EP3474250B1 - Method and detector system for detecting a flame event - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a method for detecting a flame event by a detector system, the detector system having a radiation detector and at least one camera detector and monitoring a detection area by the radiation detector and the at least one camera detector for occurrence of flame events. The invention further relates to a detector system for detecting a flame event, comprising a radiation detector and at least one camera detector for monitoring a detection area for the occurrence of flame events.

STATE OF THE ART

In modern technology, for example in industrial production plants, it is generally known to provide for the detection or detection of flame events. If necessary, an alarm can also be carried out after such detection of a flame event. In certain areas, the presence of appropriate detector systems is sometimes even required by law.

For the detection of flame events, for example, radiation detectors can be used, which in particular monitor an environment of the radiation detector for the occurrence of a radiation signature characteristic of flame events, particularly preferably in the infrared spectral range. Often, internal evaluations of the measured radiation, for example on radiation modulations, such as are caused by flame events, can cause flame events very quickly, often within 300 ms or faster, and usually also with a low error rate can be detected. Such a radiation detector is, for example, from the US 5,375,159 known. A disadvantage of such radiation detectors can, however, be that they are only designed for global monitoring of a detection area, so that a flame event is detected as soon as such a flame event occurs in the detection area of the radiation detector. Radiation detectors can therefore not be used, or at least only to a limited extent, in areas in which planned flame events, for example flaming and / or flares, are provided.

Other known detectors for detecting flame events are camera detectors, which record image sequences in the visual and / or infrared spectral range, for example. As soon as an indication for a flame event is recognized in one of the images, these image sequences can be subjected to a subsequent image analysis, in which a flame event can be detected reliably and with a low error rate, in particular by image-by-image observation. This precise image analysis is often time-consuming, so that, especially in comparison to radiation detectors, camera detectors can only provide reliable detection of a flame event after a certain time, often several seconds. In addition to this disadvantage of a slow detection speed, camera detectors have the advantage, however, that areas in the images captured by the camera detectors can be excluded from the image analysis and thus the monitoring for flame events. Such flame cameras are for example from the US 6 696 958 as well as the US 7,609,852 known.

In US 5 734 335 describes a system that monitors a forest and detects and reports a fire early on. Several spatially distributed detectors 1 each generate images which are transmitted to a control center 2 and displayed there on screens 6 and recorded on video recorders 7. Each detector 1 comprises a rotatably mounted video camera 11, a drive 12 for rotating the video camera 11, an infrared sensor 10 for detecting heat sources, a weather sensor 14 and a control device 13. The control device 13 evaluates signals from the infrared sensor 10 and in doing so forms the derivative of Infrared signals, among other things to discover the sun as a large heat source as well as minor heat sources and to exclude a corresponding false alarm due to the sun or a minor heat source.

The fire monitoring system 1 from DE 10 2012 213125 A1 comprises a first surveillance camera 4 with a field of view 6 and a second surveillance camera 5 with a field of view 7. The two surveillance cameras 4, 5 can be designed as thermal imaging cameras or cameras in the infrared range between 700 and 950 nm. The two fields of view 6 and 7 are on a common one Monitoring area 8 directed. The surveillance images 4.1 and 5.1 are forwarded to an evaluation device 9 which can detect a fire 2 and in particular smoke 3 on the surveillance images 4.1 and 5.1 and can determine the position of the fire 2 in a three-dimensional coordinate system. An optional masking module 11 masks temporary disruptive objects, for example a crane 13 that runs through.

The detection device 1 of DE 10 2008 001 383 A1 comprises an optical device 3, which performs a section of a monitoring area on a sensor element 2. The sensor element 2 is, for example, a CCD chip, a CMOS chip or a camera. In one embodiment, the detection device 1 is arranged on a ceiling 12 of a room.

Starting from this prior art, the object of the invention was to at least partially eliminate these disadvantages of methods and detection systems for detecting flame events. It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a method and a detector system for detecting a flame event, which enable a quick and easy in a particularly simple and cost-effective manner To enable flame events to be detected as error-free as possible in areas in which desired and planned flame events are also expected.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The above object is achieved by a method for detecting a flame event by a detector system with the features of independent claim 1. Furthermore, the object is achieved by a detector system for detecting a flame event with the features of independent claim 16. Further features and details of the invention result from the dependent claims, the description and the drawings. Features and details that are described in connection with the method according to the invention apply, of course, also in connection with the detector system according to the invention and vice versa, so that the various aspects of the invention always refer to one another or can be.

