Generation of a Buoyant Plume of Artificial Smoke for Airplane Tests
Abstract
A buoyant artificial smoke generator was developed for airline test applications. In the device, theatrical smoke is mixed of helium and air. The total gas flow, the helium to air ratio, and the theatrical smoke particulate generation rate can all be varied in the device. A gas mixture of 50 percent each of helium and air has the buoyancy properties of air, alone, heated to 475 degrees Fahrenheit. The device was used in cabin smoke in an aircraft resulted in dramatically different behavior from the previously observed with nonbuoyant theatrical smoke. The buoyant smoke spread further through the aircraft in a manner that was not predicted by an analytical model on cabin smoke spread. Besides being used to assess airplane cabin smoke evacuation capability, the buoyant smoke generator has been used to evaluate smoke detector performance and optimal location in Air Force jet aircraft. (SDW)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1990
- Accession Number
- ADA229343
Entities
People
- Thor I. Eklund
Organizations
- Federal Aviation Administration