Ingolf Willms, Wolfgang Krüll Department of Communication Systems

1. Fourth Triennial International Fire and Cabin Safety Research ConferenceTest Methods and Apparatus for a Video-based System designed for Cargo Fire Verification Ingolf Willms, Wolfgang Krüll Department of Communication Systems University Duisburg-Essen Jeff Shirer Goodrich Corporation Vergennes, Vermont, U.S.A. Test Methods and Apparatus for a Video-based System for Cargo Fire Verification I. Willms, W. Krüll, J. Shirer 1

2. 1 Motivation 2 Testing aspects of video-based systems 3 Fire and smoke tests 4 Dust tests 5 Summary and outlook Test Methods and Apparatus for a Video-based System for Cargo Fire Verification I. Willms, W. Krüll, J. Shirer 2

3. 1 Motivation for a video-based Cargo Fire Verification System • In case of smoke alarm: Crew must activate the extinguishing system and land at the nearest suitable airport • Pilot has no capability to verify if the alarm is real or false • False alarms of smoke detectors in cargo bays during long range flights of passenger airplanes cause various problems: • Diversion to a small airport may cause significant danger • Consequences: High costs due to flight diversions, landing costs, possible loss of the cargo load Test Methods and Apparatus for a Video-based System for Cargo Fire Verification I. Willms, W. Krüll, J. Shirer 3

4. 1 Motivation for a video-based Cargo Fire Verification System • Possible reasons for false alarms of traditional smoke detectors in cargo compartments: • Mist, dust and oil particles • Additional problems are environmental conditions • (e.g. temperature variation, air pressure variation) • Objectives of the Cargo Fire Verification System: • To provide the aircrew with images of the conditions in the cargo bay • To detect fire earlier than conventional smoke detectors • Thus to verify it or not • Thus to greatly reduce false alarms Test Methods and Apparatus for a Video-based System for Cargo Fire Verification I. Willms, W. Krüll, J. Shirer 4

5. 1 Motivation for a video-based Cargo Fire Verification System Cargo compartments are • not easily accessible during flight • a difficult area to view with video cameras The gap between the cargo and cargo bay ceiling can be only 4.3 cm Test Methods and Apparatus for a Video-based System for Cargo Fire Verification I. Willms, W. Krüll, J. Shirer 5

6. FWD AFT BULK MFS Multi-Function Sensor ISM Illumination Sensor Module 1 Motivation for a video-based Cargo Fire Verification System Example of camera and illumination placement in a cargo bay of an AIRBUS A340-500:FWD (in front of the aircraft) AFT, BULK (behind the wing boxes) For reference: The size of an A340-500 AFT compartment is 10.4 m long * 4.2 m wide * 1.7 m high Test Methods and Apparatus for a Video-based System for Cargo Fire Verification I. Willms, W. Krüll, J. Shirer 6

7. 1 Motivation - Qualification Testing of traditional detection systems • Existing testing guidelines & standards for smoke detection systems were formulated for traditional sensor technologies (e.g. optical-based) • EN-54 tests use different types of smoke sources at the centre of the floor in a fire lab • Essential measurements: Reference smoke density measurements at the location of the detector & detector alarm time • The geometry and contents of the test chamber are not critical to smoke detectors if the smoke density increases within EN-54 specs Test Methods and Apparatus for a Video-based System for Cargo Fire Verification I. Willms, W. Krüll, J. Shirer 7

8. Motivation – Requirements for the test of video fire detection systems (CFVS) • Similar procedures as in EN54 are reasonable (as far as possible) • Comparison with EN54 qualified conventional detectors are needed • Suitable stimulation of video sensors in field of view required • No down scaling possibilities concerning room size • No tests in a smoke duct are possible • Increasing stimulus over time (as in EN54) • Consequences: • New testing details needed • Modifications of EN54 are needed Test Methods and Apparatus for a Video-based System for Cargo Fire Verification I. Willms, W. Krüll, J. Shirer 8

9. 2 Testing aspects of video-based systems – Some CFVS images Four views with different illumination, same geometric configuration Test Methods and Apparatus for a Video-based System for Cargo Fire Verification I. Willms, W. Krüll, J. Shirer 9

