A carbon dioxide detector fabrication with screen printing technique for use in airplanes

Abstract

Purpose From the beginning of aviation history, fire has been a serious problem for aircrafts. The purpose of this study is to provide a reference document on current risks and proposed reductions for smoke and fire incidents in commercial transport aircrafts. For this purpose, metal oxide carbon dioxide (CO2) detector was produced with the screen printing technique to detect CO2 and carbon monoxide gases from the sensors required to observe the occurrence of fire that may occur in the aircraft and to take the necessary steps to control it. Design/methodology/approach The screen printing technique was used as the gas sensor production technique for the produced sensor and tin oxide was used as the metal oxide in the produced samples. The samples produced were examined under the gases with specified gas detecting properties, and it was concluded that they can be used simultaneously with smoke detectors to increase the detection reliability and decrease the alarm time with the smoke detectors currently used in today's passenger aircrafts. Findings When the electrical characteristics of the sensor made were examined, it was observed that it meets the requirements of the Federal Aviation Administration and European Aviation Safety Agency standards (the fire should be detected within 1 min), and the false alarm situation experienced in the smoke sensors used today can be eliminated. Originality/value There is no other sensor than the smoke detectors that are used for fire detection in cargo section, lavatories and avionic compartment on aircrafts. With this study, the gas detecting feature of the produced samples was examined under the specified gases, and it was concluded that they can be used simultaneously with smoke detectors to increase detection reliability and decrease alarm time as compared to with the smoke detectors currently used in today's passenger aircrafts.