Data-Driven Wireless Fire Hose Flow Rate Apparatus

A wireless sensor network was created to measure water-flow rate in a fire hose. An integrated electronic piezoelectric (IEPE) accelerometer was chosen as the sensor to measure the flow rate based on the vibrations generated by water flowing through a fire hose. The flow apparatus, including the accelerometer, was lightweight, small, and easily attached and removed to any location along the fire hose, not obstructing the water’s flow path. A relationship between the dominant-frequency metric and the flow rate was applied with a custom graphical user interface for quick, real-time, visual referencing of flow rate in a fire hose by fire personnel. The wireless flow apparatus was used with realistic firefighting hose conditions (i.e., holding the hose nozzle, nozzle motion during simulated fire suppression, simulated hose dragging) to evaluate the apparatus function and determine the influence of the hose motion, accelerometer location, and nozzle spray on the dominant-frequency metric. While more research is needed, such as enhancing the robustness of the dominant frequency metric, and physically hardening the apparatus, this research shows the potential of a “smart” fire hose for improved situational awareness during fire suppression.