- Author
-
Dixon,T.
- Title
- Gross Voided Flame Arresters for Fuel Tank Explosion Protection. Technical Report. May 1, 1972-October 30, 1972.
- Coporate
- Boeing Aerospace Co., Seattle, WA
- Sponsor
- Air Force Aero Propulsion Lab., Wright-Patterson AFB, OH
- Report
-
AFAPL-TR-77-124,
February 1974,
525 p.
- Contract
- F33615-72-C-1597
- Keywords
-
flame arrestors
|
fuel tanks
|
explosions
|
spark ignition
|
arson
|
flame propagation
|
aircraft fuel tanks
|
polyurethane foams
|
explosion suppression
- Identifiers
- gunfire
- Abstract
- In this research test program, new materials were investigated for use as flame arresters within gross voided aircraft fuel tankages. The program was developed to reduce the present weight penalties associated with fully packed (10% to 15% voided) fuel tanks, using reticulated polyurethane foam. Previous woek demonstrated a low-density, 25-pore-per-inch (PPI) foam explosion suppression system with 80% to 90% voiding when the source was spark ignition. The ignition sources varied throughout the total program and included a spark, incendiary igniter (developed by AFAPL/SFH) and .50 caliber API gunfire. An industry search resulted in 40 materials being selected for initial screening tests within a flame tube apparatus. Each material was rated for flame arresting characteristics and air flow pressure drop. As a result of these tests, nine materials and combinations of these materials were further tested in an 18.0-inch-diameter, variable geometry test apparatus that allowed the incendiary igniter to be used for ignition. Data plots were obtained from both these modes of test that related thickness of material required for burn-through versus flame speed (spark ignition) and initial pressure (spark and incendiary ignition). Resulting from these tests, five materials and combinations of materials were selected for full-scale tests within a simulated fuselage, small wing and large wing tankage in various void configurations. This program has concluded that fuel tank voiding up to and exceeding 80% is attainable within certain tankage configurations and with specific arrester materials. The ignition source has been shown to be an important consideration.