1. a) Festlegen zumindest eines Ausschlussbereichs im Detektionsbereich des Detektorsystems,
2. b) Auswerten des Strahlungsdetektors zum Erkennen eines Strahlungsereignisses,
3. c) bei Vorliegen eines in Schritt b) erkannten Strahlungsereignisses Durchführen einer Erstauswertung des zumindest einen Kameradetektors zum Erkennen einer Kameraindikation,
4. d) bei Vorliegen einer in Schritt c) erkannten Kameraindikation Durchführen einer Überprüfung, ob die Kameraindikation außerhalb des in Schritt a) festgelegten zumindest einen Ausschlussbereichs angeordnet ist, und
5. e) bei Vorliegen eines positiven Ergebnisses der Überprüfung in Schritt b) Detektieren eines Flammenereignisses im Detektionsbereich außerhalb des zumindest einen Ausschlussbereichs.

According to a first aspect of the invention, the object is achieved by a method for detecting a flame event by a detector system, the detector system having a radiation detector and at least one camera detector and monitoring a detection area by the radiation detector and the at least one camera detector for occurrence of flame events. A method according to the invention is characterized by the following steps:

1. a) defining at least one exclusion area in the detection area of the detector system,
2. b) evaluating the radiation detector to detect a radiation event,
3. c) in the presence of a radiation event identified in step b), performing an initial evaluation of the at least one camera detector in order to recognize a camera indication,
4. d) if a camera indication identified in step c) is present, a check is carried out to determine whether the camera indication is arranged outside the at least one exclusion area defined in step a), and
5. e) if there is a positive result of the check in step b) detecting a flame event in the detection area outside the at least one exclusion area.

A method according to the invention is provided for detecting a flame event. During a method according to the invention, a detector system is used, the detector system having at least one radiation detector and at least one camera detector. A detection area of the detector system is monitored by the radiation detector and the at least one camera detector during an implementation of a method according to the invention in order to detect the occurrence of flame events. The detection area of the detector system in the sense of the invention is formed in particular by the overlap of the detection areas of the detectors used. An additional evaluation of measurement data of the individual detectors, which are determined outside this overlap area, is possible. The radiation detector can preferably be designed to recognize a specific radiation signature, for example a wavelength band, of such a flame event. The at least one camera detector, in turn, is preferably designed to record image data of the detection area, and can provide at least one indication for the presence of a flame event in the detection area by means of an initial evaluation.

In a first step a) of a method according to the invention, at least one exclusion area is defined in the detection area of the detector system. This exclusion area is preferably defined in such a way that it covers an area in the detection area that is covered by the detector system should not be monitored. For example, these can preferably be areas in which planned flame events, for example flaming, are provided and can also occur when carrying out a method according to the invention or when operating a corresponding detector system. Such exclusion areas can thus provide that a method according to the invention can also be used where such planned and intended flame events are carried out without these being recognized as, in particular, undesired flame events. The entire detection area can in particular also be defined as the exclusion area.

In the following step b) of a method according to the invention, the radiation detector is evaluated in order to detect the presence of a radiation event. Such a radiation event can preferably be caused by an occurrence of a flame event in the detection area, for example as a characteristic radiation signature of such a flame event recognized by the radiation detector. Radiation detectors can usually provide this quickly and with a low error rate. After step b) has been carried out, information is therefore available as to whether there could be a flame event in the detection area that was recognized by the radiation detector as a radiation event.

If such a radiation event has been recognized in step b), an initial evaluation of the at least one camera detector is carried out in the following step c). In particular, a camera indication can be recognized as a result of this initial evaluation of the at least one camera detector. A camera indication is in particular a result of the initial evaluation, in which indications of a flame event in the detection area are recognized in at least one of the images recorded by the camera detector. If a camera detector were operated as the sole detector, a second evaluation, in particular, would follow the detection of such a chamber indication an image-by-image analysis, the measurements of the camera detector are carried out in order to reliably detect the flame event and in particular to exclude incorrect identifications. Such an image-by-image analysis preferably includes a time series analysis by means of which a temporal course of image elements, in particular image elements on which the camera indication is based, can be tracked and assessed. In summary, in the case of a flame event that actually exists, after performing step c), in addition to the radiation event recognized in step b), there is a camera indication, so that in other words, at least one indication from both detectors, both the radiation detector and the at least one camera detector for an existing flame event in the detection area.

In the following step d), if there is a camera indication recognized in step c), it is checked whether this camera indication is arranged outside the at least one exclusion area defined in step a). This represents a step of a method according to the invention, which is essential to the invention, since in this step in particular it is checked whether the possible presence of the flame event indicated by the camera indication is located at a position which is to be excluded from monitoring by defining the exclusion area. In particular, this makes it possible to distinguish between planned flame events, which are preferably arranged in areas of the detection area that are covered by the at least one exclusion area, and undesired, possibly harmful flame events outside of this at least one exclusion area. Possible desired flame events, for example flaming, can be carried out in this way and can be excluded from detection again by defining the exclusion area in step d), without this impairing detection of unwanted, possibly harmful flame events.

In the last step e) of a method according to the invention, a flame event is finally detected if the check in step d) is positive Has delivered the result. In particular, the flame event in step e) is detected outside the at least one exclusion area. In summary, the flame event is thus detected by the presence of both a radiation event and a camera indication, the camera indication in particular being located outside the at least one exclusion area. In this way, flame events can be detected in the detection area, an exclusion area again being excluded in the detection area. By using the radiation detector and merely evaluating the at least one camera detector for the first time, the inventive method enables the flame event to be detected in a particularly rapid manner and with a low error rate. In addition, the method according to the invention can be carried out by using two detectors in one detector system, for example also by a particularly compact detector system. For example, the two detectors can also be arranged in a common housing. In particular, no flame event is also detected if, for example, no radiation event is already detected in step b), no camera indication is detected in step c) and / or in step d) the camera indication is arranged within the defined at least one exclusion area.

• f) Durchführen einer Erstauswertung des zumindest einen Kameradetektors zum Erkennen einer Kameraindikation,
• g) bei Vorliegen einer in Schritt f) erkannten Kameraindikation Durchführen einer Zweitauswertung des zumindest einen Kameradetektors zum Erkennen eines Kameraereignisses,
• h) bei Vorliegen eines in Schritt g) erkannten Kameraereignisses Durchführen einer Überprüfung, ob das Kameraereignis außerhalb des in Schritt a) festgelegten zumindest einen Ausschlussbereichs angeordnet ist, und
• i) bei Vorliegen eines positiven Ergebnisses der Überprüfung in Schritt h) Detektieren eines Flammenereignisses im Detektionsbereich außerhalb des zumindest einen Ausschlussbereichs.

Furthermore, a method according to the invention can be further developed such that the following steps are carried out in the absence of a radiation event identified in step b):

• f) performing an initial evaluation of the at least one camera detector to identify a camera indication,
• g) if a camera indication recognized in step f) is present, performing a second evaluation of the at least one camera detector to detect a camera event,
• h) if a camera event recognized in step g) is present, carrying out a check as to whether the camera event is arranged outside the at least one exclusion area defined in step a), and
• i) if there is a positive result of the check in step h) detecting a flame event in the detection area outside the at least one exclusion area.

According to this embodiment, a camera indication is recognized if an indication of an inflamed event is recognized in at least one image and in the detection area. A camera event is recognized by a second evaluation, the second evaluation being a subsequent image analysis.

In this particularly preferred further development of a method according to the invention, it is taken into account that the radiation detector can also have a certain error rate, in particular with regard to flame events which are not recognized as a radiation event in the radiation detector. In step f) of this embodiment of a method according to the invention, an initial evaluation of the at least one camera detector is carried out in order to recognize a camera indication, even if a radiation event is not detected. If such a camera indication is recognized, a second evaluation of the at least one camera detector is carried out in the next step g). This second evaluation can include an image analysis, preferably an image-by-image analysis of a plurality of images of the detection area recorded by the at least one camera detector. In this second evaluation, a camera event can be recognized, which likewise indicates the presence of a flame event in the detection area. In order to take into account possible desired flame events that are to be excluded by specifying the exclusion area in step a), in the following step h), if a recognized camera event is present, it is again checked whether the camera event is arranged outside the defined exclusion area. If this is not the case, the detection is terminated and no flame event is detected. However, should the recognized camera event be arranged outside the defined exclusion area, a flame event is recognized in the final step i). This flame event is in turn arranged outside the defined exclusion area. In this way, in this particularly preferred embodiment of a method according to the invention, it can be provided that even better detection of flame events outside the exclusion area can be provided, in particular a reduction in the overall error rate by excluding Unrecognized flame events can be provided by the radiation detector.

In a method according to the invention, it can also be particularly preferred that an alarm signal is output when a flame event is detected in step e) and / or in step i). In this way, an alarm can be made possible if a positive detection of a flame event is indicated by a method according to the invention. The alarm signal can in particular be output directly by the detector system, for example as an optical and / or acoustic alarm signal. Alternatively or additionally, the alarm signal can also be passed on to a downstream alarm unit, for example as an electrical and / or electronic signal. Downstream alarm units in the sense of the invention can be, for example, control systems, but also rescue organizations, such as a fire brigade or the like. Comprehensive notification of the surroundings, in particular for example to initiate countermeasures against the flame event, can be made possible in this way.

In addition, it can be provided in a method according to the invention that steps b) to e) and / or steps b) and f) to i) are carried out continuously or at least essentially continuously. An uninterrupted or at least essentially uninterrupted monitoring of the detection area for the occurrence of flame events outside the exclusion area can be provided in this way. In particular, the evaluation of the radiation detector in step b) and the carrying out of the first evaluation and / or the second evaluation of the at least one camera detector in steps c), f) or g) can preferably also be carried out simultaneously and also continuously or at least essentially continuously ,

In addition, a method according to the invention can be designed such that an infrared detector is used as the radiation detector. Infrared detectors are particularly preferred radiation detectors, since flame events mostly have clearly recognizable heat signatures and thus characteristic radiation signatures in the infrared range. Control measurements in other wavelength ranges can also be carried out with infrared detectors in order to improve the measurement accuracy of a radiation detector designed as an infrared detector. In addition, infrared detectors can also be designed to check changes in time, such as flickering or changing a size, of the flame event. A measurement accuracy of the radiation detector designed as an infrared detector can thereby be further improved. As an alternative or in addition, other wavelength ranges can also be monitored by appropriate special training of the radiation detector, for example in order to detect flame events from hydrogen fires particularly reliably.

A method according to the invention can also be designed such that a VIS flame camera and / or an IR flame camera are used as the camera detector. These are particularly preferred embodiments of a camera detector, a VIS flame camera monitoring the detection range in the visual spectral range, an IR flame camera monitoring the detection range in the infrared spectral range. Flame cameras are designed in particular to carry out an initial evaluation for quickly providing a camera indication, ie, a first indication that a flame event could be present. Downstream of the camera indication there is usually an image processing as a second evaluation, in particular an image-by-image analysis, by means of which an actual presence of a flame event can be recognized with high accuracy. In other words, flame cameras can particularly quickly provide a first indication of a flame event, whereby an exact detection of a flame event with a low error rate can be provided by a subsequent image processing.

In a method according to the invention, it can be particularly preferably provided that at least two camera detectors are used, wherein for detecting a flame event in step e) at least one of the camera detectors detects a camera indication arranged outside the at least one exclusion area defined in step a) and / or for the detection of a flame event in step h), at least one of the camera detectors detects a camera event arranged outside the at least one exclusion area defined in step a). In this embodiment of a method according to the invention, at least two camera detectors are used, which can be used in particular in parallel and / or independently of one another. As a result of the fact that a camera indication and / or a camera event only has to be detected by one of the two camera detectors outside the at least one exclusion area defined in step a), a further reduction in false alarms and / or undetected flame events can be provided. In other words, the two camera detectors can be used as redundant units. As soon as at least one of the camera detectors detects a camera indication or a camera event, a flame event is detected.

A method according to the invention can also be further developed in such a way that two camera detectors are used, a VIS flame camera being used as the first camera detector and an IR flame camera being used as the second camera detector. In this particularly preferred embodiment, two different flame cameras are used as camera detectors. In particular, the two flame cameras are designed such that they monitor two different spectral bands, the visual spectral band and the infrared spectral band. A further improvement in the detection reliability of a flame event in the detection area can be provided in this way.

According to a further development of a method according to the invention, it can further be provided that steps c) to e) are only carried out for the VIS flame camera, with steps c) to e being missing in the absence of a camera indication of the VIS flame camera recognized in step c) ) for the IR flame camera. In other words, in this preferred embodiment, the VIS flame camera is first evaluated for recognizing a camera indication and the IR flame camera is only used if the VIS flame camera does not recognize a recognized camera indication. In other words, after a radiation event has been detected by the radiation detector, which preferably works in the infrared range, the VIS flame camera is used for checking in order to include two different radiation ranges or spectral ranges as early as possible when carrying out a method according to the invention in the detection of the flame event. If the VIS flame camera does not detect a camera indication, the additional use of the IR flame camera can prevent or at least make it significantly more difficult to overlook a flame event.

As an alternative or in addition, a method according to the invention can be further developed such that steps f) to g) are only carried out for the VIS flame camera, with steps f) to i) being carried out for a camera event recognized in step g) for the VIS flame camera for the IR flame camera. In this embodiment of a method according to the invention, it is taken into account that the VIS flame camera mostly has a higher error rate, and thus a triggering of false alarms, than an IR flame camera. In this embodiment of a method according to the invention, the VIS flame camera can therefore be checked by the IR flame camera. This can increase security in the case of a recognized and detected flame event. Step h) of a method according to the invention, in which a check of the recognized camera event for an arrangement within or outside the exclusion area is carried out, can also be carried out for the VIS flame camera separately or in addition together with the IR flame camera in a single execution of step h).

