EP1397789B1 - Device and method for detecting fire sources or gas impurities - Google Patents

Abstract

Fire sources or gas impurities are detected and located in one or several monitoring chambers by a device having a main detector for detecting a fire characteristic value or a gas impurity, into which a part of the ambient air in the monitoring chambers is continuously injected by an intake unit through a line, arranged in each monitoring chamber and provided with intake ports. The advantages of gas inlet systems, such as an active intake and a concealed assembly, is therefore combined with the advantage of the localization of each intake port as well as the detection of a precise fire source or a precise gas impurity. To this end, the device is provided with a sub-detector, arranged on or in the area of at least one intake port per monitoring chamber, for detecting a fire characteristic value or a gas impurity. The sub-detector is capable being switched on by a switch-on signal transmitted by a controller according to a detection signal delivered by the main detector.

Description

The invention relates to a device for detecting and locating fire pits or gas contaminants in one or more monitoring rooms, with a (main) detector for detecting a fire characteristic in which via a arranged in each monitoring room and provided with suction pipe by means of a suction constantly a subset the room air contained in the interstitial space is supplied, as well as a method for single detection of fire or gas contaminants in one or more monitoring rooms with a (main) detector, which is connected via a pipe and attached to this pipe suction with the interstitial space for continuous Removal and monitoring of gas samples from the interstitial space.

Methods and devices of the type in question are known in the art and have been developed against the background that z. As in large halls, high-bay warehouses, raised floors or offices a localization of a source of fire for the Löscheinsatzkräfte prepared considerable difficulties. A single smoke extraction system with a single fire detection unit may - depending on national regulations - monitor a range of up to 2000 m ² , which may include several rooms. In order to allow the firefighting forces a quick localization of the alarm location in the case of use, requirements have been defined, such as B. in Germany in the "Directive for automatic fire alarm systems, planning and installation" (VDS 2095) were laid down. Thereafter, in a reporting area several rooms may be combined only if the rooms are adjacent, their entrances can be easily overlooked, the total area does not exceed 1000 m ² and at the fire alarm panel well visible optical alarm indicator are present, in the event of a fire alarm the Mark the room affected by the fire. In the UK, the standard BS 5839 "Fire detection and alarm system for buildings" is "Part 1 code of practice for system design, installation and servicing". Thereafter, the reporting area of a single monitored zone may not exceed 2000 m ² . Further details are provided for the search distance, which must not be more than 30 m for the optical detection of a fire source within a zone by the emergency services. As a possible detection aid the use of alarm lamps in different places is recommended.

Here, the term "fire characteristic" physical quantities understood that are subject to measurable changes in the environment of a fire, eg. As the ambient temperature, the solids or liquid or gas content in the ambient air (formation of smoke particles or aerosols - or steam), or the ambient radiation.

In the FR 2 670 010 A1 Detector boxes are disclosed which serve to identify the smoke aspirating branch in a branched intake manifold system. This detector box consists of a point-shaped smoke detector with a cable gland installed in a housing for connecting the incoming and outgoing pipes and a beacon on the cover. A disadvantage of this embodiment, however, is that these detector boxes can not be used at every single intake because of their size, their design and their price.

From the WO 00/68909 there is known a method and an apparatus for detecting fires in monitoring rooms, by means of which a localization of a source of fire or the source of contamination of a gas mixture contained in the monitoring spaces is possible. For this purpose, the method uses and contains the corresponding device in each monitoring space two there intersecting pipes by means of which one or more fans continuously subsets of air contained in the interstitial space or gas mixture sucked through provided in the pipes suction and at least one detector for detecting a Fire characteristic or a gas contamination per pipe is supplied. In this case, the localization of the source of the fire or of the source of contamination takes place by a response of both detectors associated with the intersecting pipelines. Multiple rooms are monitored by pipelines arranged in columns and rows in the nature of a matrix and, if appropriate, in each case a collection detector for the column arrangement and the row arrangement. A disadvantage of this known device, however, lies in a rather high installation costs for the matrix-like piping system.

