John Reinhardt

FAA Fire Safety Section, AAR-422

 “Minimum
Performance
Standard for
Aircraft Cargo
BULK LOAD FIRES CONTAINERIZED FIRES Compartment
Fire Suppression
Systems”

FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS AEROSOL CAN

FIRE EXPLOSION SIMULATION
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

 Ig n ite d B o x

1 7 8 C a rd b o a rd B o x e s
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

 C a rd b o a rd b o xe s

No t to sc a le

En d Vie w
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

 No t to sc a le

En d Vie w
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

 MPS AEROSOL EXPLOSION TEST 062901T1
Water Mist & Nitrogen

1600

1400

1200

1000
Temperature ( F)
o

Thermocouple 4
800 MPS Time Boundary
Can 3 - Thermocouple 40

600

400
Simulator Activated at t=26.15 min

200

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Time (minutes)
 700
Suppression System Activation

MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE
30 Seconds After Discharge

600
Temperature (degrees F.)

500

400

300
TIME-TEMPERATURE AREA
200

100

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37

Time (min)
 FIRE SCENARIO MAXIMUM MAXIMUM MAXIMUM COMMENTS
TEMPERATURE TEMPERATURE-TIME PRESSURE
(o F) AREA (o F-min) (psi)
Temperature limit starting 30 seconds
after suppression system activation.
Bulk Fire Load 582 10,452 N/A Temp-Time area for 30 minutes
starting with suppression system
activation.

Temperature limit starting 30 seconds

after suppression system activation.
Containerized Fire
612 14,102 N/A Calculate Temp-Time area for 30
Load
minutes starting with suppression
system activation.

Temperature limit starting 30 seconds

after suppression system activation.
Surface Burning Fire 1125 2,964 N/A Temp-Time area for 5 minutes
starting with suppression system
activation.

Exploding Aerosol
Can Fire 582 10452 0 There shall be no explosion
• Water Mist System

• Water Mist System Combined

With Nitrogen
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 Environmental Engineering Concepts

•Droplet size = 70 to 100 microns

•Distance Between Nozzles = 16”
•Distance Between Zones = 30”
•Activation Controller (Trigger Temperature - 212 oF)
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.
 MPS BULK-LOAD TEST 031301T1 MPS CONTAINERIZED TEST 032101T1
EEC Water Mist System (w/ 70 microns Nozzles) EEC Water Mist System (70 Microns)

1600 25 1600 25

1400 1400

20 20
1200 1200
Maximum temperature (424 DegF) is under the MPS Temperature
o
Boundary (612 F); therefore, it passed.

Vol. Concentration (%)

Vol. Concentration (%)

1000 1000
Thermocouple 4 Thermocouple 1

Temperature ( oF)
15 15
Temperature ( oF)

Thermocouple 22 Thermocouple 19
MPS Temp Boundary MPS Temp Boundary
800 Maximum temperature (464 degF) is under the MPS Fail 800
o
MPS Time Boundary MPS Time Boundary
Temperature Boundary (582 F); therefore, it passed Oxygen at 16.5" Oxygen at 49.5"
Pass Fail
10 Oxygen Near Fire 10 Oxygen Near Fire
600 600
Pass

400 400
5 5

200 200

0 0 0 0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
Time (minutes) Time (minutes)

MPS SURFACE BURN TEST 031501T1 MPS AEROSOL EXPLOSION TEST 062101T1
EEC Water Mist System (w/ 70 microns Nozzles) EEC Water Mist System (70 Microns)

1600 25 1600 25

1400 1400

20 20
1200 Fail 1200

Pass

Vol. Concentration (%)

Vol. Concentration (%)

1000 1000
15 Thermocouple 4 15 Thermocouple 4
Temperature ( oF)

Temperature ( oF)

o
Maximum temperature (774 F) is over the
Thermocouple 22 o Thermocouple 24
MPS Temperature Boundary (582 F).
MPS Temp Boundary Explosion Occurred in 11.10 mins. MPS Temp Boundary
800 800
MPS Time Boundary MPS Time Boundary
Oxygen at 16.5" Fail Oxygen at 49.5"
10 Oxygen Near Fire 10 Oxygen Near Fire
600 600
Pass
Maximum temperature (673 degF) is under the MPS
o
Temperature Boundary (1125 F); therefore, it passed
400 400
5 5

200 200

0 0 0 0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 2 4 6 8 10
Time (minutes) Time (minutes)
WATER MIST SYSTEM
BULKLOAD TEST
TEST ID TEST NO. MAX TEMP (oF) MAX AREA (oF-MIN) PRESSURE (PSIG) WATER USAGE (LBS.) COMMENTS
030201T1 1 610 6241 N/A 184
030601T1 2 422 5701 N/A 134
030701T1 3 356 5758 N/A 145
030801T1 4 821 6296 N/A 150
031301T1 5 464 5502 127

