PASSIVE MICROWAVE SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROTECTING A STRUCTURE FROM FIRE THREATS

• US 20110155397A1
• Filed: 01/06/2011
• Published: 06/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Icove & Associates LLC
• Original Assignee: Icove & Associates LLC
• Inventors: Banwarth, David M., Lyster, Carl T., Icove, David J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,493,212 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 169/43
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 11/006 using measurement of the effect of a material on microwaves or longer electromagnetic waves, e.g. measuring temperature via microwaves emitted by the object G01K17/003, G01J5/00 take precedence; measuring the effect of a material on X-, gamma- or particle radiation G01K11/30
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/189 using passive radiation detection systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/10 Actuation by presence of smoke or gases , e.g. automatic alarm devices for analysing flowing fluid materials by the use of optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/12 Actuation by presence of radiation or particles, e.g. of infrared radiation or of ions
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 19/005 combined burglary and fire alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/183 Single detectors using dual technologies G08B13/1672, G08B13/2448, G08B13/2494 take precedence

Abstract

An automatic fire suppression system used to provide protection of window glass and other structural elements in aircraft terminals which are exposed to exterior fires caused by natural, accidental, or intentional events comprises a directional passive microwave receiver, a central processor for processing received microwave signals over time and comparing the received signals over time with thermal event signatures stored in memory to selectively actuate a sprinkler system for protecting the window glass in the vicinity of an identified fire event. The memory may further store a model of the aircraft terminal, and the processor utilizes a fire dynamics simulator to simulate a thermal event at the terminal. A related fire suppression process involves the detection of incipient fires through an array of exterior passive microwave heat sensor fire detectors connected to an electronic control processor which identify zones such as 30 to 100 linear foot zones of exterior glass surface and automatically initiates an array of quenching sprinkler heads applying water to the exposed surfaces of glass and other structural elements in response to detection of an identified fire event by its signature.

Claims

1. An integrated fire detection, protection and suppression system for a glass structure comprising

a plurality of passive microwave receivers comprising at least one directional receiver located for receiving passive microwave radiation emitted in an area to be protected, the passive microwave receivers operating within a range of frequencies not being used for active radiation in the area to be protected and for outputting an electrical signal proportional to a passively received level of microwave radiation over time;

a signal processor for receiving the electrical signal output of the plurality of passive microwave receivers and for comparing the received electrical signal output with a reference level and with characteristic event signature data and outputting a signal indicating a significant fire event;

a memory connected to the signal processor for storing characteristic thermal event signature data for one of a fuel fire, a motor, an electrical fire and a human being;

an exterior sprinkler system for protecting the glass structure, the data processor actuating the sprinkler system for protecting the glass structure responsive to the significant fire event signal output.

2. The system of claim 1, said memory further storing one of an animal and a human radiation signature data for comparison with the received electrical signal output.

3. The system of claim 1, the exterior sprinkler system comprising a plurality of between ten and thirty sprinklers for protecting between 30 and 100 meters of linear glass structure orthogonal to an aircraft refueling location.

4. The system of claim 3, the exterior sprinkler system comprising a deluge valve and a plurality of valves associated with said plurality of sprinklers.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising an interior sprinkler system having sprinklers on an interior side of the glass structure.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising an infrared imaging sensor for thermal imaging of an exterior of the glass structure.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising a smoke detector for detecting smoke near an exterior of the glass structure.

8. The system of claim 1, the signal processor for running a fire dynamics simulator model and the memory for storing an airport model including a location of a passive microwave directional receiver and an associated unique identifier.

9. The system of claim 1 further comprising an input from a wind velocity and direction meter associated with the glass structure to be protected.

10. The system of claim 8 further comprising an input from a wind velocity and direction meter associated with the glass structure to be protected.

11. The system of claim 5 wherein the glass structure comprises first and second panes of tempered and heat-strengthened glass.

12. A method of detecting a particular fire event at a particular location and suppressing a fire associated with the detected fire event comprising

storing a plurality of different thermal event signatures in memory including at least a vehicle operation signature and a fuel fire signature according to received electrical signal level of a microwave frequency over time, the microwave frequency being selected as a frequency not being used for active microwave signal transmission at the particular location;

detecting the electrical signal level corresponding to the microwave frequency passively received over time from at least one directional passive microwave receiver, the electrical signal for transmission to a central processor;

comparing a value of the electrical signal of the detected microwave frequency over time at the central processor with the different thermal event signatures;

determining a fuel event signature and location proximate to a glass structure from the detected microwave frequency over time at the central processor; and

selectively actuating a sprinkler system for protecting the glass structure responsive to the determination of a fuel event signature.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising receiving an input of exterior temperature associated with the glass structure.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising receiving an input of wind velocity and direction associated with the glass structure.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the determination comprises using a fire dynamics simulator.

16. The method of claim 13 further comprising storing a model of a structure including the glass structure and an associated exterior in memory including a location of a directional passive microwave receiver.

17. The method of claim 13, the selective sprinkler actuation comprising actuating a plurality of between ten and thirty sprinklers for between 30 and 100 linear meters of glass structure as a sprinkler system zone orthogonal to a detected fire event.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein first and second directional passive microwave receivers are operable to detect a fire, the paricular location of a fire being determined by triangulation.

19. An integrated fire detection, protection and suppression system comprising

a plurality of passive microwave receivers comprising at least one directional receiver including a directional antenna located for receiving passive microwave radiation emitted in an area to be protected in a direction of the antenna reception, the passive microwave receivers operating within a range of frequencies not being used for active radiation in the area to be protected and for outputting an electrical signal proportional to a passively received level of microwave radiation over time;

a signal processor for receiving the electrical signal output of the directional passive microwave receiver and for comparing the received electrical signal output with a reference level and with characteristic event signature data and outputting a signal indicating a significant event including a fire event;

a memory connected to the signal processor for storing characteristic thermal event signature data;

a sprinkler system for protecting a structure susceptible to fire, the data processor actuating the sprinkler system for protecting the structure responsive to the significant event signal output when the significant event is a fire event.

20. The system of claim 19 for protecting a hangar having walls and wherein said plurality of passive microwave receivers comprises first and second passive microwave receivers at different locations proximate to different walls of the hangar, the first and second passive microwave receivers having directional antennae pointed from respective walls toward the center of the hangar whereby a fire event may be detected and located in the protected area of the hangar.