AN ANALYSIS OF THE FUEL TANK INERTING SYSTEM FOR THE XYZ FIGHTER AIRCRAFT

• Main Author: Edy Wibowo, Santosa
• Format: Theses
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/45784
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

The mission profile of an aircraft affects the temperatur, pressure, mass loading and concentration of the fuel vapor mixture in the ullage, meanwhile the flammability of the fuel is determined by these variables. The XYZ fighter aircraft when carrying out combat missions with a Hi-Lo-Lo-Hi profile is prone to being shot. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate the fuel tank flammability associated with the flight profile and projectile penetration as well as the need for an inerting system. The research aims to determine the characteristics of the fuel tank flammability according to the aircraft operating mission profile and to design a tank inerting system. The researh also analyses the penetration of projectile in the fuel system when the tank is shot by ammunition guns and to analyse the design result of the inerting system. The caliber of the projectiles being evaluated are 12.7 mm, 20 mm and 30 mm. The results shows that the Hi-Lo-Lo-Hi mission for 193 minutes in the equilibrium condition will be expossed to a flammable condition of 66% when the JP-8 with flash point of 38oC is being used and 24% when the flash point is 49oC. In the non-equilibrium condition, all entire mission profile is exposed to flammable condition. The designed OBIGGS will satisfy the required inerting when the inert gas flow is 0.06 lb/min and NEA5. The effects of projectile penetration to the fuel air ratio by volume and oxygen concentration are not significant. The internal energy of the projectile is not enough to cause an ignition.