Background
Some cargo aircraft have two layers, a main cargo compartment and a lower cargo compartment. The main cargo hold is in an upper portion of the lower cargo hold and has a larger volume than the lower cargo hold. In addition, rebuilding passenger aircraft into cargo aircraft typically retains the original two-layer layering, namely the passenger cabin and the lower cargo compartment, and rebuilds the passenger cabin into the main cargo compartment.
Both the main cargo compartment and the lower cargo compartment are equipped with separate fire detection systems, including for example smoke detection systems and fire suppression or extinguishing systems. When the fire detection system detects a fire, an alarm indication of the cockpit is triggered and the unit is informed, and the unit executes corresponding fire suppression or fire extinguishing and related emergency procedures.
The ventilation system of the modified cargo aircraft is generally designed such that the air flow enters the main cargo compartment from the ceiling of the main cargo compartment and then passes through the lower cargo compartment triangle and finally out of the aircraft.
When the seal between the lower cargo tank triangle and the interior trim wall panel of the lower cargo tank is poor, air flow is liable to enter the lower cargo tank from the lower cargo tank triangle. In this case, once the main cargo tank catches fire, smoke may follow the airflow from the main cargo tank into the lower cargo tank triangle, and thus penetrate into the lower cargo tank, resulting in false alarms of the fire detection system of the lower cargo tank.
Aiming at the problem that false alarms easily occur in a fire detection system of a lower cargo hold, the fire detection alarm and treatment method of the lower cargo hold which is commonly adopted by the current mainstream machine type comprises the following three steps:
1) The operating procedure is added to the AFM. The AFM adds a preset operation program, namely, after the smoke detection alarm of the main cargo compartment, the main cargo compartment is informed that a false alarm can be generated, and the crew is required to take appropriate actions, such as dispatching personnel to check or directly release the fire extinguishing agent.
However, in the current mainstream model, the addition of an operating program in AFM is only applicable to the case where a false alarm is generated in a cargo hold of a cargo aircraft having a single cargo hold, and the release of fire extinguishing agent in the case of a false alarm causes waste of fire extinguishing agent.
2) Suppressing the lower cargo hold fire alarm signal. When the main cargo compartment fires and the assembly performs a fire extinguishing operation, a fire protection controller of a fire detection system of the aircraft suppresses the lower cargo compartment fire alarm signal.
However, although the fire detector of the lower cargo hold has the problem of false alarm, the fire detector of the lower cargo hold still can correctly alarm, and the fire alarm signal of the lower cargo hold can be completely restrained from being leaked.
3) Inhibit the lower cargo hold fire alarm signal and enable the alternate sensor. The fire alarm signal of the lower cargo hold is restrained, and a standby fire detector is started, and the standby fire detector is backup equipment independent of the fire detector of the lower cargo hold and has a fire detection function.
However, although the backup fire detector can still alert the unit, it takes a certain time to activate the backup fire detector, the alarm response time requirement of the airworthiness requirement is not met, and the fire may be delayed.
Disclosure of Invention
In order to solve the above problems in the prior art, the inventor provides a fire alarm method for a lower cargo hold and a fire detection system for the cargo hold, so as to solve the problem of high false alarm rate in the fire detection system for the lower cargo hold in the prior art.
In a first example of the lower cargo hold fire alarm method, the lower cargo hold fire alarm method includes outputting a lower cargo hold fire alarm signal by a fire controller when at least two lower cargo hold fire detectors are both in a normal state, and outputting a lower cargo hold fire alarm signal by a fire controller when at least one of the at least two lower cargo hold fire detectors is in a failure state or a false alarm state, wherein the fire controller performs a first alarm logic to output the fire alarm signal when the fire controller has received the main cargo hold fire alarm signal, and wherein the lower cargo hold fire detector performs a second alarm logic to output the fire alarm signal when the fire controller has not received the main cargo hold fire alarm signal, wherein the first alarm logic includes a first detection module of the lower cargo hold fire detector and a second detection module both output a module alarm signal, and wherein the fire controller determines that the lower cargo hold detector outputs the fire alarm signal when the first detection module and the second detection module both output the module alarm signal, and wherein the first alarm logic includes the first alarm module and the second detection module.
In a second example of the lower cargo hold fire alarm method, optionally including the first example, the first alarm logic further includes the fire protection controller determining that the lower cargo hold fire detector is in a false alarm state instead of a normal state and isolating the lower cargo hold fire detector when only one of the first detection module and the second detection module of the lower cargo hold fire detector outputs a module alarm signal.
In a third example of the lower cargo space fire alarm method, optionally including one or more of the first example and the second example, the first alarm logic further includes, in case the fire protection controller determines that the lower cargo space fire detector is in a false alarm state, the fire protection controller determining that the lower cargo space fire detector is in a normal state instead of in a false alarm state after only one of the first detection module and the second detection module outputs a module alarm signal and stops outputting for a predetermined time.
