Intrinsically Safe Current Limit Study for Aircraft Fuel Tank Electronics

Ochs, Robert I.

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Intrinsically Safe Current Limit Study for Aircraft Fuel Tank Electronics

2005-10-01
By Ochs, Robert I.

File Language:

English

Details

Creators:

Ochs, Robert I.
Corporate Creators:

United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Aviation Administration. William J. Hughes Technical Center ; United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Aviation Administration. William J. Hughes Technical Center. Airport and Aircraft Safety Research and Development Division.
Corporate Contributors:

United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Aviation Administration. Office of Aviation Research and Development
Subject/TRT Terms:

Aviation Fuels Fuel Tanks Hydrogen Fuels Oxygen Steel
Publication/ Report Number:

DOT/FAA/AR-TN05/37
Resource Type:

Tech Report
Geographical Coverage:

United States
Edition:

Technical Note
Corporate Publisher:

United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Aviation Administration. William J. Hughes Technical Center
Abstract:

This technical note describes research performed to determine the ignition hazard presented by small fragments of superfine steel wool that contact energized direct current wires in aircraft fuel tanks. Several different methods of shorting a circuit with steel wool were explored. An ignitable mixture of hydrogen, oxygen, and argon, calibrated to have a minimum ignition energy of 200 micro Joules, was used as an ignition detection technique. The electrical currents at the ignition threshold were recorded to determine safe maximum allowable current limits for fuel tank electronics. The lowest current found to ignite the flammable mixture was 99 milliamps (mA); the lowest current found to ignite a steel wool wad in air only was 45 mA.
Format:

PDF
Collection(s):

FAA William J. Hughes Technical Center for Advanced Aerospace
Main Document Checksum:

urn:sha-512:4b1d6bd1f4342926676989986ff05e90c7c65a3d68c0812d902fdff3a57891be8d071616e769baa8444dae2a1d8bcd1d6b2c38c8fe604a4cccab94f827efc4b4
Download URL:

https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/89909/dot_89909_DS1.pdf
File Type:

[PDF - 219.92 KB ]

File Language:

English

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