In-Flight Suppressant Deployment Temperatures

Published

February 28, 2006

Author(s)

Donald Bein

Abstract

This report describes review of DoD military fixed-wing and rotary aircraft fire mishap/incident data applicable to assess temperatures at which aircraft fire suppressants have been deployed in engine nacelle and APU compartment fires. Another model is also described, which was constructed to assess predicted nacelle compartment air temperatures at altitude, also taking into consideration aircraft airspeed, average nacelle airflow velocity, average engine case surface temperature, and average nacelle physical characteristics. An assessment is made of the model output versus some aircraft measurement data, fire suppressant boiling point criterion, as well as the history of altitude/temperature at which fire suppressants have been deployed. Additional analysis is also described that assessed aircraft operation in cold conditions, where the limiting temperature for fire suppressant release during take-off may be close to the (low) ground temperature. Risk assessments are also presented to quantify rate of occurrence of nacelle/APU fires and rates in which suppressants have been deployed taking into consideration altitude thresholds.

Citation

Special Publication (NIST SP) - 984-4

Report Number

984-4

NIST Pub Series

Special Publication (NIST SP)

Pub Type

NIST Pubs

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Local Download

Citation

Bein, D. (2006), In-Flight Suppressant Deployment Temperatures, Special Publication (NIST SP), National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=909401 (Accessed April 19, 2024)