Hostname: page-component-6bb9c88b65-t28k2 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-07-19T15:44:29.006Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Development of a fire detection and suppression system for a smart air cargo container

Part of: Smart Aircraft International Symposium on Smart Aircraft 2019 Collection

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 October 2020

Q. Zhang Open the ORCID record for Q. Zhang [Opens in a new window] ,
Y.C. Wang Open the ORCID record for Y.C. Wang [Opens in a new window] ,
C. Soutis Open the ORCID record for C. Soutis [Opens in a new window]  and
M. Gresil Open the ORCID record for M. Gresil [Opens in a new window]
Q. Zhang*
Affiliation:
Department of Materials, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil engineering, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK Aerospace Research Institute, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
Y.C. Wang
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil engineering, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK Aerospace Research Institute, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
C. Soutis
Affiliation:
Department of Materials, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK Aerospace Research Institute, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
M. Gresil
Affiliation:
Department of Materials, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK Aerospace Research Institute, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
*
qiangjun.zhang@manchester.ac.uk
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

This study investigates and proposes a fire detection and suppression system for a smart air cargo container. A series of smoke spread and fire evolution numerical models are executed to assess the performance of container-based fire detection in various fire scenarios. This is to identify the worst case and optimise the location and threshold setting of fire detection sensors, achieving the shortest detection time. It is found that the fire detection threshold (reduction in light transmission = 12%/ft) for a container-based system can be set at three times the standard activation threshold for a cargo-based fire detection system, which can reduce the number of false alarms by three orders of magnitude. Moreover, effectiveness analysis of passive fire protection for the glass fibre-reinforced polymer-made smart container indicates an allowable leakage size of 0.01m2. The risk of internal overpressure has been found to be negligible for the leakage size required by aircraft pressure equalisation.

Keywords

smart containerfire detectionpassive fire suppressionsmoke transportationlight transmissionfire dynamics simulationfalse alarm

Information

Type
Research Article
Information
The Aeronautical Journal , Volume 125 , Issue 1283 , January 2021 , pp. 205 - 222
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Royal Aeronautical Society

