Evaluation of Oxygen Cylinder Overpacks Exposed to Elevated Temperature

Details

• Creators:
  Marker, Timothy R. ; Diaz, Ricardo
• Corporate Creators:
  United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Aviation Administration. William J. Hughes Technical Center. Fire Safety Section
• Corporate Contributors:
  United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Aviation Administration. Office of Aviation Research
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  Aircraft Carriers Cargo Compartments Commercial Transportation Cylindrical Bodies High Temperature Nitrogen Oxygen Equipment Pressure Fields Temperature Sensors Thermal Conductivity
• Publication/ Report Number:
  DOT/FAA/AR-TN98/30
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  United States
• Edition:
  Technical Notes
• Corporate Publisher:
  United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Aviation Administration. William J. Hughes Technical Center
• Abstract:
  Tests were conducted inside a large industrial convection furnace to determine the temperature and time required to cause pressure relief activation of three different size oxygen cylinders commonly used in commercial transport aircraft. The cylinders were first emptied of gaseous oxygen for safety reasons and refilled with nitrogen to the original pressure. The furnace temperature was ramped to 400°F, which represented the temperature reached during a Halon 1301 suppressed deep-seated cargo compartment fire. Cylinder pressure relief activation typically occurred after the surface temperature had reached only 300°F.
  
  Additional tests were conducted using a 76.5-cubic-foot oxygen cylinder placed inside several types of cylinder cases, commonly referred to as overpacks. The overpacks were available in a variety of constructions, all for the purpose of protecting the cylinder from impact damage that may occur during shipment. The tests were run to determine the level of thermal protection, if any, that the overpacks might provide when the cylinders are subjected to elevated temperatures. Two custom-made overpacks were also tested that contained insulating materials aimed specifically at providing thermal protection. Tests showed that some common overpacks have the ability to protect the cylinder from pressure relief activation for nearly 60 minutes while other types designed specifically for thermal insulation can provide significant additional protection.
  
  
• Format:
  PDF
• Collection(s):
  FAA William J. Hughes Technical Center for Advanced Aerospace
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:2acb59bd1a84dc1ec1dfc7433cbd94810b5f30b949f7df4686be1f408e76eb8edd89b4efdbab774ec110e87789972ac3aa5666d53f96c3a64e49c7af314f4306
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/90180/dot_90180_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 438.26 KB ]