In a fourth example of the lower cargo hold fire alarm method, optionally including one or more of the first to third examples, where the first detection module is a smoke detection module and the second detection module is a carbon monoxide gas detection module or a temperature detection module, the first alarm logic further includes that the fire controller determines that the lower cargo hold fire detector is in a failure state and the fire controller does not take the fire alarm signal of the lower cargo hold fire detector in a case where the first detection module is normal and the second detection module is failed, the fire controller determines that the lower cargo hold fire detector is in a normal state in a case where the first detection module is failed and the second detection module is normal, and further, when the second detection module outputs the module alarm signal, the fire controller determines that the lower cargo hold fire detector is in a failure state and the fire controller does not take the fire alarm signal of the lower cargo hold fire detector in a case where both the first detection module and the second detection module are failed.
In a fifth example of the lower cargo hold fire alarm method, optionally including one or more of the first example through the fourth example, the second alarm logic further includes the fire protection controller determining that the lower cargo hold fire detector is in a normal state in a case where only one of the first detection module and the second detection module is normal, and further outputting a fire alarm signal when only one of the first detection module and the second detection module is normal, and determining that the lower cargo hold fire detector is in a fault state in a case where both the first detection module and the second detection module are faulty, and the fire protection controller does not adopt the fire alarm signal of the lower cargo hold fire detector.
The cargo hold fire detection system comprises a fireproof controller, a main cargo hold fire alarm part and a lower cargo hold fire alarm part, wherein the main cargo hold fire alarm part provides a main cargo hold fire alarm signal when a main cargo hold fires, the lower cargo hold fire alarm part comprises at least two lower cargo hold fire detectors, each lower cargo hold fire detector comprises a first detection module and a second detection module, the first detection module is a smoke detection module, and the second detection module is a carbon monoxide gas detection module or a temperature detection module.
The fire detector comprises a first detection module and a second detection module, wherein the first detection module is a smoke detection module, and the second detection module is a carbon monoxide gas detection module or a temperature detection module.
For a cargo aircraft, under the condition that a fire disaster occurs in a main cargo hold, a composite fire disaster detector is adopted in a lower cargo hold, and AND logic is adopted, under the condition that the fire disaster does not occur in the main cargo hold, the composite fire disaster detector is adopted in the lower cargo hold, OR logic is adopted, so that the probability of false alarm occurrence in the lower cargo hold due to loose sealing can be effectively reduced, and the alarm response speed of a smoke detection system is improved.
The fire detector adopts a smoke detection module and a temperature detection module or a composite smoke detector of the smoke detection module and a CO gas detection module, and simultaneously collects smoke and temperature or smoke and CO gas signals in the fire process, so that the probability of false alarm occurrence in fire detection is effectively reduced;
Detailed Description
First, the present invention relates generally to a vehicle having a lower cargo compartment in any transportation field. In particular, but not exclusively, the invention relates to a cargo aircraft having a lower cargo compartment.
The term "electrically connected" as used herein is intended to describe one component, module, or section in the direct or indirect electrical signal path to another component, module, and, thus, the electrical signal can be transmitted from one component, module to another component, module.
The terms "comprising," "having," "including," and variations thereof, as used herein, are intended to be open-ended transitional phrases, terms, or words that require the presence of the specified elements/steps, and also allow for the presence of other elements/steps.
In the present invention, unless explicitly stated to the contrary, the terms "first," "second," or the like, are not intended to denote any order, position, quantity, or importance, but rather are merely used as labels to distinguish one element, component, region, and/or position from another element, component, region, and/or position.
The invention will be further described with reference to specific examples and figures.
The cargo space fire detection system of the present invention is for a cargo aircraft of the prior art having a main cargo space and a lower cargo space, as schematically shown in fig. 1, wherein a main cargo space 1, a lower cargo space 2, a lower cargo space delta 3 and an air flow path are shown, the air flow path being indicated by solid arrows. When the lower cargo tank triangle is not well sealed with the interior trim wall panels of the lower cargo tank, air flow is liable to enter the lower cargo tank from the lower cargo tank triangle, such air flow being indicated by the dashed arrow.
Fig. 2 schematically illustrates a cargo space fire detection system according to an embodiment of the present invention, which includes a fire prevention controller 100, a main cargo space fire alarm portion 200, and a lower cargo space fire alarm portion 300. The main cargo space fire alarm portion 200 and the lower cargo space fire alarm portion 300 are independent fire detection systems corresponding to the main cargo space and the lower cargo space, the main cargo space fire alarm portion 200 being configured to output a main cargo space fire alarm signal to the fire prevention controller 100 when a fire occurs in the main cargo space, and similarly the lower cargo space fire alarm portion 300 being configured to output a lower cargo space fire alarm signal to the fire prevention controller 100 when a fire occurs in the lower cargo space.
