Method and device for the detection and identification of gases in airplane interior spaces

Device for detection and identification of gases in aircraft interior spaces, with a measurement device comprising an ion mobility spectrometer, the measurement device further comprising an intake fitting, an outlet air fitting and a control and display unit, wherein the ion mobility spectrometer and a feed pump are arranged in the measurement device between the intake fitting and the outlet air fitting,

• a suction side of the feed pump is connected with the intake fitting via a gas line, the ion mobility spectrometer and a gas line, and a pressure side is connected via a gas line to an outlet air fitting that is open to atmosphere;
• an electronic computer is electrically connected with the ion mobility spectrometer via a line and also electrically connected with the control and display unit via a line and mathematical methods are integrated on the computer, wherein these mathematical methods are used for calibration and a gas measurement, wherein the
• calibration includes dividing the measurement region of the measurement device into gas classes and an association of limit values for each gas class, and
• the gas measurement includes identification of the gas classes and determination of a gas intensity, wherein
• the measurement device is sized to be installable in a supply air of an aircraft interior space such that conclusions are drawable with respect to a maintenance state of an aircraft engine locatable in an intake region of the measurement device, and
• the supply air comprises a fraction of fresh air enterable into the supply air via a plurality of aircraft engines, wherein an intake channel of fresh air is changeable by closing the supply air from an individual aircraft engine of the plurality of aircraft engines.

Method for detection and identification of gases in aircraft interior spaces, wherein a supply air of an aircraft interior space of an aircraft is supplied to a measurement device comprising an ion mobility spectrometer, wherein measurement results of the measurement device are analyzed using mathematical methods, and the mathematical methods are divided into a calibration and a gas measurement, wherein

• the calibration includes a partition of a measurement range of the measurement device into gas classes and in an association of limit values for each gas class,
• the gas measurement includes identification of the gas classes and determination of a gas intensity,
• the gas classes comprise at least one gas class selected from the group consisting of (i) engine oils and lubricants, (ii) kerosene, (iii) exhaust gases of an aircraft engine, and (iv) burnt smell comprising monoxide, carbon dioxide and compounds of an incomplete combustion, and
• wherein the supply air comprises a fraction of fresh air entering into the supply air via a plurality of aircraft engines, wherein the intake channel of fresh air is changed by closing the supply air from an individual aircraft engine of the plurality of aircraft engines.