Accession Number:

AD0417246

Title:

INVESTIGATION OF MECHANISMS OF POTENTIAL AIR CRAFT FUEL TANK VENT FIRES AND EXPLOSIONS CAUSED BY ATMOSPHERIC ELECTRICITY.

Descriptive Note:

Final rept.

Corporate Author:

LOCKHEED AIRCRAFT CORP BURBANK CALIF

Personal Author(s):

Report Date:

1963-05-31

Pagination or Media Count:

173.0

Abstract:

A study was conducted to determine the important mechanisms involved in the ignition of fuel vapors issuing from a fuel tank vent under con ditions of atmospheric electrical activity. The study included a literature review and ex perimental and analytical investigation of a the mixing of the fuel vent effluent with am bient air for three vent configurations at sim ulated flight conditions, b the electrical environment in the vicinity of an aircraft dur ing lightning activity, including measurements of the far field pressures associated with a high energy discharge, c a study of ignition and flame propagation through channels smaller than the normal quenching distance using high energy spark sources, and d a study of sim ulated lightning discharges as to their capa bility of producing flames capable of propaga ting through a typical fuel vent with and with out a flame arrester.

Descriptors:

• *AVIATION FUELS
• *TANK VENTS
• ATMOSPHERES
• ATMOSPHERICS
• IGNITION
• ATMOSPHERIC ELECTRICITY
• AIR
• SHOCK WAVES

Subject Categories:

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE