RETROFIT OPPORTUNITY FOR HFC-125 IN AIRCRAFT ENGINE SYSTEMS Presented 19 November 1998 to: The International Aircraft Fire and Cabin Safety Research Conference Presented by:Bill Leach, Code NAVAIR Fire Protection Team Leader

NAVY RESPONSIBLE USE POLICY Stockpile –Halon Usage Factors & Aircraft Attrition Rates Minimize Use –Recycle –Reduce Non-Fire Discharges & False Alarms Alternative R&D –Corporate Efforts TDP: Technology Development Program NGP: Next Generation Program –Navy Efforts Gas Generator Technology Water Mist Technology

NAVAIR HALON POLICIES In-Service Aircraft (Pre ) –U.S. DOD Halon Stockpile New Aircraft Programs (Post ) –Non-Halon System –No Reliance on Stockpile

NAVAIR HALON POLICIES Old Retrofit Solution: –None Needed –None Available New Retrofit Opportunity: –Enhanced (and Growing) Pressures on Stockpile –Unexpected Forward Fit Solution (F/A-18E/F) HIGH POTENTIAL FOR RETROFIT SOLUTION

FORWARD FIT SOLUTION (F/A-18E/F) E/F Specification Requirement –No Halon –Better than or equal to C/D System C/D System: 5.5 # of Halon 1301 Same Bottle Compartment as C/D –No Growth Provision for New Agent Cylinder E/F Solution: HFC-125 (~ 6 pounds) F/A-18E/F Solution Seems to Contradict Industry Knowledge

HALON ALTERNATIVE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM 1992 Start, 4 Year Effort DOD Program w/ FAA Participation Only “Corporate” Effort to Identify Chemical Alternative for Halon –Extinguishing Performance; Toxicity; Material Compatability; Agent Stability; Availability TDP Answer: HFC-125 Predictions of % System Growth Required

F/A-18E/F PATH TO SUCCESSTechnologyDevelopment F/A-18E/F Solution Baseline: Gas Generator –Thermal Extremes –Insensitive Munitions –Resulted in High Risk New Baseline: HFC-125 –Four Nozzle Distribution –Equal to or Better than Halon Alternate Agents –Gas Generator –CF 3 I –Dry Chemical –HFC-125

F/A-18E/F TESTING Detailed Airflow Analyses –High Fidelity Engine Nacelle Simulator Agent Distribution Testing –Optimize Plumbing Scheme Fire Testing –Baselined to Halon Defeat Point Relight Condition –Confirm Equivalence with Halon

F/A-18E/F TEST ARTICLE

1998 HOTWC HFC-125 EVALUATED DISTRIBUTION OPTIONS

Nozzle Placement(s) “Agent” To AMAD ENGINE AFT E/F 4 Nozzle (Outb”d) ( HFC-125 Improved Distribution) “Agent” psi ( HALON ) 5.5 lb 600 psi “Agent”

GENERAL SYSTEM INSTALLATION FIREX BOTTLE

HFC-125 TEST RESULTS Optimized HFC-125 is Competitive With HALON HALON 1301(5.5#) HFC-125 EMD LRIP EMD LRIP 3Noz 4Noz “Fire Out” Time ~ (Sec) Target Min 5.6# Improve Distribution Improve Performance 6.3# Baseline

F/A-18E/F TEST RESULTS HFC-125 System Proven to Meet or Exceed Halon Performance –HFC-125 Always Put Out the Fire –Several HFC-125 Test Points with No Relight Defined System Details for Production –Optimized 4 Nozzle Arrangement –6.0 # Agent Minimum –600 psi Nitrogen (Maintain Cold Temp Performance) HFC-125 System Selected to Enter Qualification Testing (End FY99)

HFC F/A-18E/F Engine Testing

HFC-125 DESIGN EQUATIONS Application –Any New Use of HFC-125 –Requirement: Concentration –Guidance: Mass –Some Level of Conservatism Option to Design Equations –Fire Testing –Less Agent Likely –Smaller, Lighter Solution for New Aircraft –Retrofit Possible

FIRE PROTECTION TRUTHS Halon 1301 is a Very Efficient Fire Extinguishing Chemical HFC-125 is a Less Efficient Fire Extinguishing Chemical than Halon 1301 Halon 1301 Discharge Plumbing is Very Inefficient (Most In-Service Aircraft) By Addressing the Plumbing, HFC-125 Systems Can Be Made As Efficient as Halon 1301 Systems System Equivalence is the True Goal!

FIRE PROTECTION TRUTHS HFC-125 is a Retrofit Option, NOT A DROP-IN! –Agent Discharge Plumbing Must be Optimized Detailed Airflow Analyses Agent Concentration Measurement Fire Testing Even Better Retrofit Opportunity on Helos and Other Cross-Plumbed Systems –Redundant Halon Bottles (Primary & Secondary) –Couple Bottles for Single Discharge 200% Growth Immediately Attainable Possibility of Meeting Design Equations