Average: 535 5900 N/A 148

Std. Deviation: 185 350 22
MPS Acceptance Criteria: 582 10452
Performace Rating: Passed Passed N/A (18 Gallons)
WATER MIST SYSTEM
CONTAINERIZED TEST
TEST ID TEST NO. MAX TEMP (oF) MAX AREA (oF-MIN) PRESSURE (PSIG) WATER USAGE (LBS.) COMMENTS
032001T1 1 277 7134 N/A 228
032101T1 2 424 10480 N/A 336
032601T1 3 802 8969 N/A 330
032301T1 4 446 9839 N/A 200
041101T1 5 420 9199 N/A 272

Average: 487 9106 N/A 273.2

Std. Deviation: 195 1259 60
MPS Acceptance Criteria: 612 14102
Performace Rating: Passed Passed N/A (33 Gallons)
Tests With 1 Nozzle Inside LD3 Container
041001T1 1 656 7768 122 (15 Gallons)
041301T1 2 250 6264 157 (19 Gallons)
WATER MIST SYSTEM
SURFACE BURNING TEST
TEST ID TEST NO. MAX TEMP (oF) MAX AREA (oF-MIN) PRESSURE (PSIG) WATER USAGE (LBS.) COMMENTS
031401T1 1 931 1509 N/A 76
031401T2 2 197 737 N/A 78
031401T3 3 999 1601 N/A 67
031501T1 4 673 1093 N/A 74
031501T2 5 908 1595 N/A 75

Average: 742 1307 N/A 74

Std. Deviation: 328 381 4
MPS Acceptance Criteria: 1125 2964
Performace Rating: Passed Passed N/A (9 Gallons)
WATER MIST SYSTEM
AEROSOL EXPLOSION TEST (BULK LOAD VERSION W/ AEROSOL CAN SIMULATOR)
TEST ID TEST NO. MAX TEMP (oF) MAX AREA (oF-MIN) PRESSURE (PSIG) WATER USAGE (LBS.) COMMENTS
061501T1 1 782 - Blow Out Plastic Sheet Used 61 No Explosion Observed. Short test.

061801T1 2 1223 - Blow Out Plastic Sheet Used 71 No Explosion Observed. Short test
Explosion occurred at 8.1 mins.
061901T1 3 834 - Blow Out Plastic Sheet Used 60
Short test
Explosion occurred at 14.12 mins.
062101T1 4 1265 - Blow Out Plastic Sheet Used 57
Short test.
Explosion occurred at 11.10 mins.
062201T1 5 774 - Blow Out Plastic Sheet Used 56
Short test.

Average: 976 - Explosion Occurred 61

Std. Deviation: 247 - 6
MPS Acceptance Criteria: 582 N/A No Explosion
Performace Rating: Failed N/A Failed (7.3 Gallons)
- 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)
WATER MIST SYSTEM WITH NITROGEN
BULKLOAD TEST
TEST NO. MAX TEMP (oF) MAX AREA (oF-MIN) PRESSURE (PSIG) WATER USAGE (LBS.) NITROGEN USAGE (FT3) COMMENTS
96% of boxes were not damaged
070601T1 1 346 3382 N/A 67 2730
(versus 75% with Halon 1301)
2
3
4
5
WATER MIST SYSTEM WITH NITROGEN
CONTAINERIZED TEST
TEST ID TEST NO. MAX TEMP (oF) MAX AREA (oF-MIN) PRESSURE (PSIG) WATER USAGE (LBS.) NITROGEN USAGE (FT3) COMMENTS
90-Minute Test; Water mist system
was turned on seconds later it was
070901T1 1 700.4 5295 N/A 151 4170
required to turn on due to a closed
valve.
071101T1 2 219 5575 N/A 70 2354
3
4
5
WATER MIST SYSTEM WITH NITROGEN
SURFACE BURNING TEST
TEST ID TEST NO. MAX TEMP (oF) MAX AREA (oF-MIN) PRESSURE (PSIG) WATER USAGE (LBS.) NITROGEN USAGE (FT3) COMMENTS
070301T1 1 244 840 N/A 27 200 Fire Extinguished in 37.2 secs.
070301T2 2 435 899 N/A 24 97.1 Fire Extinguished in 53.4 secs.
070501T1 3 418 1016 N/A 23 91.2 Fire Extinguished in 61.2 secs.
070501T2 4 595 1268 N/A 16 82.4 Fire Extinguished in 52.2 secs.
070501T3 5 498 1246 N/A 19 85.3 Fire Extinguished in 58.8 secs.

