Fuel cell devices for fire prevention on-board aircraft

Abstract

Described are inerting systems that may be used on board an aircraft or other passenger transportation vehicle to reduce a risk of fire due to electronic components or to other elements in a compartment and to assist in preventing or extinguishing any fire or hazardous condition that may occur. The systems include a source of inert gas such as oxygen depleted air generated from a fuel cell on board the aircraft. The oxygen depleted air or other inert gas is conveyed through ducts to compartments that house the electronics, thus changing the conditions in the compartment to be less conducive tofire.

Description

[0001] Cross References to Related Applications [0002] This application is related to and claims priority from US Provisional Application Serial No. 62 / 106,493, entitled "FUEL CELL-ODA USAGE," filed January 22, 2015, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. technical field [0003] Embodiments of the invention relate generally to the field of aerospace vehicles using fuel cell system by-products to prevent or extinguish fires. In some cases, the system is particularly useful for delivering oxygen-depleted air to compartments housing electrical components and / or any other compartments where there is a risk of fire. Background technique [0004] Many components onboard an aircraft require electrical power for their activation. Many of these components are separate from the electrical components actually required to run the aircraft (ie, navigation systems, fuel gauges, flight controls, and hydraulic systems). For example, aircraft also have catering equi...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

There is a risk that electrical components or other compartment areas may be subjected to excessive voltage, excessive current, or other conditions that could result in arcing, overheating of components, and / or other possible causes of fire

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