In addition, a method according to the invention can alternatively be further developed in such a way that steps f) to g) are only carried out for the VIS flame camera, with steps f), h) and in the case of a camera event recognized in step g) for the VIS flame camera i) are carried out for the IR flame camera, in step h) if there is a camera indication of the IR flame camera recognized in step f), a check is carried out as to whether the camera indication is arranged outside the at least one exclusion area defined in step a). In this embodiment of a method according to the invention, too, it is taken into account that the VIS flame camera usually has a higher error rate than an IR flame camera. In this embodiment of a method according to the invention, therefore, the VIS flame camera can be checked by the IR flame camera, in this alternative embodiment the measurements of the IR flame camera are only checked for the presence of a camera indication. Security in the case of a recognized and detected flame event can thereby be increased and, at the same time, the entire implementation of a method according to the invention can be accelerated by not having to carry out a second evaluation of the IR flame camera.

Furthermore, according to a preferred further development of a method according to the invention, a flame event can be detected in step i) if a VIS location of the camera event of the VIS flame camera and an IR location of the camera event of the IR flame camera match or at least essentially match , In this way it can be avoided that the two flame cameras recognize camera events which are arranged at different positions. A flame event is only detected by a method according to the invention in this embodiment if both locations, both the VIS location and the IR location, match. Another In this way, it is possible to reduce an error rate and thereby avoid and prevent false alarms due to incorrectly recognized flame events.

In addition, a method according to the invention can be designed such that step f) is only carried out for the VIS flame camera, with steps f) to i) for the IR if the camera indication of the VIS flame camera recognized in step f) is missing -Flame camera are running. In other words, in this embodiment of a method according to the invention, no indication of the presence of a flame event is generated either by the radiation detector or by the VIS flame camera. If a camera indication and a corresponding camera event that lies outside the exclusion range are nevertheless detected by the IR flame camera, a flame event is also recognized overall in this case. Even if the flame event is incorrectly detected by the radiation detector and the VIS flame camera, reliable detection of the flame event can thus be provided by a method according to the invention.

According to a second aspect of the invention, the object is achieved by a detector system for detecting a flame event, comprising a radiation detector and at least one camera detector for monitoring a detection area for the occurrence of flame events. A detector system according to the invention is characterized in that the detector system is designed to carry out a method according to the first aspect of the invention. In this way, a detector system according to the invention brings with it all of the advantages which have already been listed in detail in connection with a method according to the first aspect of the invention.

In a detector system according to the invention, it can particularly preferably be provided that the radiation detector and the at least one camera detector are arranged in a common housing. To this In this way, a particularly compact embodiment of a detector system according to the invention can be provided.

A detector system according to the invention can also be developed in such a way that a radiation detection area of the radiation detector and a camera detection area of the at least one camera detector are congruent or at least essentially congruent. A detection area of the entire detector system results in particular from the overlap of the radiation detection area of the radiation detector and the camera detection areas of the camera detectors used. Because the radiation detection area and the camera detection area are congruent or at least essentially congruent, a particularly large detection area of the entire detector system can be provided. In particular, areas that cannot be monitored by all or even only a single one of the detectors used can be minimized or preferably even avoided entirely.

As described above, the detection area of the detector system in the sense of the invention is formed in particular by the overlap of the detection areas of the detectors used. An additional evaluation of measurement data of the individual detectors, which are determined outside this overlap area, is possible. As an alternative to a congruence, the radiation detection area can, for example, be designed to be significantly larger than the camera detection area, which in particular can be designed to match the planned flames. In this case, the radiation detector is used for the actual monitoring for flame events, the detector system according to the invention or the method according to the invention making it possible to hide the desired flames.

In a detector system according to the invention, it can also be particularly preferred that the radiation detector is designed as an infrared detector and / or the at least one camera detector is designed as a VIS flame camera and / or as an IR flame camera. As already described above, these Detectors represent particularly preferred embodiments of a radiation detector or a camera detector. In particular, the detector system can have both an infrared detector and a VIS flame camera and additionally an IR flame camera. A particularly reliable detection of a flame event, which can be carried out particularly quickly, with a low error rate, can be provided in this way.

Figur 1

eine erste Ausgestaltungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens,

Figur 2

eine zweite Ausgestaltungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens, und

Figur 3

ein erfindungsgemäßes Detektorsystem.