Also from the German Patent DE 3 237 021 C2 is a selective gas / smoke detection system with a number of separately and connected to different measuring points in a room to be monitored suction lines for taking air or gas samples at these measuring points known. In this case, a gas or smoke detector, which is connected to these lines, the presence of a certain gas in the sample when exceeding a set threshold value and outputs a detection signal that controls a display and / or alarm circuit. Provided are also arranged on the individual suction lines shutter valves which cyclically and periodically controlled by a control circuit are excitable. A fire detection by means of this gas / smoke detection system is such that the control unit in the absence of a detection signal, the shutter valves are set so that all intake ports are simultaneously in open communication with the Dektektor, and switches upon receipt of a detection signal in a scanning manner, in which the suction lines to usually one after the other or in groups in open communication with the detector. However, this mode of operation for detecting a source of fire presupposes that the detector can be connected to the respective premises to be monitored via individual and selectively openable supply lines. This means that necessarily a large-scale piping system must be installed in order to produce these individually selectable compounds. The disadvantage of this is also a fairly high installation cost for the necessary suction lines.

From the international patent application WO 93/23736 is also an air pollution / smoke detection device based on a net-shaped intake system with a large number of sampling points at which a gas is taken from the respective space to be monitored. This air pollution / smoke detection device has a number of inlet ports which communicate with the grid-shaped intake system and are individually monitored. Under normal circumstances, all these inlets are open until the detection device detects air contaminants / smoke. By selective closing of the inlet openings can then be easily made a limitation and detection of the fire zone. But the operation of this recognition device requires an extensive installation of suction pipes, which must form a lattice-shaped structure to ensure safe detection of a fire. Again, this is the Disadvantage of this known device to see in a high installation costs for the piping system.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and a method for detecting sources of fire or gas contamination, which combines the advantages of known Gasansaugsysteme, such as active suction and hidden mounting, with the advantage of locating each individual intake and thus the detection of a specific fire or herd a concrete gas pollution in a simple and cost-effective manner.

The object is achieved by a device as claimed in claim 1.

It is an essential idea that with a targeted opening and closing of the valves in one or more monitoring areas, a source of fire or a source of gas contaminants can be localized using the more or less charged with fire or gas indicators gas stream. With a method or leakage of a gas line to be described below, the iterative localization is thus possible, for example. a source of fire possible.

Advantageous developments of the device according to the invention are specified in the dependent claims 2 to 6.

Preferably, a wireless, radio-based communication between transmitting and receiving module is provided, which e.g. ensures a particularly reliable control in case of fire. Of course, it is also conceivable, on a local scale, for a lightwave-based communication, e.g. in the infrared range or a communication in the ultrasonic range.

The solenoid valves are provided in their simplest and least expensive form with a conical closure body and a matching molded seat. For flow reasons - to avoid too great Ansaugwiderständen - but also a spherical closure body is possible, which ensures a minimum turbulence of the gas flow to the valve. Constructively, combinations of e.g. Conical closure body and spherical housing of the solenoid possible to exclude excessive throttle effect.

For rapid detection of fire characteristics or gas contaminants in the gas stream, it is advantageous if the valves are open at rest, so do not need to be activated first to suck air from all intake ports. The magnetic coil is preferably de-energized to save power. In a pull valve, a spring holds the open valve in the open position until the coil is energized and the valve is retracted against the seat. It is also possible to use lift valves, which closed without tension, and only after the excitation of the coil raised, that is to be opened.

It is also advantageous if the solenoid valves have their own voltage source. Especially in connection with a radio control of the valves from the central transmitter module all cabling would be omitted, which would make the valves in case of fire little sensitive to external influences, so extremely reliable.

An alarm display device on or in the region of the solenoid valves can in particular indicate the activation or localization state of the valves acoustically or optically. If a detection is carried out, for example, a flashing signal could be emitted, which indicates the persons in the vicinity of an acute fire hazard or signals an all-clear signal.

