Carbon Monoxide Detector For Aviation Oxygen Systems

Aircraft On-Board Oxygen Generating System (OBOGS) selectively filters compressed air from the aircraft's engine to remove nitrogen and other gaseous contaminants to provide the aircrew with an oxygen enriched breathing gas. During shipboard operations, Navy aircraft are particularly vulnerable to excessive levels of toxic byproducts from ingesting the jet exhaust from other aircraft. Under suboptimal operating conditions, toxic byproducts can breach the OBOGS and enter the aircrew's oxygen supply. NAVAIR is developing an oxidizing catalyst to eliminate these toxins, but a sensor is needed to determine when the catalyst may be losing effectiveness. Vista Photonics proposes development of a compact, flexible and rugged multi-gas sensor compatible with the OBOGS challenging environment. The sensor will be capable of providing a visual alarm indicator, as well as electronic output signal to interface with the aircraft's caution and warning system, when concentration of a toxic compound exceeds the specified threshold level. Phase I study will prove the feasibility of the proposed technology and outline the concept of the Phase II prototype instrument.