Early Detection of Emissions Preceding Fires from Overloaded Electric Cables: Approach with Thermo-Cyclically Operated MOG Sensor Arrays and Numerical Signal Analysis

摘要

A thermodynamically operated multi metal oxide sensor array is introduced together with a novel signal analysis approach for early detecting the emissions from overheated isolation cable materials used in electrical cabinets. The principal sensor element is a thermo-cyclically operated four sensing layer array, which can yield conductance signatures appropriate to specifically identify gases. The obtained conductance profile shapes bear good capability for detection and identification of pyrolysis gas emissions at relatively low sample heating temperatures even before a color-change of the polyvinyl chloride (PVC)-isolation is visible. The dynamic conductance signals were evaluated using SimSens, a numerical analysis tool designed for simultaneous evaluation of conductance profiles. The results show promising pyrolysis gas identification and concentration determination capabilities in relation to the conductance profile shapes of model gases like carbon monoxide (CO) and propene.