and second breaker control outputs connected to respective ones of said main level and sub level circuit breakers.