Discrimination of Smoke Particles Using Infrared Photoelectrical Detection

A method of discrimination of smoke particles using infrared photoelectrical detection is proposed in this paper. Principle of the method is that smoke particles of different materials have different scattering light intensities at same scattering angle according to Mie Theory. Facility used to realize the method includes an infrared laser as light source and an array of avalanche photodiodes distributed at assigned angles as sensing devices. Scattered light signal at these angles are collected and processed. Categories of smoke particle are discriminated by signal processing results. Experiments show that by using this method cigarette smoke, kerosene smoke and water vapor can be discriminated with rate of discrimination of greater than 95%. Application of this technology in the field of fire detection will eliminate some effects of human activities such as cigarette smoking and steam on smoke detection, and improve sensitivity as well as reliability of smoke detection.