Executive Summary.
Executive Summary.
(35 K)
Gann, R. G.
NIST SP 890; Volume 1; 789 p. November 1995.
Fire Suppression System Performance of Alternative
Agents in Aircraft Engine and Dry Bay Laboratory
Simulations. Volume 1 and Volume 2, Gann, R. G.,
Editor(s), iii-vi pp, 1995.
Available from:
National Technical Information Service
Order number: PB96-117775
Keywords:
fire suppression; aircraft engines; nacelle fires;
simulation; halon 1301; halon alternatives
Abstract:
Halon 1301 (CF3Br), one of the chemicals identified as
detrimental to stratospheric ozone, had become the
choice for suppressing in-flight fires in nearly all
types of aircraft. Production of new halon 1301 was
stopped on January 1, 1994, and efforts are underway to
identify near-term replacements for critical
applications, focussing on available or currently
emerging chemicals and technologies. In particular, the
three military services and the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) have pooled resources to provide
solutions for two applications: engine nacelles and dry
(avionics) bays, while realizing that there are other
aircraft areas also in need of protection. This project
was managed at Wright Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB),
with oversight provided by a Technology Transition Team
of four sponsors. The first major objective of the
program was to identify the optimal available
alternative fluid(s) for use in suppressing fires in
aircraft engine nacelles and dry (avionics) bays. In
October, 1993, based on extensive laboratory research
and real-scale testing at WPAFB, the sponsors decided on
a reduced list of candidates for each application; for
engine nacelles: C2HF5 (HFC-125), C3HF7 (HFC-227ea),
and CF3I; for dry bays: C2HF5, C3F8 (FC-218), and CF3I.
Much of the laboratory-scale research leading to that
decision has been described in NIST Special Publication
861, "Evaluation of Alternative In-Flight Fire
Suppressants for Full-Scale Testing in Simulated
Aircraft Engine Nacelles and Dry Bays". That report
documents the comprehensive experimental program to
screen the performance of possible suppressant chemicals
as a means to identify the best candidates for
subsequent full-scale aircraft fire extinguishment
evaluation at Wright Laboratory, and addresses the
compatibility of these agents with flight systems,
people, and the environment. In particular, apparatus
and measurement methods suited to aircraft applications
are carefully described, and extensive performance data
are provided and analyzed. The reader is referred to
that report as a prerequisite and companion to the
current document.
