A hierarchical strategy for under-ground early fire detection based on a T-cycled semiconductor gas sensor

Based on a single semiconductor gas sensor device operated in a T-cycled mode we developed a hierarchical identification strategy for the use in under-ground early fire detection systems, i.e. in coal mines. This strategy not only provides the identification of the alarm scenario to be detected (CO and ethene in a specific ratio) but is also suitable for identifying or quantifying typical interfering compounds (such as relative humidity, methane, CO, NOx or hydrogen) thus helping to avoid costly false alarms. Based on a high-dynamic-range hardware control and data acquisition platform, a commercial semiconductor gas sensor operated with an application-optimized temperature cycle and the evaluation strategy presented here our development provides classification reproducibility as well as robustness allowing the realization of a novel, cost-efficient and fast under-ground early fire detection system.