Further measures improving the invention result from the following description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, which are shown in the figures. All of the features and / or advantages arising from the claims, the description and the drawings, including structural details and spatial arrangements, can be essential to the invention both individually and in the various combinations. Elements with the same function and mode of operation are provided with the same reference symbols in the drawings. They show schematically:

Figure 1

a first embodiment of a method according to the invention,

Figure 2

a second embodiment of a method according to the invention, and

Figure 3

an inventive detector system.

In the Fig. 1 and 2 Possible embodiments of a method according to the invention are shown, as can be carried out by a detector system 1 according to the invention. A possible embodiment of a detector system 1 according to the invention is shown in FIG Fig. 3 shown. The 1 to 3 are described below together, with the details of the individual figures being discussed separately in each case.

Fig. 3 shows a detector system 1 according to the invention, which is designed to detect a flame event 4 in a detection area 3 of the detector system 1. The detector system 1 shown has a radiation detector 10 and two camera detectors 20, which are arranged in a common housing 2. A particularly compact embodiment of a detector system 1 according to the invention can be provided in this way. The radiation detector 10 is designed in particular as an infrared detector 12. The two camera detectors 20 are designed as a VIS flame camera 22 and as an IR flame camera 23. The detection area 3 of the detector system 1 results from the overlap of the radiation detection area 11 of the radiation detector 10 and the camera detection areas 21 of the two camera detectors 20. The detection areas 11, 21 of the individual detector subsystems 10, 20 are shown in FIG Fig. 3 marked with different lines and are preferably congruent, as shown, at least essentially, except for small edge sections. Next is in Fig. 3 visible that both a flame event 4 and a flame 6 are arranged in the detection area 3 of the detector system 1.

A flame 6 represents a desired and / or planned flame event, with no flame event 4 in particular being to be recognized by the detector system 1 when the flame 6 occurs. This can be provided in that in each embodiment of a method according to the invention in a first step a), in which Fig. 1 and 2 denoted by A, an exclusion region 5 is defined in the detection region 3. This exclusion area 5 is preferably defined in such a way that possible flames 6 are completely covered by this exclusion area 5.

In the next step b), in Fig. 1 and 2 denoted by B, the radiation detector 10 is evaluated in order to detect a radiation event 30.

The following is the in Fig. 1 shown possible embodiment of a method according to the invention further described. If a radiation event 30 recognized in step b) is present, in the next step c), in Fig. 1 denoted by C, a camera detector 20 is evaluated in order to recognize a camera indication 41. In the in Fig. 1 In step c), the method shown is first subjected to the VIS flame camera 22 of the initial evaluation 40. If a camera indication 41 is ascertained during this initial evaluation 40, this is shown in the next step d), in the left branch of the in Fig. 1 shown D designated, subjected to a check 50 whether the camera indication 41 recognized by the VIS flame camera 22 is arranged inside or outside the exclusion area 5. If the result of this check 50 is positive, ie the flame event 4 is recognized outside the exclusion area 5, in the next step e), in Fig. 1 designated E, a flame event 4 is detected in the detection area 3 outside the at least one exclusion area 5. Based on this detection of the flame event 4, an alarm signal 7 can subsequently be output.

If no camera indication 41 is recognized in step c) during the initial evaluation 40 of the VIS flame camera 22, it is shown in the right branch of the in Fig. 1 illustrated method, step c) for the IR flame camera 23 and this also subjected to an initial evaluation 40. If a camera indication 41 of the IR flame camera 23 is recognized during this initial evaluation 40, this camera indication 41, which is now provided by the IR flame camera 23, is again checked in the following step d) as to whether it is arranged inside or outside the exclusion area 5. If the result of this check 50 is that the camera indication 41 is arranged outside the exclusion area 5, the flame event 4 is again detected in the last step e) of a method according to the invention. It is also conceivable here to send out a downstream alarm signal 7.