Average: 438 1054 N/A 22 111.2 52.6

Std. Deviation: 129 196 4 50
MPS Acceptance Criteria: 1125 2964
Performace Rating: Passed Passed N/A (2.7 Gallons) < 1 T-Size Cylinder at 2500 psig 53 seconds to extinguish fire
WATER MIST SYSTEM WITH NITROGEN
AEROSOL EXPLOSION TEST (BULK LOAD VERSION W/ AEROSOL CAN SIMULATOR)
TEST ID TEST NO. MAX TEMP (oF) MAX AREA (oF-MIN) PRESSURE (PSIG) WATER USAGE (LBS.) NITROGEN USAGE (FT3) COMMENTS
30 minutes test. Sim activated at
t=33.18 minutes since cans did not
062501T1 1 454 3694 0 73.8 2824
heated up to 400 degF. No
explosion
30 minutes test. Sim activated at
t=30.53 minutes since cans did not
062701T1 2 368 3400 0 74 2730
heated up to 400 degF. No
explosion
30 minutes test. Can 1 reached
062801T1 3 528 3891 0 74 3060 400 degF. Sim activated at t=16.48
minutes. No explosion
30 minutes test. Can 3 reached
062901T1 4 564 4190 0 73 2824 400 degF. Sim activated at t=26.15
minutes. No explosion
30 minutes test. Sim activated at
t=31.83 minutes since cans did not
070201T1 5 752 3876 0 70 3210
heated up to 400 degF. No
explosion

Average: 533 3810 0 73 2930

Std. Deviation: 144 290 0 2 199
MPS Acceptance Criteria: 582 10452 0
Performace Rating: Passed Passed Passed (8.8 Gallons) 10 T-Size Cylinders at 2500 psig No Explosion
 MPS BULK-LOAD TEST 070601T1 MPS CONTAINERIZED TEST 071101T1
Water Mist and Nitrogen Water Mist and Nitrogen

1600 25 1600 25

1400 1400

20 20
1200 1200

Vol. Concentration (%)

Vol. Concentration (%)
1000 1000
15 Thermocouple 4 15 Thermocouple 4
Temperature ( oF)

Temperature ( oF)
Thermocouple 24 Thermocouple 19
MPS Temp Boundary MPS Temp Boundary
800 Fail 800
MPS Time Boundary MPS Time Boundary
Pass Oxygen at 16.5" Fail Oxygen at 49.5"
10 Oxygen Near Fire 10 Oxygen Near Fire
600 600
Pass

400 400
Maximum temperature = 346 degF MPS Maximum Temperature =219 DegF
5 5
Maximum Area = 3382 degF-Min MPS Maximum Area = 5575 degF-min
200 200

0 0 0 0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
Time (minutes) Time (minutes)

MPS AEROSOL EXPLOSION TEST 062801T1

MPS SURFACE BURN TEST 070301T2 Water Mist & Nitrogen
Water Mist and Nitrogen
1600 25
1600 25

1400
1400
20
20 1200
1200 Fail

Vol. Concentration (%)

1000 Thermocouple 4
Pass
Temperature ( oF)

15 Thermocouple 24
Vol. Concentration (%)

1000
15 Thermocouple 5
Temperature ( oF)

MPS Temp Boundary

Thermocouple 20 800 MPS Time Boundary
MPS Temp Boundary
800 Can 1 - Thermocouple 38
MPS Time Boundary
Fail 10 Oxygen at 49.5"
Oxygen at 16.5" 600 Oxygen Near Fire
10 Oxygen Near Fire
600 Pass Maximum temperature was 528 degF
Maximum temperature = 435 degF Maximum Area = 3891 degF-Min
400
Maximum Area = 899 degF-Min
400 5
5
200 Simulator Activated at t=16.48 min
200

0 0
0 0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Time (minutes)
Time (minutes)
 MPS CONTAINERIZED TEST 070901T1
Water Mist and Nitrogen (90 Minutes Test)

1600 25

Water Mist System ran w/ Control Logic #5.

1400 Total Water Used in 90 Minutes=151 lbs. (18.2 gallons)
3
Volume of Nitrogen Used in 90 Minutes = 4170 ft (13.7 cylinders)
20
Nitrogen Flow Rate was in between 37.5 CFM and 89.3 CFM
1200 64% of Boxes Undamaged

Vol. Concentration (%)

1000
Thermocouple 4
Temperature ( F)

15
o

Thermocouple 19
MPS Temp Boundary
800
MPS Time Boundary
Fail Oxygen at 49.5"
10 Oxygen Near Fire
600
Pass

400 MPS Maximum Temperature =700.4 DegF (System turned on after 1 min.)
MPS Maximum Area = 5295 degF-min 5

200

0 0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Time (minutes)
 AGENT CONSUMPTION DURING MPS TESTS

350

300

250

200
Halon 1301
Weight (Pounds)
HFC-125
150 Water Mist
Water Mist + N2

100

50

0
Bulk-Load Containerized Surface-Burn Explosion Cont. 90-Min
MPS TEST
-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.