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.
Benefits: Successful developement of an Fiber Optic Oxygen Sensor that meets Fuel Tank Enviromental requirements of Military Aircraft will have a direct impact on the "Safety & Security" of Fuel Tanks in both Military and Commercial Aircraft. Recent world events have I believe caused this project to become a "Safety & Security" issue for both Military and Commercial Aircraft. Aviation Safety Facilitators Corp, Ocean Optics Inc., and other commercial partners intend to develop a "Onboard Fuel Tank Inerting System" as a independent or supplemental unit to any existing system thus preventing another incident similar to TWA Flight 800, and/or Richard Reid's(Shoe Bomber) bombing attempt, wing explosions from Small Arms Fire, or Engine debris from a MANPADS strike. The Fiber Optic Oxygen Sensor is a critical component of this or any system as it's ability to (i)Confirm status of Inerted Tanks, (ii)Control if required, (iii) Maintenance cross check of Systems Efficency, (iv)Enviromental monitoring condition of equipment area for Nitrogen and/or Enriched Oxygen leakage. Once perfected for Aircraft, the Fiber Optic Oxygen Sensor and Inerting Systems can easily be adapted for use on/in Shipboard, Barges, Land Vehicles, Storage and Manufacturing Facilities of Hazardous Materials thereby potentially meeting additional needs of Homeland and Transportation Agencies. It also can be used for Enviromental Area Monitoring. It is ASF's belief that all potential uses above would be considered PRO-Active not RE-Active Systems. Commercial usage of the Fiber Optic Oxygen Sensor such as Enviromental monitoring of Occupied or To Be Entered spaces, Food, Pharmaceutical, Biomedical processes and packaging as well as polymer process control, would also require Fiber Optic Oxygen Sensors of robust construction and unique design ability. It is ASF's belief that our application meets these needs.
Keywords: Fiber Optic Oxygen Sensor, Fuel Tank Oxygen Level, Fluorescence, Inerting Systems, TWA Flight 800, Small Arms-MANPADS, Homeland Security-Transportation Security Departments