In the Fig. 2 The embodiment of a method according to the invention shown relates to the case when no radiation event 30 is detected in step b) when evaluating the radiation detector 10. In this case, in the next step f), in Fig. 2 denoted by F, an initial evaluation 40, for example of the VIS flame camera 22, can be carried out. If a camera indication 41 is recognized during this initial evaluation 40, the left branch becomes the one in FIG Fig. 2 Shown embodiment of a method according to the invention in the next step g), in Fig. 2 denoted by G, a second evaluation 42 of the VIS flame camera 22 is carried out. As a result of this second evaluation 42, a camera event 43 of the VIS flame camera 22 can be recognized. The second evaluation 40 can preferably be, for example, a downstream image analysis, in particular an image-by-image analysis. A particularly reliable, albeit time-consuming, detection of a flame event 4 can be provided by this second evaluation 40. If a camera event 43 of the VIS flame camera 22 is present, steps f) and g) are repeated for the IR flame camera 23. As a result, the security when detecting a flame event 4 can be increased and, in particular, incorrect identifications by the VIS flame camera 22 can be avoided. If a camera indication 41 is recognized during the first evaluation 40 of the IR flame camera 23 (step f), a second evaluation 42 can also be carried out for the IR flame camera 23 in step g). As a result of this second evaluation 42 of the IR flame camera 23, a camera event 43 of the IR flame camera 23 can again be obtained. Alternatively, it is also possible to repeat only step f) for the IR flame camera 23 in order to recognize a camera indication 41. The following step h), in Fig. 2 denoted by H in turn includes a check 50, in this embodiment of the locations of the camera event 43 both of the VIS flame camera 22 and of the IR flame camera 23. In the alternative embodiment, the location of the camera event 43 becomes the location of the camera indication 43 41 of the IR flame camera 23 checked. If, for both flame cameras 22, 23, the check 50 shows that the respective camera event 43 or the camera indication 41 is outside the exclusion area 5, in the next step i), in Fig. 2 labeled I, a flame event 4 is detected. In step i) it can also be checked whether a VIS location 24 of the camera event 43 of the VIS flame camera 22 and an IR location 25 of the camera event 43 of the IR flame camera 23 match. This correspondence can also be used as a condition that must be fulfilled in order to detect a flame event 4 in step i). An alarm signal 7 can also be transmitted downstream of the detection of the flame event 4 in this embodiment of a method according to the invention.

Should be shown in the right branch of the method according to the invention in Fig. 2 In the first executed step f), in which an initial evaluation 40 of the VIS flame camera 22 is carried out, no camera indication 41 is recognized, steps f) to i) can also be carried out for the IR flame camera 23 alone. In step f), an initial evaluation 40 of the IR flame camera 23 is carried out in order to obtain a camera indication 41 of the IR flame camera 23. If this camera indication 41 is present, a second evaluation 42 IR flame camera 23 is carried out in step g) in order to obtain a camera event 43. In the following step h), the location of the camera event 43 is checked to determine whether it is outside the exclusion area 5. If this check 50 is positive, a flame event 4 outside the exclusion area 5 in the detection area 3 of the detector system 1 is recognized in step i) and an alarm signal 7 is subsequently output.

In addition, all steps of the method according to the invention, in particular steps b) to e) or b) and f) to i) can be carried out continuously or at least essentially continuously. In summary, a particularly rapid and in particular also safe and precise detection of a flame event 4 can be provided in a detection area 3 by a detector system 1 according to the invention or by a method according to the invention, wherein an exclusion area 5 can be defined in particular in the detection area 3, which can be determined by the detection by the detector system 1 is excluded. A quick and At the same time, reliable detection of flame events 4 also in areas in which, for example, flames 6 are provided can be provided in this way.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

detector system

2

casing

3

detection range

4

flames event

5

exclusion area

6

singeing

7

alarm

10

radiation detector

11

Radiation detection area

12

infrared detector

20

camera detector

21

Camera detection range

22

VIS flames camera

23

IR flame Camera

24

VIS-site

25

IR site

30

radiation event

40

initial evaluation

41

camera indication

42

second evaluation

43

camera event

50

Verification

Claims (19)

1. Method for detecting a flame event (4) by means of a detector system (1), wherein the detector system (1) has a radiation detector (10) and at least one camera detector (20) and monitors a detection area (3) for the occurrence of flame events (4) by means of the radiation detector (10) and the at least one camera detector (20),

   a) comprising the following steps:
   determining at least one exclusion area (5) in the detection area (3) of the detector system (1),

   b) evaluating the radiation detector (10) in order to identify a radiation event (30),

   characterized by the following steps:

   c) if a radiation event (30) identified in step b) is present, carrying out a first evaluation (40) of the at least one camera detector (20) in order to identify a camera indication (41),

   d) if a camera indication (41) identified in step c) is present, carrying out a check (50) in order to determine whether the camera indication (41) is arranged outside the at least one exclusion area (5) determined in step a), and

