Detection of Fires by Gas Sensors

Abstract

Research and development of automatic gas-sensor fire-detection systems are presented. An application in a mature state, the detection of smoldering fire in power plants, is described to some detail. First drafts of test procedures for gas-sensor fire-detection systems for general use and more specialized for aircrafts are sketched, these will guide the work on future systems. Signal evaluation discriminating a threatening fire from a non-threatening condition even at gas concentrations of only a few ppm is discussed. Gas sensors with potential for fire detection, especially with low-power consumption for building applications are described. Some of these sensors are just leaving the research labs. More selective sensors and arrays for detection at high background levels of those gases usually used for fire detection are pointed out. New functions of software for integration in industrial alarm control centers allow central parameter adaption to the surroundings of detector location.