Gas Sensing as a Means of Very Early Fire Detection in Electronics Cabinets

摘要

This paper aims to ascertain whether gas sensing methods could be used as a means of early fire detection within electronics cabinets, specifically on Royal Navy vessels. It has been shown in previous work that certain gases are released from electrical wires and electronic components before smoke particles. It is hoped that the detection of these gases will give a very early indication of an imminent fire within electronics cabinets and reduce false alarms. Part of the work will compare the use of commercially available metal oxide gas sensors and a novel array of surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensors against an advanced, commercially available, laser smoke detector, shown to be the most suitable point detector for the protection of electronics cabinets.