   e) if there is a positive result of the check (50) in step d), detecting a flame event (4) in the detection area (3) outside the at least one exclusion area (5).
2. Method according to Claim 1,
   characterized in that
   at least two camera detectors (20) are used, wherein, for the purpose of detecting a flame event (4) in step e), a camera indication (41) arranged outside the at least one exclusion area (5) determined in step a) is identified at least by one of the camera detectors (20).
3. Method according to Claim 2,
   characterized in that
   two camera detectors (20) are used, wherein a VIS flame camera (22) is used as the first camera detector (20) and an IR flame camera (23) is used as the second camera detector (20).
4. Method according to Claim 3,
   characterized in that
   steps c) to e) are first of all carried out for the VIS flame camera (22), wherein, in the absence of a camera indication (41) of the VIS flame camera (22) identified in step c), steps c) to e) are carried out for the IR flame camera (23).
5. Method according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   an alarm signal (7) is output if a flame event (4) is detected in step e).
6. Method according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   steps b) to e) are carried out continuously or at least substantially continuously.
7. Method according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   a VIS flame camera (22) and/or an IR flame camera (23) is/are used as the camera detector (20).
8. Method according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   the following steps are carried out in the absence of a radiation event (30) identified in step b):

   f) carrying out a first evaluation (40) of the at least one camera detector (20) in order to identify a camera indication (41), wherein a camera indication is identified if an indication of a flame event is identified in at least one image in the detection area,

   g) if a camera indication (41) identified in step f) is present, carrying out a second evaluation (42) of the at least one camera detector (20) in order to identify a camera event (43), wherein the second evaluation is a downstream image analysis,

   h) if a camera event (43) identified in step g) is present, carrying out a check (50) in order to determine whether the camera event (43) is arranged outside the at least one exclusion area (5) determined in step a), and

   i) if there is a positive result of the check (50) in step h), detecting a flame event (4) in the detection area (3) outside the at least one exclusion area (5).
9. Method according to Claim 8,
   characterized in that
   an alarm signal (7) is output if a flame event (4) is detected in step i).
10. Method according to either of Claims 8 and 9,
    characterized in that
    steps b) and f) to i) are carried out continuously or at least substantially continuously.
11. Method according to one of Claims 8 to 10,
    characterized in that
    at least two camera detectors (20) are used, wherein, for the purpose of detecting a flame event (4), a camera event (43) arranged outside the at least one exclusion area (5) determined in step a) is identified at least by one of the camera detectors (20) in step h).
12. Method according to one of Claims 8 to 11,
    characterized in that
    two camera detectors (20) are used, wherein a VIS flame camera (22) is used as the first camera detector (20) and an IR flame camera (23) is used as the second camera detector (20), and wherein steps f) to g) are first of all carried out for the VIS flame camera (22), wherein steps f) to i) are carried out for the IR flame camera (23) if a camera event (43) is identified for the VIS flame camera (22) in step g) .
13. Method according to one of Claims 8 to 12,
    characterized in that
    two camera detectors (20) are used, wherein a VIS flame camera (22) is used as the first camera detector (20) and an IR flame camera (23) is used as the second camera detector (20), and wherein steps f) to g) are first of all carried out for the VIS flame camera (22), wherein steps f), h) and i) are carried out for the IR flame camera (23) if a camera event (43) is identified for the VIS flame camera (22) in step g), wherein a check (50) is carried out in step h), if a camera indication (41) of the IR flame camera (23) identified in step f) is present, in order to determine whether the camera indication (41) is arranged outside the at least one exclusion area (5) determined in step a).
14. Method according to Claim 12 or 13,
    characterized in that
    a flame event (4) is detected in step i) if a VIS location (24) of the camera event (43) of the VIS flame camera (22) and an IR location (25) of the camera indication (41) and/or of the camera event (43) of the IR flame camera (23) correspond or at least substantially correspond.
15. Method according to Claim 8,
    characterized in that
    two camera detectors (20) are used, wherein a VIS flame camera (22) is used as the first camera detector (20) and an IR flame camera (23) is used as the second camera detector (20), and wherein step f) is first of all carried out for the VIS flame camera (22), wherein, in the absence of a camera indication (41) of the VIS flame camera (22) identified in step f), steps f) to i) are carried out for the IR flame camera (23).
16. Detector system (1) for detecting a flame event (4), having a radiation detector (10) and at least one camera detector (20) for monitoring a detection area (3) for the occurrence of flame events (4),
    characterized in that
    the detector system (1) is designed to carry out a method according to one of the preceding claims.
17. Detector system (1) according to Claim 16,
    characterized in that
    the radiation detector (10) and the at least one camera detector (20) are arranged in a common housing (2).
18. Detector system (1) according to Claim 16 or 17,
    characterized in that
    a radiation detection area (11) of the radiation detector (10) and a camera detection area (21) of the at least one camera detector (20) are congruent or are at least substantially congruent.
19. Detector system (1) according to one of Claims 16 to 18,
    characterized in that
    the radiation detector (10) is in the form of an IR detector and/or the at least one camera detector (20) is in the form of a VIS flame camera (22) and/or an IR flame camera (23).

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