Jacques van Oene
July 20th 05, 03:20 PM
Elvia H. Thompson
Headquarters, Washington July 20, 2005
(Phone: 202/358-1696)
Katherine K. Martin
Glenn Research Center, Cleveland
(Phone: 216/433-2406)
RELEASE: 05-191
NEW NASA DESIGN CONCEPT SMOKES OUT FALSE ALARMS
NASA researchers have successfully tested a new generation of fire
detectors that could significantly reduce the rate of false alarms in the
cargo and baggage compartments of commercial airliners.
The new sensor-based system was developed at NASA's Glenn Research Center
(GRC), Cleveland. It reads a more complete fire signature, and it is so
sensitive it may reduce false alarm rates to zero.
Most detectors sense smoke particles. They can be fooled by dust and other
tiny airborne particles found in non-passenger aircraft compartments, which
lead to false alarms. The team at GRC used MicroElectroMechanical Systems
(MEMS) expertise to come up with a new multi-sensor approach.
"We looked for increased concentrations of combustion gases along with the
smoke," said Gary Hunter, a Sensors and Electronics Branch aerospace
engineer. "The multi-sensor package compares various gas concentrations and
smoke particle sizes to those values characteristic of an actual fire. The
result is a system that works to effectively recognize the presence of fire
while screening out false alarms."
The MEMS sensor system includes miniaturized carbon monoxide and carbon
dioxide sensors, a smoke particle detector and integrated software. These
compact arrays can be placed in multiple locations throughout the aircraft's
cargo and baggage compartments. The on-board processor evaluates the
response of the complete sensor system and indicates whether there is a
fire.
Fire alarms signal pilots to initiate emergency procedures. A Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA) survey of airline maintenance reports has
estimated that 100-200 false alarms occur for every actual fire. In-flight
fires are rare, but there is no way for flight crews to verify sensor
readings to know for sure a fire has started in a remote compartment. So
every alarm must be taken seriously. This means using extinguishing
equipment, declaring emergency priority over other air traffic and landing
as soon as possible.
GRC researchers teamed with colleagues from Case Western Reserve University,
Cleveland; Ohio State University, Columbus; and Makel Engineering, Inc.,
Chico, Calif.; in collaboration with the FAA.
Tests conducted at the FAA Cargo Compartment Fire Testing Facility in
Atlantic City, N.J., successfully demonstrated the miniaturized, combined
chemical and particle sensors approach. NASA's multi-sensor package had a
zero false alarm rate when exposed to conditions that would normally cause
cargo compartment detectors to false alarm. Further testing alongside
conventional smoke detectors in the FAA's Boeing 707 under-floor cargo bay
showed the system detected fire as well as conventional smoke detectors.
Before the new system can be installed on airplanes, the sensors, software
packaging and interface, long-term durability and drift effects need to be
improved and certified by the FAA.
NASA's Aviation Safety and Security Program sponsored the research as part
of a joint NASA-FAA program. Industrial Research and Development Magazine
recognized the effort as one of 100 best technical research and development
achievements of the year.
False alarms are also a concern in International Space Station operations
and during space exploration missions, so NASA is sharing this research with
spacecraft developers.
For information about NASA's Aviation Safety and Security Program on the
Web, visit:
http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/avsp/accident.htm
-end-
--
--------------
Jacques :-)
www.spacepatches.info
Headquarters, Washington July 20, 2005
(Phone: 202/358-1696)
Katherine K. Martin
Glenn Research Center, Cleveland
(Phone: 216/433-2406)
RELEASE: 05-191
NEW NASA DESIGN CONCEPT SMOKES OUT FALSE ALARMS
NASA researchers have successfully tested a new generation of fire
detectors that could significantly reduce the rate of false alarms in the
cargo and baggage compartments of commercial airliners.
The new sensor-based system was developed at NASA's Glenn Research Center
(GRC), Cleveland. It reads a more complete fire signature, and it is so
sensitive it may reduce false alarm rates to zero.
Most detectors sense smoke particles. They can be fooled by dust and other
tiny airborne particles found in non-passenger aircraft compartments, which
lead to false alarms. The team at GRC used MicroElectroMechanical Systems
(MEMS) expertise to come up with a new multi-sensor approach.
"We looked for increased concentrations of combustion gases along with the
smoke," said Gary Hunter, a Sensors and Electronics Branch aerospace
engineer. "The multi-sensor package compares various gas concentrations and
smoke particle sizes to those values characteristic of an actual fire. The
result is a system that works to effectively recognize the presence of fire
while screening out false alarms."
The MEMS sensor system includes miniaturized carbon monoxide and carbon
dioxide sensors, a smoke particle detector and integrated software. These
compact arrays can be placed in multiple locations throughout the aircraft's
cargo and baggage compartments. The on-board processor evaluates the
response of the complete sensor system and indicates whether there is a
fire.
Fire alarms signal pilots to initiate emergency procedures. A Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA) survey of airline maintenance reports has
estimated that 100-200 false alarms occur for every actual fire. In-flight
fires are rare, but there is no way for flight crews to verify sensor
readings to know for sure a fire has started in a remote compartment. So
every alarm must be taken seriously. This means using extinguishing
equipment, declaring emergency priority over other air traffic and landing
as soon as possible.
GRC researchers teamed with colleagues from Case Western Reserve University,
Cleveland; Ohio State University, Columbus; and Makel Engineering, Inc.,
Chico, Calif.; in collaboration with the FAA.
Tests conducted at the FAA Cargo Compartment Fire Testing Facility in
Atlantic City, N.J., successfully demonstrated the miniaturized, combined
chemical and particle sensors approach. NASA's multi-sensor package had a
zero false alarm rate when exposed to conditions that would normally cause
cargo compartment detectors to false alarm. Further testing alongside
conventional smoke detectors in the FAA's Boeing 707 under-floor cargo bay
showed the system detected fire as well as conventional smoke detectors.
Before the new system can be installed on airplanes, the sensors, software
packaging and interface, long-term durability and drift effects need to be
improved and certified by the FAA.
NASA's Aviation Safety and Security Program sponsored the research as part
of a joint NASA-FAA program. Industrial Research and Development Magazine
recognized the effort as one of 100 best technical research and development
achievements of the year.
False alarms are also a concern in International Space Station operations
and during space exploration missions, so NASA is sharing this research with
spacecraft developers.
For information about NASA's Aviation Safety and Security Program on the
Web, visit:
http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/avsp/accident.htm
-end-
--
--------------
Jacques :-)
www.spacepatches.info