Control of Acoustic Extinguisher with Deep Neural Networks for Fire Detection

Abstract

The search for fast and environmentally safe methods of fighting fires has been a particularly important topic in recent years. Many academic centres are conducting research on the use of Deep Neural Networks to detect flames. One of the most promising is the acoustic method of extinguishing flames. In theory, an acoustic extinguisher can be applied to extinguish fires of different classes because acoustic waves pass through solids, liquids, and gases. In principle, the technology described in the article can be used to extinguish B- and C-class fires when gases or liquids are burning. Until now, the known studies have been conducted only for low-power acoustic extinguishers. Therefore, there is a need to fill a theoretical and practical gap in this respect (scientific novelty). The result of the activities is the development of new techniques for extinguishing flames with the use of Deep Neural Networks, and then extinguishing flames using a high and very high power loudspeaker applied to the acoustic extinguisher. The main aim of this paper is to present the possibilities of using Deep Neural Networks to detect fires, as well as the results of research on the extinguishing of flames with the use of square waveforms with Amplitude Modulation (AM) for several frequencies, which is also a scientific novelty, including the minimum acoustic power and sound pressure level as a function of a distance from the output of the acoustic system. On this basis, it became possible to determine the minimum power delivered to the extinguisher and the minimum sound pressure level that causes the extinguishing effect at given input parameters.

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“…However, when the flames spread, this method is dangerous, especially for people who are close to the source of the flames, because of the risk of burns and uncontrolled air blast. For these reasons, the use of this method is severely limited [ 7 ].…”

“…There are few articles and scientific papers devoted to the potential use of high-power acoustic waves for flame extinguishing (this technology is relatively new and is still in the testing phase). This technique is particularly suitable for extinguishing firebreaks (in the first phase of the origin of the fire) [ 7 ]. In practice, the effectiveness of firefighting action using the acoustic method depends on the amplitude of air vibrations, which differs according to the sound source applied.…”

“…The acoustic method thus appears promising for flame extinguishing when access to conventional extinguishing agents is limited or when the composition of the substance is unknown. It is also worth noting that while harmful gases are emitted into the air during a fire when effective-though-harmful fire-protection agents (e.g., halon fire extinguishers) are used, acoustic waves are not a chemical product and do not pollute the air, which is a great advantage [ 7 , 49 ].…”

“…In practice, the effectiveness of the extinguishing process depends on the amplitude of the air vibration. Acoustic power and acoustic wave frequencies are important factors [ 7 ]. The acoustic extinguisher presented by the authors generates a directional acoustic flux to effectively extinguish flames.…”

“…The described technology was also presented in [ 17 ]. Many other libraries, such as Imutil [ 7 ], may be useful as an auxiliary tool for the implementation of neural networks for flame suppression. These networks can be implemented in various processing systems (CPU, VPU, and GPU).…”