10. 2 Testing aspects of video-based systems • For a video-based detection system, scene geometry and image contents are critical • The scene should closely represent the actual application • Usage of 1:1 scale – no test chamber • The fire test room should resemble an actual cargo bay • This includes cargo obstructions in cameras field of view • Tests should retain the repeatability aspects of the EN-54 tests Test Methods and Apparatus for a Video-based System for Cargo Fire Verification I. Willms, W. Krüll, J. Shirer 10

11. 2 Testing aspects - Possible candidates for testing of the CFVS • Special testing aircraft • Many disadvantages: • High costs, limited test times • Restricted test options • (no open fires are permitted) • A reconstruction of a cargo compartment • Main drawbacks (Trauen mock-up): • Limited control of environm. conditions • High construction effort • Large required space • Hard to change • No comparative EN-54 tests are possible Test Methods and Apparatus for a Video-based System for Cargo Fire Verification I. Willms, W. Krüll, J. Shirer 11

12. 2 Testing aspects - Possible candidates for testing of the CFVS • A modified EN-54 test room (Duisburg fire lab) • EN-54 like test cell • Option of changing the test cell height within minutes (2,90 …> 4 m) • Advantages of the fire lab of Duisburg University: • Controlled environmental conditions • EN 54 measurement conditions • A wide range of measurement possibilities • Good probability for “repeatable” tests Test Methods and Apparatus for a Video-based System for Cargo Fire Verification I. Willms, W. Krüll, J. Shirer 12

13. Fire and smoke tests - Performed in the A340-500 cargo bay • mock-up in Trauen and in the Duisburg fire lab • In the Duisburg Fire Detection Lab tests were performed in three major types of scenarios: • Standard EN-54 test fires • Modified test fires without test cell modifications, • but with camera obstructions by containers • Modified test fires with test cell modifications • (for Forward, Aft, and Bulk compartment configurations, • including camera obstructions by containers) • Test cell modifications for closely resembling an actual cargo compartment • Fire material reduction to account for the reduced test cell volume Test Methods and Apparatus for a Video-based System for Cargo Fire Verification I. Willms, W. Krüll, J. Shirer 13

14. 3 Fire and smoke tests – Performed in Duisburg and in Trauen Modified EN-54 A340-500 cargo bay test cell in Duisburg mock-up in Trauen (without side walls) Volume: 293 m³ Volume: 103 m³ 10.5 m * 9.0 m * 3.1 m 15.0 m * 4.2 m * 1.71 m Test Methods and Apparatus for a Video-based System for Cargo Fire Verification I. Willms, W. Krüll, J. Shirer 14

15. modTF2_0607 * 3 Trauen, 1_2 Trauen, 1_3 Duisburg, modTF2_0607 without side walls 3 Fire and smoke tests – Performed in Duisburg and Trauen • Standard EN-54 test fire material was reduced to account for • the reduced test cell volume • Room geometries of both test cells are completely different Scaling factor MIREX values 3 • Results are comparable by using a simple scaling factor • to approximate the results from Trauen Test Methods and Apparatus for a Video-based System for Cargo Fire Verification I. Willms, W. Krüll, J. Shirer 15

16. Camera MIC MIREX ISM Smoke detectors Fire 3 Fire and smoke tests - Test cell modifications • Test cell modifications: • Aluminium side wall plates were hung from the ceiling • to reduce the room width • Fire and non-fire sources • were placed on a platform • The distance between • the source and the fire • room ceiling then was 1.7 m Test Methods and Apparatus for a Video-based System for Cargo Fire Verification I. Willms, W. Krüll, J. Shirer 16

17. T 3 Fire and smoke tests - Test cell modifications • Side walls were covered with DuPont Tedlar PVF Film (as in real cargo bay) for improved realism • Single 1 m² sheet metal plates (also covered with the cargo bay lining material) was mounted on the ceiling for further improved realism Test Methods and Apparatus for a Video-based System for Cargo Fire Verification I. Willms, W. Krüll, J. Shirer 17

