Development of On-line Fuel Tank Oxygen Sensor for Aircraft

Aviation Safety Facilitators Corp (ASF) will further the scientific results of a prior PhaseI SBIR using data accumulated from November 2002 to date. Said data includes information from Shock & Vibration Mil Std 810 enviromental test. Altitude & Temperature cycling ranges of -5o to+60C at various altitudes up to 45K feet in both FAA and ASF enviromental test chambers. This will help to greatly improve areas of concern focusing primarily on (i)improving existing electronics signal to noise precision to achieve a goal of +/- 1% accuracy (ii)investigate sensor signal discontinuity at temperatures below -20 up to -60C (iii)investigate long term stability of sensor in Jet fuel vapor and liquid, determine stability of sensor calibration, prediction of sensor drift in a 5 year period (iv)investigate calibration protocol for calibration coefficients in range of 0-25%Oxygen and -50 to +60C. The results of studies in this PhaseI will be used in PhaseII to finalize a developement of a flight worthy Fiber Optic Oxygen Sensor to be used with an Onboard Inerting System protecting Fuel Tanks from explosions caused by Ballistic, Lightning, MANPADS, Small Arms Fire and other Unknown Sources of Ignition.