Flame detector

Based on user requirements and current regulations and guidelines for flame detectors in the areas of fire detection / fire detection, flame detection and control of incinerators, various sensor materials (Si, GaP, GaAsP and SiC) should be investigated for their suitability for the construction of optical detectors. The aim was to enable the production of long-term stable sensors with defined optical parameters for sometimes extreme environmental conditions. The focus of the work was on sensors for the UV range.

After analysis of the specific requirements of the applications

• Fire control
• Flame detection
• Control of combustion

The various sensor materials were tested for their suitability for long-term stability, spectral sensitivity, temperature resistance, price and availability. Suitable amplifier and transimpedance converter stages to be integrated directly have been selected and design solutions of flame detectors have been developed.

By constructing prototypes and testing them together with users, a concept for the construction of detectors based on SiC and compound semiconductors for flame monitoring was developed. For the targeted influencing of the combustion process by optical evaluation of the flame spectrum, the existing data available to the users was not sufficient enough. For this reason, two universally applicable detector arrays have been developed, which are suitable as a kind of miniature spectrometer to collect data from the users for a specific influence on the combustion process.

The developed design concept for flame detectors is the basis for the series production of ifw optronics. These detectors can be extended by SMEs to complete measuring systems. The detector arrays enable the determination of urgently needed data for optical sensors in the area of combustion process control and thus for the processing of a new market segment.