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Article purchase

Temporarily unavailable

References

REFERENCES

Branch, A.A.I. Report on the serious incident to Boeing B787-8, ET-AOP London Heathrow Airport on 12 July 2013. 2015, Air Accidents Investigation Branch.Google Scholar
Code of Federal Regulations 14 CFR Part 25.858 Cargo or baggage compartment smoke or fire detection systems. 2015, Federal Aviation Administration.Google Scholar
Part 25: Airworthiness standards: Transport category airplanes, in Federal Aviation Administration, Washington, DC. 2002, Federal Aviation Regulations.Google Scholar
Hipsher, C. and Ferguson, E.D. Fire Protection: Cargo Compartments. 2011.Google Scholar
Wang, Q.S., Ping, P., Zhao, X.J., Chu, G.Q., Sun, J.H. and Chen, C.H. Thermal runaway caused fire and explosion of lithium ion battery. J. Power Sources, 2012, 208, pp 210–224. doi: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2012.02.038CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Huang, P.F., Wang, Q.S., Li, K., Ping, P. and Sun, J.H. The combustion behavior of large scale lithium titanate battery. Sci. Rep., 2015, 5, Artn 7788. doi: 10.1038/Srep07788CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wang, Q.S., Huang, P.F., Ping, P., Du, Y.L., Li, K., and Sun, J.H. Combustion behavior of lithium iron phosphate battery induced by external heat radiation. J. Loss Prev. Process Ind., 2017, 49, pp 961–969. doi: 10.1016/j.jlp.2016.12.002CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ribiere, P., Grugeon, S., Morcrette, M., Boyanov, S., Laruelle, S. and Marlair, G. Investigation on the fire-induced hazards of Li-ion battery cells by fire calorimetry. Energy Environ. Sci., 2012, 5, (1), pp 5271–5280. doi: 10.1039/c1ee02218kCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lu, K.H., Mao, S.H., Wang, J. and Lu, S. Numerical simulation of the ventilation effect on fire characteristics and detections in an aircraft cargo compartment. Appl. Therm. Eng., 2017, 124, pp 1441–1446. doi: 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2017.06.128CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Girdhari, A. Aircraft Cargo Compartment Multisensor Smoke Detection Algorithm Development. 2008, US Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration, Office of Aviation Research and Development.Google Scholar
Blake, D. Aircraft Cargo Compartment Smoke Detector Alarm Incidents on U. S.-Registered Aircraft, 1974-1999. 2000.Google Scholar
McGrattan, K., Hostikka, S., McDermott, R., Floyd, J., Weinschenk, C. and Overholt, K. Fire Dynamics Simulator User’s Guide. 2013.Google Scholar
Reinhardt, J.W. Minimum Performance Standard for Aircraft Cargo Compartment Halon Replacement Fire Suppression Systems (2012 Update). 2012.Google Scholar
Grosshandler, W.L. A review of measurements and candidate signatures for early fire detection. 1995.Google Scholar
Blake, D. and Suo-Anttila, J. Aircraft cargo compartment fire detection and smoke transport modeling. Fire Safety J., 2008, 43, (8), pp 576–582. doi: 10.1016/j.firesaf.2008.01.003CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bell, K. Cargo Compartment Smoke Detector AS8036 Standard Revision. 2011, Society of Automotive Engineers International.Google Scholar
Chen, S.J., Hovde, D.C., Peterson, K.A. and Marshall, A.W. Fire detection using smoke and gas sensors. Fire Safety J., 2007, 42, (8), pp 507–515. doi: 10.1016/j.firesaf.2007.01.006CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Blake, D. and Atlantic City, N. Status of the development of a minimum performance standard for halon replacement agents in aircraft cargo compartments. FAA Fire Safety Section, International Aircraft Fire and Cabin Safety Research Conference, 1998.Google Scholar
AKH (LD3-45). Available from: http://www.nordisk-aviation.com/en/ld-containers/akh-ld3-45/nordisk-akh-/Google Scholar
Oztekin, E.S. Heat and mass transfer due to a small-fire in an aircraft cargo compartment. Int. J. Heat and Mass Transf., 2014, 73, pp 562–573. doi: 10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2014.02.019CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Oztekin, E., Blake, D. and Lyon, R. Flow induced by a small fire in an aircraft cargo compartment. in 50th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting including the New Horizons Forum and Aerospace Exposition. 2012.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chen, X., Shao, Z., and Yang, J. Comparison between actual and simulated smoke for smoke detection certification in aircraft cargo compartments using the CFD method. Fire Technol., 56, 469–488.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Suo-Anttila, J., Gill, W., Luketa-Hanlin, A. and Gallegos, C. Cargo Compartment Smoke Transport Computational Fluid Dynamic Code Validation. 2007: US Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration.Google Scholar
McGrattan, K.B., Baum, H.R., Rehm, R.G., Hamins, A. and Forney, G.P. Fire dynamics simulator– Technical reference guide. 2000: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Building and Fire Research Laboratory.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Blake, D. Development of a Standardized Fire Source for Aircraft Cargo Compartment Fire Detection Systems. 2006, U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration.Google Scholar
Behle, D.-I.K. Determination of smoke quantities to be used for smoke detection performance ground and flight tests. in 25th Congress of the International Council of the Aeronautical Sciences. 2006.Google Scholar
Baxter, G., Kourousis, K. and Wild, G. Fire resistant aircraft unit load devices and fire containment covers: a new development in the global air cargo industry. J. Aero. Technol. Manag., 2014, 6, (2), pp 202–209.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hurley, M.J., Gottuk, D.T., Hall, J.R. Jr., Harada, K., Kuligowski, E.D., Puchovsky, M., Torero, J.L., Watts, J.M. Jr. and Wieczorek, C.J. SFPE Handbook of Fire Protection Engineering. 2015: Springer.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
ISO 11242:1996 Aircraft — Pressure equalization requirements for cargo containers. 1996, the International Organization for Standardization.Google Scholar