Discharge of CF3I in a Cold Simulated Aircraft Engine Nacelle (NIST SP 984)

Published

June 1, 2002

Author(s)

Jiann C. Yang, Samuel L. Manzello, Marc R. Nyden, M D. Connaghan

Abstract

An aircraft engine nacelle refers to the region between the engine body and its casing. Fuel and hydraulic lines, pumps, and lubrication systems are located within the nacelle. Air is vented through the nacelle to prevent any build-up of combustible vapors, and underside drain holes are used to mitigate potential pooling of flammable fluids as a result of a leak. Once a fire is detected in the nacelle, the pilot will first level the aircraft before arming and discharging the fire suppressant. Depending on the configuration of the aircraft, the fire suppression bottle is mounted either adjacent to the engine nacelle or at a location several meters away from the nacelle, and the agent is transported through piping to the fire zone. Current aircraft fire suppression bottles for engine nacelle fire protection are normally filled with liquid CF3Br (halon 1301) to about half of the bottle volume, and the bottle is then pressurized with nitrogen to a specified equilibrium pressure (typically ~ 4.1 MPa) at room temperature. The purpose of using the pressurization gas is to expedite the discharge of the agent and to facilitate the dispersion of the agent. Without nitrogen pressurization, the bottle pressure, which is simply the vapor pressure of the agent, can be so low at cold ambience that there is not enough driving force to rapidly expel the agent from the bottle when needed.

Citation

Special Publication (NIST SP) - 984

Report Number

984

NIST Pub Series

Special Publication (NIST SP)

Pub Type

NIST Pubs

Download Paper

Local Download

Keywords

halons, halon alternatives, halon 1301, physical properties

Citation

Yang, J. , Manzello, S. , Nyden, M. and Connaghan, M. (2002), Discharge of CF3I in a Cold Simulated Aircraft Engine Nacelle (NIST SP 984), Special Publication (NIST SP), National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=911486 (Accessed October 31, 2024)