18. modTF2_0607 * 3 Trauen, 1_2 Trauen, 1_3 Duisburg, modTF2_0607 modTF2_0614 * 1.5 modTF2_0617 * 1.5 Trauen, 1_2 modTF2_0617 modTF2_0614 Scaling factor without side walls 3 smoke density via the MIREX with side walls with side walls 1.5 Test Methods and Apparatus for a Video-based System for Cargo Fire Verification I. Willms, W. Krüll, J. Shirer 18

19. CFVS performance compared to conventional A340 detectors • The CFVS was designed as a verification system, intended to confirm or unconfirm alarms issued by the primary system. • The CFVS has to detect fires earlier than conventional smoke detectors and to confirm the primary system’s alarm. Test Methods and Apparatus for a Video-based System for Cargo Fire Verification I. Willms, W. Krüll, J. Shirer 19

20. 4 Dust tests • Many false alarms in cargo bays are caused by fog and dust • Dust lifted from dirty containers or • Perhaps produced by cargo content such as animals • Dust is known to cause problems with optical smoke detectors - • and not only in cargo bays. • Depending on the dust type and the dust production • it may look similar to smoke on video. • Discrimination of dust and smoke in video-based systems thus is a challenge in its own. • Density of dust was chosen such that it caused the conventional smoke detectors to alarm. Test Methods and Apparatus for a Video-based System for Cargo Fire Verification I. Willms, W. Krüll, J. Shirer 20

21. 4 Dust tests - Set-up for Bulk bay dust tests Test Methods and Apparatus for a Video-based System for Cargo Fire Verification I. Willms, W. Krüll, J. Shirer 21

22. 4 Dust tests - Smoke detector alarm times Aft Bay - A1 Bulk Bay - A1 70 Bulk Bay - A2 Aft Bay - A2 Average 60 50 40 Time after dust generation start [sec.] 30 20 10 Samples 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 • Different cargo compartment types (Aft bay / Bulk bay) • Different dust types (dust A1 / dust A2) Test Methods and Apparatus for a Video-based System for Cargo Fire Verification I. Willms, W. Krüll, J. Shirer 22

23. Dust Start Dust Stop 10000 Dust Stop Dust Start 12000 8000 10000 Particles 6000 Fwd Alarm 8000 Particles 4000 6000 Fwd Alarm 2000 4000 Aft Alarm 2000 Aft Alarm time [sec] 0 60 120 180 time [sec] 0 60 120 180 4 Dust tests - Particle counter values in the experiments • 2 minutes of dust generation • Dust tests were considered valid • if the max. particle counter value was greater than 9000 Test Methods and Apparatus for a Video-based System for Cargo Fire Verification I. Willms, W. Krüll, J. Shirer 23

24. Dust tests - CFVS performance compared to conventional A340 detectors • The success criterion for the CFVS was to diagnose a non-fire case and to unconfirm the primary system’s alarm • Thus to reduce false alarms Test Methods and Apparatus for a Video-based System for Cargo Fire Verification I. Willms, W. Krüll, J. Shirer 24

25. 4 Conclusions and outlook • The existing testing guidelines and standards for qualification of current smoke detection systems were formulated mainly to address the case of traditional detection technologies. • So it was necessary to develop • a suite of fire sensitivity tests, • non-fire tests with dust and • EN-54 test room modifications • applicable to video-based fire detection systems. • Modified tests with room modifications in the Duisburg fire lab show good match with tests performed in a cargo mock-up • for Forward, Aft and Bulk bay configuration. Test Methods and Apparatus for a Video-based System for Cargo Fire Verification I. Willms, W. Krüll, J. Shirer 25

26. 5 Conclusions and outlook • Recordings of • point smoke detectors, • video sensors, and • reference measurement devices • were obtained in exhaustive test series in the Duisburg Fire Lab. • Data were then used • in the course of the algorithm development of the CFVS • by Goodrich Corporation, and • for defining the performance criteria. Test Methods and Apparatus for a Video-based System for Cargo Fire Verification I. Willms, W. Krüll, J. Shirer 26

27. 5 Conclusions and outlook • Possible improvements for future CFVS tests: • Improvements in dust generation (reduction of charged particles) • Use of additional dust types • Tests with forced ventilation Test Methods and Apparatus for a Video-based System for Cargo Fire Verification I. Willms, W. Krüll, J. Shirer 27