Shipboard Smoke Detection with Optical Fiber Technology.
Abstract
Reliable smoke detectors are needed on Navy ships to detect and characterize fires for input to damage control systems. Optical fiber technology offers a potential opportunity to improve the state of the art of smoke detectors by reducing false alarms, improving reliability, and providing continuous measurement of visibility in each ship compartment. The objective of this work is to assist in developing fire fighting strategy and damage control on Navy ships to improve operational and combat readiness. Optical fiber smoke sensor designs depend on the measurement of optical power absorption (obscuration) and scattering across an air gap. Utilizing spectrographic techniques and dual detector designs potentially compensates for optical power changes, ambient light changes, dirt coatings, and water coatings; sensing the types of smoke particles present is also possible, and is desirable as this leads to identification of types of fires. Designs of optical fiber smoke sensors were completed, were tested successfully on the Ex-USS SHADWELL, and are ready for transition to 6.3 programs or to industry. Using multiplexing and multimode technology should reduce the unit measurement cost to values acceptable to the Navy and the industrial market.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1994
- Accession Number
- ADA341912
Entities
People
- David J. Kocsik
- Henry K. Whitesel
- John K. Overby
- Michael J. Ransford
- Richard O. Claus
Organizations
- Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division