Installation Design and Analysis of Oxygen Storage Cylinders of a Light Transport Aircraft

In modern-day aircraft design, paramount importance has been given to crew/passenger safety and comfort. Various safety systems are designed to meet highest safety standards. Life support system (LSS) is one such vital system which is responsible for maintaining adequate oxygen supply to crew and passengers, in case of a midair emergency. The common cruising altitude for most commercial airplanes is between 33,000 and 42,000 ft, but as we fly high, oxygen gets rarified. LSS maintains required oxygen level for pilot and passenger in the event of emergency. Light transport aircraft (LTA) under consideration is a turboprop, pressurized cabin, its cruising altitude is 25000 ft, and cabin design pressure altitude is 8000 ft. The pressurization system maintains the cabin altitude at a safe and comfortable level during flight. When pressurization system and environmental control system (ECS) fails and cabin pressure altitude reaches 13,500 ft ± 500 ft, LSS will provide oxygen to crew and passengers automatically. Installation of oxygen storage cylinders is a major design element of LSS. Methodology for “Oxygen storage system installation design” complying to functional and FAR23 requirements is presented in this paper. Installation design and validation has been carried out using CAD and CAE tools.