UL – IIT Gandhinagar kitchen fire safety system
Source
International conference on Suppression, Detection and Signalling Research and Applications (SUPDET 2013)
Date Issued
2013-01-05
Author(s)
Abstract
Fire occurrence in Indian home is well documented. Presence of cooking oils and appliances
used for preparing food along with presence of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) as a source of
energy make it ideal combination of fire hazard at kitchen. Statistical data in India show that
approximately 16% of fires in Indian home originate in the kitchen. Many of these fires are
suspected to be due to distracted or unattended cooking.
A research project was designed to collect data on the conditions (e.g., temperature, gases,
smoke) around the Indian kitchen cooking appliance while heating the oil using a LPG stove
appliance. Experiments were conducted by heating cooking oils typically used in India such
as sunflower oil, soybean oil, groundnut oil and mustard oil. The kitchen appliance
environment was instrumented to measure temperatures and carbon monoxide concentration.
The data generated during experiments were collected using a data acquisition system which
collected the oil temperatures, and carbon monoxide (CO) concentration measured in the
kitchen ventilation system (chimney). Based on the observations and analysis of the
experimental data, a multi-sensor algorithm was developed to predict potential occurrence of
fire. The algorithm includes oil temperature and CO measurement in the kitchen ventilation.
The algorithm has been incorporated in a microprocessor based fire detector kit to provide a
multi-level response to the fire threat. It can, for example, (i) alert the home occupant through
an alarm; (ii) send Short Messaging Service (SMS); (iii) call the occupant; and (iv)cut off the
LPG (fuel) supply to cooktop.
More testing is required to validate and tune the performance of the algorithm for the range of
stove and ventilation design parameters in the Indian kitchen. In addition, research is also
required to better document the performance of the system to reduce and nuisance situations
in the Indian kitchen.
The IIT Gandhinagar fire safety system is a modular and low cost kit which can save loss of
property and lives due to kitchen fire.
used for preparing food along with presence of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) as a source of
energy make it ideal combination of fire hazard at kitchen. Statistical data in India show that
approximately 16% of fires in Indian home originate in the kitchen. Many of these fires are
suspected to be due to distracted or unattended cooking.
A research project was designed to collect data on the conditions (e.g., temperature, gases,
smoke) around the Indian kitchen cooking appliance while heating the oil using a LPG stove
appliance. Experiments were conducted by heating cooking oils typically used in India such
as sunflower oil, soybean oil, groundnut oil and mustard oil. The kitchen appliance
environment was instrumented to measure temperatures and carbon monoxide concentration.
The data generated during experiments were collected using a data acquisition system which
collected the oil temperatures, and carbon monoxide (CO) concentration measured in the
kitchen ventilation system (chimney). Based on the observations and analysis of the
experimental data, a multi-sensor algorithm was developed to predict potential occurrence of
fire. The algorithm includes oil temperature and CO measurement in the kitchen ventilation.
The algorithm has been incorporated in a microprocessor based fire detector kit to provide a
multi-level response to the fire threat. It can, for example, (i) alert the home occupant through
an alarm; (ii) send Short Messaging Service (SMS); (iii) call the occupant; and (iv)cut off the
LPG (fuel) supply to cooktop.
More testing is required to validate and tune the performance of the algorithm for the range of
stove and ventilation design parameters in the Indian kitchen. In addition, research is also
required to better document the performance of the system to reduce and nuisance situations
in the Indian kitchen.
The IIT Gandhinagar fire safety system is a modular and low cost kit which can save loss of
property and lives due to kitchen fire.
Subjects
CO sensor
Fire protection
Kitchen fire
Oil heating
Safety