Diehl Aerosystems' division AOA is demonstrating its FIREX water-mist fire-suppression system for aircraft cargo compartments, which it says is the only halon replacement system to have passed all US FAA proof-of-concept tests.
FIREX comprises a water tank and nitrogen bottles linked to a common pipe and several spray nozzles that distribute water vapour and nitrogen throughout the cargo hold to extinguish fires.
It has been developed as an alternative to existing halon fire suppression systems, which are to be excluded from new European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) aircraft programme certifications from 2018 due to environmental concerns.
“Halon has huge global warming and ozone depletion effects,” says Karsten Kirbach from AOA’s systems engineering department.
FIREX is at technology readiness level three and has passed all of the FAA trials carried out at Diehl’s specialist Munich testing facility, says Kirbach. The next step is to begin the development of aircraft components before achieving full certification for the system.
“We’re aiming for flight readiness in 2018,” says Kirbach, adding that alternative chemicals to halon have so far all failed aerosol can explosion tests.
Source: Flight Daily News
