Device simulates incipient fire conditions in closely-controlled adjustable manner, to give predetermined degree of intensity at selected locations throughout area, and to verify that detection system will respond. Device can be used with and for cross calibration and experimentation in conjunction with commercially available products of combustion analyzing meters

Klisch, J. A.

Wiberg, R. E.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

Blower 
July 1974	 B7440036 
NASA TECH BRIEF 
Goddard Space Flight Center 
NASA Tech Briefs announce new technology derived from the U.S. space program. They are issued to encourage 
commercial application. Tech Briefs are available on a subscription basis from the National Technical Information 
Service, Springfield, Virginia 22151. Requests for individual copies or questions relating to the Tech Brief program may 
be directed to the Technology Utilization Office, NASA, Code KT, Washington, D.C. 20546. 
Combustion Products Generating and Metering Device 
. 
S
The problem: 
Fire detection apparatus now is much more sensitive 
than the response of sprinkler systems. Sprinklers 
require such high heat levels for activation that fire 
causes considerable, if not total, damage to electronic 
and high-value equipment. To take full advantage of 
modern, ultrasensitive, fire detection devices, such as 
ionization detectors, their calibration and placement 
must be determined carefully and then verified by 
actual performance testing in the field. Other problems 
concerning moving air can be studied also, using smoke-
laden air to determine airpaths and airflows. 
The solution: 
The combustion products generating and metering 
device (see figure) simulates incipient fire conditions in 
a closely-controlled adjustable manner, to give a pre-
determined degree of intensity at selected locations 
throughout an area, to verify that the detection system 
will respond.
Distribution	 Distribution-
Plate	 Control Plate Plenum 
Combustion Products Generating and Metering Device
How it's done: 
In the device and module illustrated, cigarettes are 
used to produce combustion products because cigarettes 
are readily available, the smoke is tolerable, and the 
burning rate can be controlled closely, although other 
combustibles with adapters also can be used. Four 
variable-speed, fan-operated modules are installed in a 
common housing plenum and may be used singly or in 
any combination, depending upon the volumes and 
concentrations of products required. The modules may 
be withdrawn from the machine and used individually 
if so desired. 
The plenum is enclosed fully and is covered with a 
punched distribution plate that releases the smoke to 
the test area. A distribution control plate rests on the 
distribution plate, is consolidated with holes in a 
matching overlapping pattern, and is moved about as 
required to control the plenum-output volume and 
pattern. The quantity of combustion products and the 
ratio of dilution air are regulated at the control panel, 
to produce the precise mixture and volume of com-
bustion products wanted for testing a given system or a 
specific detector. 
For testing the response of individual detectors 
directly, a one-fan-operated module is so designed that 
it can be inserted directly over the detector. In order to 
avoid ultrasensitivity and false alarms, the fan is rotated 
(without any burning) to induce an air velocity with 
some vibration around the detector; and at those con-
ditions the detector should not alarm. Then one 
cigarette is burned and the detector sensitivity is 
adjusted so it will not alarm; but when two cigarettes 
are burned, the detector will alarm. Thus, there is no 
necessity for electrical instrumentation to calibrate and 
positive detection is assured.
(continued overleaf) 
This document was prepared under the sponsorship of the National
	
Government assumes any liability resulting from the use of the 
Aeronautics and Space Administration. Neither the United States
	
information contained in this document, or warrants that such use 
Government nor any person acting on behalf of the United States
	
will be free from privately owned rights.
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19740000036 2020-03-17T14:01:15+00:00Z
The device can be used with and, for cross calibration 
and experimentation, in conjunction with commercially 
available products of combustion analyzing meters. 
Several other uses of the machine are possible: 
1. Measured trace elements of products of combustion 
can be introduced into air and, with a commercial 
products-of-combustion analyzer, the airflow capac-
ities of air-moving devices such as fans can be 
determined accurately, since the weight of the 
product burned can be obtained along with the 
concentration reading of the tracer smoke-air mix 
(weight per unit time burned divided by concen-
tration per unit volume = airflow). 
. The machine can be used for air pollution studies, 
medical tests, and experiments.
Note: 
Requests for further information may be directed to: 
Technology Utilization Officer 
Goddard Space Flight Center 
Code 207.1 
Greenbelt, Maryland 20771 
Reference: TSP74-10036 
Patent status: 
This invention has been patented by NASA (U.S. 
Patent No. 3,729,979). Inquiries concerning nonexclu-
sive or exclusive license for its commercial development 
should be addressed to: 
Patent Counsel 
Goddard Space Flight Center 
Code 204 
Greenbelt, Maryland 20771 
Source: Richard E. Wiberg and

John A. Klisch

Goddard Space Flight Center

(GSC-1 1095)
. 
B74-10036 Category 04


Combustion products generating and metering device

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

NASA Technical Reports Server