Which type of detector utilizes a light beam to detect smoke particles?

A photoelectric detector uses a light beam to identify smoke particles within its sensor chamber. This type of detector works by emitting a light source, often a laser or LED, that illuminates the air inside the chamber. When smoke particles enter this area, they scatter the light beam, causing a change in the light intensity that is detected by a sensor. This change triggers the alarm, thereby providing an early warning of potential fires.

This technology is particularly effective in detecting smoldering fires, which produce larger smoke particles, making photoelectric detectors a valuable choice for smoke detection in various environments. Other types of detectors, like ionization detectors, operate on different principles, such as measuring changes in ionization currents caused by smoke, rather than using light. Heat detectors focus solely on temperature changes and do not detect smoke at all, while dual sensor detectors combine both photoelectric and ionization technologies to enhance fire detection capabilities.