In one non-limiting example, the lower cargo space fire alarm portion 300 has corresponding lower cargo space fire detectors 310 in the lower cargo space, and the lower cargo space may include two or more lower cargo space fire detectors 310 according to aircraft model. The fire controller 100 receives and monitors the fire alarm signal a output from each lower cargo tank fire detector 310. The respective main cargo compartment fire detector and the respective lower cargo compartment fire detector of the cargo aircraft are electrically connected to the fire protection controller 100 via a bus or hard wire.
In one non-limiting example, the lower cargo hold fire detector 310 includes a first detection module 311 and a second detection module 312. In a preferred embodiment, the first detection module 311 is a smoke detection module and the second detection module 312 is a CO gas detection module or a temperature detection module, which will be described in detail below.
Consider that fires in main and lower cargo holds typically go through a process from smoldering to open flame. The primary feature in the early stage of a fire is smoldering, which generates a lot of smoke, so the first detection module 311 is preferably a smoke detection module. The smoke detection module monitors the amount of smoke in the cargo compartment and outputs a module alarm signal b regarding the smoke when the amount of smoke reaches an alarm threshold.
Most of the fumes produced by combustion of substances contain CO and CO 2 gases. Under normal conditions, the air contains about 0.04% of CO 2, and the content of CO 2 in a closed cargo hold is higher, so that the detection of the change of CO 2 is easy to cause false alarm, and in a smoldering stage, due to the deficiency of O 2, the content of CO gas is higher due to incomplete combustion, and the stability of the detected CO gas is higher. The second detection module 312 may thus be a CO gas detection module. The CO gas detection module monitors the absolute value and the change rate of the concentration of CO gas in the cargo compartment, and outputs a module alarm signal b about the CO gas when the absolute value and the change rate of the concentration of CO gas in the cargo compartment reach an alarm threshold. The smoke and CO gas combined fire detector is adopted, and meanwhile, the smoke and CO gas information in the fire process is collected to replace the traditional single smoke information, so that the probability of false alarm can be effectively reduced.
The temperature change is relatively significant during the open flame phase, and a large amount of heat is generated by combustion, so the second detection module 312 may also be a temperature detection module. The temperature detection module monitors the temperature value and the change rate of the temperature in the cargo compartment, and outputs a module alarm signal b related to the temperature when the temperature value and the change rate in the cargo compartment reach the alarm threshold. The smoke and temperature combined fire detector is adopted, and smoke and temperature information in the fire process are collected at the same time to replace the traditional single smoke information, so that the probability of false alarm can be effectively reduced.
However, considering that in the smoldering stage, the heat radiated by the smoldering fire is small so that the temperature change is small, and in the open fire stage, the gas concentration is reduced, so that three factors of smoke, temperature and CO gas are used together for judging the fire, the judging conditions are too strict, and the alarm leakage is easy to cause. The second detection module 312 may thus alternatively be selected from a CO gas detection module or a temperature detection module.
A fire alarm method for the lower cargo tank according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.
First, the fire protection controller 100 monitors the operation state of the corresponding lower cargo tank fire detector 310 of the lower cargo tank in real time. The operation state of each lower cargo tank fire detector 310 includes three states of normal, false alarm, and malfunction. In the case where the first detection module 311 and the second detection module 312 of any lower cargo space fire detector 310 are normal, the fire protection controller 100 determines that the lower cargo space fire detector 310 is in a normal state. The false alarm state and the fault state will be described in detail below.
In order to reduce false alarms of the fire detection system of the lower cargo hold, in case that at least two lower cargo hold fire detectors 310 are in a normal state, the determination condition of the fire prevention controller 100 is and logic, specifically, when the at least two lower cargo hold fire detectors 310 output a fire alarm signal a, the fire prevention controller 100 determines that the lower cargo hold is fire and outputs a lower cargo hold fire alarm signal, which is transmitted to a control panel, an alarm device, etc., to alert a crew member to the occurrence of the lower cargo hold fire.
Also, in the case where at least one of the at least two lower cargo hold fire detectors 310 is in a fault state or a false alarm state, the determination condition of the fire controller 100 is an or logic, specifically, when any lower cargo hold fire detector 310 in a normal state outputs the fire alarm signal a, the fire controller 100 determines that the lower cargo hold is in fire and outputs the lower cargo hold fire alarm signal.
Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of fire alarm logic of a lower cargo hold fire detector 310 of the cargo hold fire detection system according to an embodiment of the present invention, and it will be further described below how the lower cargo hold fire detector 310 determines that the fire alarm signal a needs to be output from the module alarm signals b output from the first detection module 311 and the second detection module 312 thereof.
Depending on whether the fire controller 100 has received the main cargo space fire alarm signal, each lower cargo space fire detector 310 will execute two different alarm logics to output a fire alarm signal a.
