This content is not included in
your SAE MOBILUS subscription, or you are not logged in.
A Combustion Products Analyzer for Contingency Use During Thermodegradation Events on Spacecraft
Annotation ability available
Sector:
Language:
English
Abstract
As mission length and the number and complexity of payload experiments increase, so does the probability of thermodegradation contingencies (e.g. fire, chemical release and/or smoke from overheated components or burning materials), which could affect mission success. When a thermodegradation event occurs on board a spacecraft, potentially hazardous levels of toxic gases could be released into the internal atmosphere. Experiences on board the Space Shuttle have clearly demonstrated the possibility of small thermodegradation events occurring during even relatively short missions.
This paper will describe the Combustion Products Analyzer (CPA), which is being developed under the direction of the Toxicology Laboratory at Johnson Space Center to provide necessary data on air quality in the Shuttle following a thermodegradation incident. Using separate electrochemical sensors, the CPA monitors four gases (hydrogen fluoride/carbonyl fluoride, hydrogen chloride, hydrogen cyanide, and carbon monoxide), which were selected as the most hazardous compounds likely to be released during thermodegradation of synthetic materials. Electrochemical sensors have been available for several years; the CPA sensors, which are unique because of their small size and zero-gravity compatibility, will be described in detail.
Authors
Topic
Citation
Limero, T., James, J., Cromer, R., and Beck, S., "A Combustion Products Analyzer for Contingency Use During Thermodegradation Events on Spacecraft," SAE Technical Paper 911479, 1991, https://doi.org/10.4271/911479.Also In
References
- Coleman, M. STS-6 Toxicology Mission Report NASA- Johnson Space Center
- Coleman, M. STS -28 Toxicology Mission Report NASA- Johnson Space Center
- Coleman, M. STS-35 Toxicology Mission Report NASA- Johnson Space Center
- Sonnenschein, R. Karl-Otto, H. “Evaluation of the Suitability of CO Measurement for Fire Detection in Space,” 20th Intersociety Conference on Environmental Systems SAE Technical Series # 901285 1990
- American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists Threshold Limit Values for Chemical Substances and Physical Agents The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, ACGIH Cincinnati, OH 1990
- American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists Threshold Limit Values for Chemical Substances and Physical Agents The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, ACGIH Cincinnati, OH 1990 5 6
- Wong, K. L. Official SMAC Documentation for Carbon Monoxide JSC Toxicology Group NASA-JSC Houston, TX 1991
- National Research Council Submarine Air Quality: Monitoring the Air in Submarines National Academy Press Washington, D.C. 1988 32 40 44
- Cromer, R. “Combustion Products Analyzer (CPA) Development: Final Report,” KRUG Life Sciences Contract # 13652 November 1990 6
- American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists Threshold Limit Values for Chemical Substances and Physical Agents The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, ACGIH Cincinnati, OH 1990 Cromer, 6
- Cromer, R. “Combustion Products Analyzer (CPA) Development: Interim Report,” June 1990 3 4
- Cromer, R. “Combustion Products Analyzer (CPA) Development: Interim Report,” June 1990 Cromer, 11
- Cromer, R. “Combustion Products Analyzer (CPA) Development: Interim Report,” June 1990 Cromer, 11
- Janata, J. Principles of Chemical Sensors Plenum Press New York 1989 15
- Thomas, E. “Microgravity Fire Detection Problems-Fact or Fiction,” 20th Intersociety Conference on Environmental Systems SAE Technical Series # 901215 1990