Development of an Economical Video Based Fire Detection and Location System.
Development of an Economical Video Based Fire Detection
and Location System.
(2617 K)
Plumb, O. A.; Richards, R. F.
NIST GCR 96-695; 73 p. July 1996.
Sponsor:
National Institute of Standards and Technology,
Gaithersburg, MD
Available from:
National Technical Information Service
(NTIS), Technology Administration, U.S. Department of
Commerce, Springfield, VA 22161.
Telephone:
1-800-553-6847 or 703-605-6000;
Fax: 703-605-6900; Rush
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Website:
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Order number: PB96-193743
Keywords:
fire detection systems; cameras; fire protection; fire
research; heat transfer; industrial plants
Abstract:
A method of detecting, locating, and sizing accidental
fires based on the solution of an inverse heat transfer
problem is described and a prototype video fire
detection system employing that method is presented.
The inverse heat transfer problem to be solved is that
of the convective heating of a compartment ceiling by
the hot plume of combustion gases rising from an
accidental fire. An inverse problem solution algorithm
capable of determining the location and heat release
rate of the fire employing transient temperatures at the
ceiling of the compartment as data is developed. A
prototype system based on the use of a video camera to
monitor an array of temperature-sensitive,
color-changing sensors and capable of supplying the
transient temperature data needed by the inverse problem
solution algorithm is described. The limits on the
accuracy of the inverse problem solution algorithm are
demonstrated by exercising the algorithm, on transient
temperature data from computer simulated compartment
fires. The performance of the prototype video fire
detection system is demonstrated by employing it to
determine the location and heat release rate of a small
flame source in a lab scale test enclosure.
Building and Fire Research Laboratory
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, MD 20899