1. Challenges for the development of EFFICIENT An Environmentally Friendly Fire Suppression System for Cargo using Innovative Green Technology
Guillermo Fernandez-Cerezo, Dr Claire M Benson,
Dr Paul G Holborn, Prof David Mba
LSBU School of Engineering

2. Content Page: Review on Fire suppression and Halons
Aircraft Cargo Compartment
Research Aim
Project plan
Development of multi-phase cup burner test
Standard
Conclusions
Rewrite

3. Fire suppression history
Mesopotamia (3000BC)
Buckets of water/ Fire breaks
Rome (24 BC)
Buckets of water/ Fire breaks/ Regulation
Europe (17th-19th century)
Brick/ Chemical extinguishing agents/ Steam driven pumps
USA/ Europe (20th Century)
Halogenated hydrocarbons (Halons)

4. What are halons? Halogenated alkanes Chemically stable & low toxicity
Methane/ ethane
Chemically stable & low toxicity
No residue/ corrosion
Dissolve non-polar chemicals
Cleaning
Low molecular weight, physical characteristics
Refrigerant
Reactive radical release
Fire suppressant

5. Halons as fire suppressants
Thermal cleaving of radicals
Displace O2 or disrupt oxidation?
Hα + X → HX + α
HX + β → Hβ + X
Ref: Rosser et al, 7th Symp (Int) Combust,1959
H + O2 → OH + O
CO + OH → CO2 + H
Ref: Day et al, 13th Symp (Int) Combust,1971

6. Halons as fire suppressants
Aircraft
Non-toxic
Non-electrically conductive
Non-corrosive
No residue
Low volume required for suppression
Environmental conditions
-50°C
Multiple types of fire

7. Why are halons dangerous?
1979
1983
2008
Images: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
X + O3 → XO + O2
XO + O3 → X + 2O2

8. Halon replacements Montreal Protocol Cleaning Refrigeration
Fire Suppression:
HFC227, HFC 125
Aircraft
Lavatories
Hand-held cabin

9. The cargo compartment problem
Approx. 60 m2 volume
Varied cargo make-up and geometry
Leak Rate 1.4 cm3/min (50 ft3/min)
Extreme operational temperature boundaries
Equal level of safety (ELOS)
Size & Weight restrictions
FAA and EASA developed Minimum Performance Standards (MPS) looking for a ‘Clean agent’ ‘drop in’ solution
EU to phase out use of halon by 2040
Certification of new clean system aircraft by 2018

10. Minimum Performance Standards:
MPS Test
Max Temp (⁰C)
Max Time-Temp Area (⁰C- Min)
Time
Bulk
382
5504
28 min
Containerized
343
7782
Surface
299
665
3 min
Ref: J. Reinhardt, The Fifth Triennial Int Fire & Cabin Safety Research Conf

11. Minimum Performance Standards
Ref: J. Reinhardt, The Fifth Triennial Int Fire & Cabin Safety Research Conf

12. Minimum Performance Standards:
Time (m sec)
Pressure (psig)
Aerosol can simulation explosion test
No Agent
Halon 1301
2-BTP
HFC 125 FK
Ref: J. Reinhardt, The Fifth Triennial Int Fire & Cabin Safety Research Conf

13. Successful replacements?
Water Mist and Inert Nitrogen Gas
Effectiveness on all the MPS lies on their individual traits:
Heat Absorption (Water)
Inert Atmosphere (Nitrogen)
No GWP, ODP with acceptable toxicity and residue effects
Current system arrangement drawbacks

14. Research Aim:
Clean Sky 2 program is funding an International consortium research under the EFFICIENT (Environmentally Friendly Fire Suppression System for Cargo using Innovative Green Technology) project, which LSBU is part of
This requires a complete new system to be developed, hence the scope of this work will be to;
explore novel technologies and methods that can be implemented in the development of a new halon-free environmentally friendly innovative agent/system
assessment and optimisation of agent(s)/system capabilities to fire suppression and its corresponding measuring practices

15. Objectives (a):
Establish the System Specifications of the Technical and Environmental Requirements for a fire suppression system in commercial passengers aircraft cargo compartments
Research alternative technologies, fire suppression agent(s)/component(s) and methods
Developing new measuring techniques and/or optimise existing ones for the agent(s) effectiveness establishment and monitoring throughout the system for;
Single agent
Multi-agent combination

16. Objectives (b):
4. Design, manufacture and assembly of the fire suppression test rigs and systems;
Testing and establishment of the agent extinguishing concentration values;
6. Integration, assembly and evaluation of the of the systems and agent(s)

17. Cup Burner Standard Test
Purpose: A screening test to establish the agent concentration required for extinguishment
Current standards exist: ISO Annex B and NFPA Annex B
However reproducibility is poor due to:
Variable regulations that can be interpreted differently
Mismatch between the two standards

18. Development of multi-phase cup burner test
Halon replacement agent is to be identified
Multi-agent and multi-state agents are likely
Current Cup Burner method has no procedure for multi-agents
A versatile and accurate cup burner apparatus is required to meet the EFFICIENT project agent requirements
Possibility of inclusion in standards

19. Modular Cup Burner Features:
Main structure of the apparatus is easily manufactured and assembled
Optional modules for different agents can be removed or attached as required
Novel technologies and measuring techniques are required
Room for easy repair or substitution of pieces and future optimisation
Allows for a simple methodology to be followed for all types of agents

20. Flow Treatment Module Multi-Agent Module
Modular Cup Burner
Multi-agent assembly
Single-agent assembly
Cup
Chimney
Fuel Supply Module
Measuring Module
Flow Treatment Module Multi-Agent Module
Single Agent Module

21. Modular Cup Burner Fuel Module Measurement Module Multi-Agent Module
Flow Control Module
Single Agent Module

22. Development of multi-phase measurement system
Measuring system for multi-state agent:
Density, Droplet Sizing, Flow Analysis, Temperature
Phase Doppler Anemometry
Particle Image Velocimetry
High Speed Cameras
Chemical measurement

23. Standardisation mind-set
Based on the foundations of ISO 14520
Preliminary cup and chimney shape will retain original form
Calculation method based on volumetric flow rate
Reproducibility issue solved by:
Innovative functional modular design
Applying novel measurement techniques

24. Conclusion:
Halon phase-out is extremely important due to environmental issues, depletion of existing halon reserves and the need for next generation aircraft certification
Montreal Protocol is the only working environmental world wide agreement, so strong incentive to uphold it - even more now after news from 2016 of the Ozone layer hole reducing
This project encompasses
Define requirements
Research in fire suppression technology
Develop test apparatus and methodology
Develop measurement techniques
Identify the agent effectiveness to fire threat

25. Thanks for your attention Any Questions?