1. a) Schließens einer Anzahl von an oder im Bereich der Ansaugöffnungen (3) angebrachten Magnetventilen (20) bei Erkennen von im Gasstrom enthaltenen Brandkenngrößen oder Gasverunreinigungen durch den Haupt-Detektor (1);
2. b) Feststellens einer Zunahme bzw. Abnahme der im Gasstrom erkannten Brandkenngrößen oder Gasverunreinigungen im Vergleich zum vorangegangenen Schritt;
3. c) Schließens einer Anzahl der offenen Ventile (20) bei Zunahme der Brandkenngrößen oder Gasverunreinigungen; oder
4. d) Schließens der offenen Ventile (20) und Öffnens einer Anzahl der im vorangegangenen Schritt geschlossenen Ventile (20) bei Abnahme der Brandkenngrößen oder Gasverunreinigungen;
5. e) Durchlaufens der Schritte b) bis d) so lange, bis keine Zunahme der im Gasstrom enthaltenen Brandkenngrößen oder Gasverunreinigungen mehr feststellbar ist, oder das zuletzt geöffnete Ventil (20) auf den Brandherd bzw. die Quelle der Gasverunreinigungen hinweist; und
6. f) Anzeigen des Brandherdes bzw. der Quelle der Gasverunreinigungen mit Hilfe eines Alarmsignals durchlaufen werden.

The object of the present invention is also achieved by a method for individual detection of fire sources or gas contaminants, in which the method steps of

1. a) closing a number of solenoid valves (20) mounted on or in the region of the suction openings (3) when detecting fire parameters or gas contaminants contained in the gas flow through the main detector (1);
2. b) determining an increase or decrease of the detected in the gas stream fire characteristics or gas contaminants compared to the previous step;
3. c) closing a number of the open valves (20) as the fire characteristics or gas contaminants increase; or
4. d) closing the open valves (20) and opening a number of the valves (20) closed in the previous step upon decrease of the fire characteristics or gas contaminants;
5. e) running through steps b) to d) until no more increase in the fire characteristics or gas contaminants contained in the gas stream is detectable, or the last opened valve (20) indicates the source of the fire or gas pollution; and
6. f) displaying the source of the fire or gas pollution by means of an alarm signal to go through.

The solenoid valves can be grouped together in groups, wherein initially a group of valves is closed when fire characteristics or gas contamination is detected at the main detector. If the measured number of these fire or gas indicators increases, this is an indication that more air is coming in from valves, e.g. taken from the direct fire area, so the contribution of unloaded air from the environment of the closed valves has been omitted. In this case, the still open valves are now closed in groups, again determining whether there is an increase or decrease in the fire or gas indicators at the main detector. In the case of a decrease, it can be concluded that now the valves in the environment e.g. the fire was closed, after which the proportion of unloaded air increases. In this case, the previously closed valves are opened again and other valves are closed.

The iterative procedure is carried out until finally no decrease in the fire or gas indicators is detected, thus one or - in larger premises such. Warehouses - or a group of valves were located, which are at or next to the fire. This is finally displayed by means of an alarm signal.

Advantageous developments of the device according to the invention are specified in the dependent claims 8 and 9.

Preferably, a warning signal is then emitted at or in the region of all solenoid valves or at the entrance door to the affected room in step a) of the localization process. At the start of the localization process, for example, all the alarm indicators could flash, while at the end of which only the alarm indicator at the source of the fire - eg over the front door - changes to steady light, while all others are off.

In order to warn people in the context of a fire, it is advantageous if a warning signal on or in the area of the open solenoid valves during the localization process in steps b) to e) flashes.

Figur 1:

einen seitlichen Querschnitt durch die Räume R1, R2, R3 mit einer darin angebrachten Vorrichtung zur Detektion von Bränden gemäß dem Stand der Technik;

Figur 1A:

eine Draufsicht auf die Räume der Figur 1;

Figur 2:

einen seitlichen Querschnitt durch die Räume R1, R2, R3 mit einer darin angebrachten Vorrichtung zur Detektion von Brandherden gemäß der vorliegenden Erfindung;

Figur 2A:

eine Draufsicht auf die Räume der Figur 2; und

Figur 3A:

eine geschnittene Seitenansicht eines in einem Ansaugstutzen angeordneten offenen Magnetventils;

Figur 3B:

eine geschnittene Seitenansicht des Magnetventils aus Fig. 4A, jedoch nun geschlossen;

Figur 4:

eine schematische Übersicht über die gruppenweise Zuordnung von Ventilen zur Erläuterung des erfindungsgemäßen Lokalisierungsverfahrens.

