John Reinhardt FAA Fire Safety Section, AAR-422

1. John Reinhardt FAA Fire Safety Section, AAR-422

2. “Minimum Performance Standard for Aircraft Cargo Compartment Fire Suppression Systems” BULK LOADFIRES CONTAINERIZED FIRES AEROSOL CAN EXPLOSION SIMULATION FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS FIRE

3. BULK LOAD FIRE TEST Fire Load = 178 card board boxes (30% of Vol.) containing 2.5 lbs of shredded paper Ignition = nichrome wire wrapped around folded paper towels System Activation = 1 min. after one of the ceiling T/C reaches 200 oF Test Duration = Five tests @ 30 minutes each

5. CONTAINERIZED FIRE TEST Fire Load = 33 card board boxes inside an LD3. Three LD3 in Compartment Ignition = nichrome wire wrapped around folded paper towels System Activation = 1 min. after one of the ceiling T/C reaches 200 oF Test Duration = Five tests @ 30 minutes each

7. SURFACE BURN FIRE TEST Fire Load = 0.5 U.S. Gallon of Jet A fuel (with 13 oz of gasoline) Ignition = Arc created by two spark plugs System Activation = 1 min. after one of the ceiling T/C reaches 200 oF Test Duration = 5 minutes

9. AEROSOL CAN EXPLOSION SIMULATION Fire Load = 58 card board boxes containing 2.5 lbs of shredded paper Ignition = nichrome wire wrapped around folded paper towels System Activation = 1 min. after one of the ceiling T/C reaches 200 oF Activate Simulator when one of the cans temp. reaches 400 oF (or test time = 29 minutes) Test Duration = Five tests @ 30 minutes each

14. Water Mist System • Water Mist System Combined • With Nitrogen

15. High Pressure/Class I Water Mist System • High Pressure Pump (1150 psig) • 125 Gallon Water Tank (Pressurized to 40 psig) • Solenoid Valves • Number of Nozzles = 32 • Nozzle Angle = 90o Down • Max Flow Rate per Nozzle = 0.10 gpm • Number of Zones = 4 • Nozzles per Zone = 8 • Droplet size = 70 to 100 microns • Distance Between Nozzles = 16” • Distance Between Zones = 30” • Activation Controller (Trigger Temperature - 212 oF) Environmental Engineering Concepts

17. ACTIVATION CONTROL LOGIC: • Two zones near fire will turn on for 5 minutes to knock down flames and cool down the cargo compartment. • After the 5 minutes: • - A zone will turn on only if the temperature near the zone exceeds 212 oF; turn off if temperature is below it. • - All zones will turn on if the ceiling temperature exceeds 350 oF.

19. WATER MIST SYSTEM

20. WATER MIST SYSTEM

21. WATER MIST SYSTEM

22. WATER MIST SYSTEM

23. - High Pressure/Class I Water Mist System (As described before) • - Nitrogen System consisted of: • 16 Cylinders Size-T Nitrogen Bank • Two Matheson Model 3020 Regulators • System Flow Rate = 37.5 CFM to 89.3 CFM • Pneumatic Valve • One inch plumbing network • 5 Nozzles (5/8” ID) • Activation was controlled by the volumetric concentration of Oxygen (10%) in the cargo compartment (Closed loop control system)

26. WATER MIST SYSTEM WITH NITROGEN

27. WATER MIST SYSTEM WITH NITROGEN

28. WATER MIST SYSTEM WITH NITROGEN

29. WATER MIST SYSTEM WITH NITROGEN

33. A class I, high pressure water mist system did not pass the MPS for aircraft cargo compartments due to its incapability to inert the compartment against a HC explosion. • The same water mist system combined with a nitrogen system passed the MPS with a competitive weight factor*. The weight advantage will come from using the proposed fuel tanks OBIGGS system for nitrogen generation.