Federal Aviation Administration
Presented to:
By:
Date:
FAA William J Hughes Technical Center
Fire Safety Branch
<Title>
Class C Cargo
Compartment ULD
Suppression Agent
Penetration
International Aircraft Systems Fire Protection
Working Group. Atlantic City, NJ
David Blake, FAA Fire Safety
October 21, 2015
Federal Aviation Administration
<Slide Title>
2 October 21, 2015 Atlantic City, NJ
Background
• Recent test results have shown the potential for vapors
vented from lithium ion batteries in thermal runaway to
produce flammable gas mixtures inside ULDs.
• Testing was initiated to measure the concentration of
suppression agent both inside ULDs and in the
surrounding cargo compartment.
• FE-25 used as a surrogate gas for Halon 1301.
Halon 1301 FE-25
Boiling Point (°F) -72 -55
Vapor Pressure (psi) 208 200
Molecular Weight (g/mol) 149 120
Federal Aviation Administration
<Slide Title> DC-10 Test Article Aft Cargo Compartment
3 October 21, 2015 Atlantic City, NJ
Compartment Volume: 1303 ft3
727 Blowout panel
727 Pressure Relief Valves
Federal Aviation Administration
October 21, 2015 Atlantic City, NJ 4
Four continuous gas
analyzers calibrated for FE-
25 were used to
simultaneously record gas
concentrations. The probes
were located inside and
outside of the ULDs.
Federal Aviation Administration
October 21, 2015 Atlantic City, NJ 5
21 lbs FE25 discharged into empty compartment with mixing fans.
Gas probes spaced equidistant between floor and ceiling.
Cabin ventilation fan on.
Leakage calculated from agent decay rate: 39 ft3/minute.
Federal Aviation Administration
<Slide Title> AKE Unit Load Devices (ULDs) with flexible
fabric door covering. Filled to approximately 85%
with cardboard boxes filled with bubble wrap
plastic and taped closed.
6 October 21, 2015 Atlantic City, NJ
Federal Aviation Administration
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Gas Probe Locations
Agent Discharge Nozzle Location
Federal Aviation Administration
<Slide Title>
8 October 21, 2015 Atlantic City, NJ
Interior Gas Probes
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October 21, 2015 Atlantic City, NJ 9
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October 21, 2015 Atlantic City, NJ 10
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October 21, 2015 Atlantic City, NJ 12
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October 21, 2015 Atlantic City, NJ 16
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October 21, 2015 Atlantic City, NJ 19
Summary
• Very little suppression agent penetrates
inside ULDs and would not be adequate to
suppress flammable gas mixture from
lithium ion batteries in thermal runaway.
• Agent concentrations outside of ULDs
dissipates much faster than theoretical
calculations would indicate for the
conditions tested.
