Targeting Pods & DIRCM Desiccation
In order to determine the most suitable products for protecting Electronic and Electro-optical systems such as Targeting Pods, FLIR & DIRCM devices, you must understand the full environmental conditions they will be exposed too.
Airborne systems are not only exposed to pressure, temperature & humidity but also aviation fuels and wash down procedures. We produce a number of products that like double differential relief valves that cope with the ascent and decent rates experience by equipment during the sorties of an aircraft. The pressure settings on these valves will be set to depending on the sensitivity of the equipment being protected, however you need to also consider the fact that if the pressure settings are very low the valve will open more frequently which will reduce the desiccant life. If the pressure settings are too high then desiccant life will be increased but you can risk over pressurising and damaging your equipment.
As mentioned the valve pressure settings are extremely important for airborne systems, due to the opening of the valves during sorties it is vital to ensure you calculate the desiccant quantity accurately and we can do perform these calculations for you. In most cases we recommend using molecular sieve desiccant over silica gel, as molecular sieves has a higher adsorption capacity at extremes of temperature, molecular sieve will also generate a dryer environment down to levels of -40 degrees C dewpoint which will protect the equipment from fogging and condensation on lenses.
It is also key to understand that when airborne systems are on the ground after a flight, the valves can open and allow hydrocarbon and fuels vapours to enter the equipment, these can be adsorbed onto the molecular sieve or silica gel desiccant, thus reducing there desiccant life. Therefore it is very common to fit a hydrocarbon adsorption unit to adsorb any hydrocarbon/fuel vapours that may enter the equipment at this time. Thus, maintaining a maximum desiccant life of your molecular sieves or silica gel desiccators.
It is important to also note that before fitting any desiccation system that you dry gas purge, with either Dry Nitrogen or Dry Air, to ensure all the hygroscopic built in moisture is removed. We can supply a dry air purging system that will perform this task.
Please contact our technical team for further information on any of our products.