In the following we will explain the present invention with reference to a concrete embodiment. Show it:

FIG. 1:

a side cross-section through the spaces R1, R2, R3 with a device for detecting fires according to the prior art mounted therein;

FIG. 1A

a plan view of the rooms of Figure 1;

FIG. 2:

a side cross-section through the spaces R1, R2, R3 with a device for detecting fire sources mounted therein according to the present invention;

FIG. 2A

a plan view of the rooms of Figure 2; and

FIG. 3A:

a sectional side view of a arranged in an intake open solenoid valve;

FIG. 3B:

a sectional side view of the solenoid valve of Figure 4A, but now closed.

FIG. 4:

a schematic overview of the group assignment of valves to explain the localization method according to the invention.

The same or equivalent parts are shown below with the same reference numerals.

Figure 1 shows a side cross-section through the spaces R1, R2, R3 with a prior art fire detecting apparatus mounted therein. In particular, it is possible to recognize a pipeline 5 connecting all the illustrated spaces R1, R2, R3, which has suction openings 3, 3 ', 3 "in the spaces R1, R2, R3 and which is connected in the space R1 to an arrangement which comprises a main detector 1 and a suction unit 7. If the suction unit 7 is in operation, room air is taken from the spaces R1, R2, R3 via the suction openings 3, 3 ', 3 "and fed to the main detector 1 via the pipe 5.

FIG. 1A shows a plan view of the rooms of FIG. 1, wherein a room R4 (corridor) connecting the rooms R1, R2, R3 can be seen. The embodiment of a device for detecting fires according to the prior art shown here can easily recognize that a single detection of fire sources in the individual rooms R1, R2, R3 with such a device is not possible. The main detector 1 can perform no assignment of a fire characteristic to the region of origin in the intake air through the pipe 5.

FIG. 2 shows a lateral cross section through the spaces R1, R2, R3 with a device for detecting fire sources mounted therein in accordance with the present invention. Compared to the prior art embodiment of Figure 1 and Figure 1A, only a few but critical components are added. Thus, in the embodiment of FIG. 2, the suction openings 3, 3 ', 3 "are equipped with sub-detectors 9, 9', 9", which are switched on by the main detector 1 in the event of the detection of a fire parameter. The switching on of the sub-detectors 9, 9 ', 9 "is in this embodiment of a controller 11 made via a corresponding radio signal. This controller 11 can be seen in a plan view in FIG. 2A, which shows a cross section through the spaces R1, R2, R3 of FIG. 2 along the section AA. 2A, corresponding sub-alarm display devices 12, 12 ', 12 "are also provided in the region of the doors of the room R4 (corridor) to the rooms R1, R2, R3. Thus, a fire parameter is detected by the main detector 1 and recorded in FIG the sequence via the controller 11, the activation of all sub-detectors 9, 9 ', 9 "triggered, can be detected on these sub-detectors 9, 9', 9" of the fire in one or more of the rooms R1, R2, R3. These sub-detectors 9, 9 ', 9 "are in communication with the sub-alarm indicators 12, 12', 12" and signal the location of the fire in the room R4, so that incoming fire fighting forces can advance without further ado directly to the scene. Since the sub-detectors 9, 9 ', 9 "communicate with the controller 11 via radio, the transfer of the fire data via the controller 11 to an alarm display device in a central part of the building or in a fire panel is also possible.

FIG. 3A shows a sectional side view of an open solenoid valve 20 arranged in an intake manifold, which consists of a closure body 21 which is pulled into its seat 22 with a magnetic coil 23. The control of the valve 20 is wired by the central transmission module via the line 24th

Figure 3B shows a sectional side view of the solenoid valve of Fig. 3A, but now in the closed state. To reduce the throttle resistance, the design of the valve 20 is also possible with a spherical closure body 21, and / or with a housed in a spherical housing coil 23.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic overview of the group-wise assignment of valves to explain the localization method according to the invention. When the main detector detects an incipient fire, it starts an iterative localization process. In the example, 5 intake ports (v1 to v5) are considered for monitoring 5 separate spaces. If now the two valves v1 and v2 are closed, but the other v3, v4, v5 remain open, e.g. the measured smoke level. The source of the fire is thus to be found in the group of closed valves v1 and v2. Then valves v3, v4, v5 and v1 are closed, leaving only v2 open. If the measured smoke level increases, the source of the fire is located at v2. Otherwise, v1 would be the source of the fire. It can be seen from the drawing that with 5 suction openings the fire can be localized after a maximum of 3 steps.

In general, the quantity of smoke-sucking intake openings is subdivided stepwise into 2 groups until this quantity contains only a single intake opening. With n steps, one can thus locate one from 2 ⁿ intake openings, as shown in the following table: Number of suction openings Number of steps to localize 1 ... 2 1 3 ... 4 2 5 ... 8 3 9 ... 16 4 ... ... (2 ^n-1 +1) ... 2 ⁿ n

Claims (9)

1. A device for detecting and localizing fire sources or gas impurities in one or more monitored chambers (R₁, R₂... R_n) comprising:

   - a main detector (1) for detecting a fire characteristic or a gas impurity, said detector being continuously supplied by means of an intake unit (7) with a portion of the ambient air contained within the monitored chambers (R₁, R₂... R_n) through a pipeline (5) provided with intake ports (3) arranged in each respective monitored chamber (R₁, R₂... R_n),

   - one magnetic valve (20) each on or in the proximity of at least one intake port (3) per each monitored chamber (R₁, R₂... R_n); and

   - a controller (11), by means of which each magnetic valve (20) is closed or opened by a switch-on signal in response to the detection signal issued by the main detector (1) which indicates the magnitude of the fire characteristics or the gas impurities contained within the gas flow, wherein the controller (11) has a central transmit module for emitting the switch-on signal,

   characterized in that
   a receive module is provided on each magnetic valve (20) for receiving the switch-on signal and that the controller (11) emits the switch-on signal subject to the temporal gradients of the magnitude of fire characteristics or gas impurities contained in the gas flow measured by the main detector.
2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the central transmit module can be in or can enter into wireless contact with the corresponding receive module of each magnetic valve (20).
3. The device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the magnetic valves (20) exhibit a conical or spherical-shaped closure body (21) and a valve seat (22) configured to fit same.
4. The device according to claims 1 to 3, wherein the magnetic valves (20) are open when at rest and the magnetic coil (23) is de-energized.
5. The device according to claims 1 to 4, wherein the magnetic valves (20) are provided with their own voltage source.
6. The device according to claims 1 to 5 further comprising an alarm indicator device (12) on or in the proximity of each magnetic valve (20).
7. A method for individually detecting fire sources or gas impurities in one or more monitored chambers (R₁, R₂... R_n) by means of a main detector (1) connected to said monitored chambers (R₁, R₂... R_n) by way of a pipeline (5) and intake ports (3) provided on said pipeline (5) for the continuous extraction and monitoring of gas samples from the monitored chambers (R₁, R₂... R_n);
   characterized by the following method steps:

   a) closing a number of magnetic valves (20) mounted on or in the proximity of the intake ports (3) upon the main detector (1) detecting fire characteristics or gas impurities within the gas flow;

   b) determining an increase or decrease in the fire characteristics or gas impurities detected in the gas flow in comparison to the previous step;

   c) closing a number of open valves (20) upon an increase in the fire characteristics or gas impurities; or

   d) closing the open valves (20) and opening a number of the valves (20) which were closed in the previous step upon a decrease in the fire characteristics or gas impurities;

   e) continuing to cycle through steps b) to d) until no increase in fire characteristics or gas impurities can be detected within the gas flow or until the last open valve (20) identifies the fire source or the source of the gas impurities; and

   f) indicating the fire source or the source of the gas impurity by means of an alarm signal.
8. The method according to claim 7,
   characterized by
   a warning signal at or in the proximity of all magnetic valves (20) in step a) of the detection process.
9. The method according to claims 7 and 8,
   characterized by
   a warning signal at or in the proximity of the open magnetic valves (20) during steps b) to e) of the detection process.

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