Discrimination of smoke particles using infrared photoelectrical detection

A method of discrimination of smoke particles using infrared photoelectrica l detection is proposed in this paper. Principle of the method is that smok e particles of different materials have different scattering light intensit ies at same scattering angle according to Mie Theory. Facility used to real ize the method includes an infrared laser as light source and an array of a valanche photodiodes distributed at assigned angles as sensing devices. Sca ttered light signal at these angles are collected and processed. Categories of smoke particle are discriminated by signal processing results. Experime nts show that by using this method cigarette smoke, kerosene smoke and wate r vapor can be discriminated with rate of discrimination of greater than 95 %. Application of this technology in the field of fire detection will elimi nate some effects of human activities such as cigarette smoking and steam o n smoke detection, and improve sensitivity as well as reliability of smoke detection.