In the case where the fire controller 100 has received the main cargo space fire alarm signal, each lower cargo space fire detector 310 performs a first alarm logic to output a fire alarm signal a. The first alarm logic takes into account alarm logic that is employed to reduce the probability of false alarms occurring in the lower cargo tank in the event of a fire in the main cargo tank.
In the case where the fire controller 100 does not receive the main cargo space fire alarm signal, each lower cargo space fire detector 310 performs a second alarm logic to output a fire alarm signal a. The second alarm logic is the alarm logic that is normally employed.
In the case where the fire protection controller 100 has received the main cargo space fire alarm signal of the aircraft, the first alarm logic performed by each lower cargo space fire detector 310 is an AND logic, wherein the first alarm logic includes the fire protection controller 100 intervening and controlling the lower cargo space fire detector 310 such that when both the first detection module 311 and the second detection module 312 of the lower cargo space fire detector 310 output the module alarm signal b, the fire protection controller 100 determines that the lower cargo space fire detector 310 outputs the fire alarm signal a.
Preferably, the first alarm logic further includes the step of determining that the lower cargo space fire detector 310 is in a false alarm state. Specifically, the first alarm logic further includes that when only one of the first detection module 311 and the second detection module 312 of the lower cargo space fire detector 310 outputs the module alarm signal b and the other does not output the module alarm signal, the fire protection controller 100 determines that the lower cargo space fire detector 310 is in a false alarm state instead of a normal state and isolates the lower cargo space fire detector 310 from taking its fire alarm signal a.
Further, in the case where the fire controller 100 determines that the lower cargo space fire detector 310 is in the false alarm state, the first alarm logic further includes determining that the lower cargo space fire detector 310 is restored to the normal state instead of being in the false alarm state after the only one of the first detection module 311 and the second detection module 312 thereof outputs the module alarm signal b and stops outputting for a predetermined time.
The first alerting logic also includes a continued adoption of the lower cargo hold fire detector 310 in the event of a detection module failure, considering that the respective detection module of the lower cargo hold fire detector 310 cannot avoid the failure.
In the case where the first detection module 311 is a smoke detection module and the second detection module 312 is a carbon monoxide detection module or a temperature detection module, the first alarm logic further includes that in the case where the first detection module 311 is normal and the second detection module 312 fails, the fire controller 100 determines that the lower cargo hold fire detector 310 is in a failure state and the fire controller 100 does not take the fire alarm signal a that is possible for the lower cargo hold fire detector 310.
In the case where the first detection module 311 fails and the second detection module 312 is normal, the fire protection controller 100 determines that the lower cargo space fire detector 310 is in a normal state, and further, when the second detection module 312 outputs the module alarm signal b, the fire protection controller 100 determines that the lower cargo space fire detector 310 outputs the fire alarm signal a.
In the case where both the first detection module 311 and the second detection module 312 fail, the fire controller 100 determines that the lower cargo space fire detector 310 is in a failure state, and the fire controller 100 does not take in a possible fire alarm signal a of the lower cargo space fire detector 310.
In addition, in the case where the fire protection controller 100 does not receive the main cargo space fire alarm signal of the aircraft, the second alarm logic performed by each lower cargo space fire detector 310 is an OR logic, wherein the second alarm logic includes that the lower cargo space fire detector 310 outputs the fire alarm signal a when at least one of the first detection module 311 and the second detection module 312 outputs the module alarm signal b.
The second alarm logic also includes a continued adoption of the lower cargo hold fire detector 310 in the event of a detection module failure, considering that the respective detection module of the lower cargo hold fire detector 310 cannot avoid the failure.
In the case where only one of the first detection module 311 and the second detection module 312 is normal, the fire protection controller 100 determines that the lower cargo space fire detector 310 is in a normal state, and further, when the normal detection module of the first detection module 311 and the second detection module 312 outputs the module alarm signal b, the lower cargo space fire detector 310 outputs the fire alarm signal a.
In the case where both the first detection module 311 and the second detection module 312 fail, the fire controller 100 determines that the lower cargo space fire detector 310 is in a failure state, and the fire controller 100 does not take in a possible fire alarm signal a of the lower cargo space fire detector 310.
In the foregoing, in order to make the objects, technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention more clear, the technical solutions of the present invention are clearly and completely described with reference to the specific embodiments of the present invention and the accompanying drawings.
While various embodiments have been described above, it should be understood that the embodiments described are some, but not all, of the embodiments of the present invention, which are presented by way of example and not limitation. It will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art that the disclosed subject matter may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof.
All other embodiments, based on the embodiments of the invention, which are apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without undue burden are within the scope of the invention. The present disclosure also includes various modifications and modifications within the equivalent scope. In addition, various combinations and modes, including only one element, more than one or less than one other combinations and modes, are also within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure.