FireDOC Search

Author
Hamins, A. | Cleary, T. G.
Title
Suppression Criteria in Engine Nacelle Fires.
Coporate
National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD
Sponsor
Naval Air Systems Command, Washington, DC Air Force Flight Dynamics Lab., Wright-Patterson AFB
Book or Conf
Alliance for Responsible Atmospheric Policy; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; Environment Canada; United Nations Environment Programme; U.S. Department of Agriculture. Stratospheric Ozone Protection for the 90's. 1995 International CFC and Halon Alternatives Conference and Exhibition. Proceedings. October 21-23, 1995, Washington, DC, 664-673 p., 1995
Keywords
nacelle fires | fire suppression | aircraft safety | blowout velocity | flame extinguishment | flammability limits | halogenated compounds | ignition | pool fires | sprays | halons
Identifiers
comparison of the critical agent mass fraction at extinction measured in different burners; characteristic mixing time; recirculation zone; coefficients in equation 5 for each agent and fire scenario; simple mixing model applied to engine nacelle fires
Abstract
A series of experimental measurements were conducted and simple models were developed in an effort to provide an improved understanding of the influence of various parameters on the processes controlling flame stability in engine nacelle applications. The model was constructed to predict the quantity of agent required to suppress a generic engine nacelle fire. The model was based on suppression experiments from a bench-scale turbulent jet spray burner and a pool burner, and on agent fluid mixing calculations. The experiments indicate that fire hazard is dependent on a large number of parameters including the air velocity, nacelle temperature, fuel type, and system pressure in the nacelle. The geometry of the fire configuration is critical in defining the ease of fire suppression. The model illustrates the importance of injection duration, air flow, nacelle free volume, fluid mixing, and fire scenario on the minimum agent suppression requirements.