CHOC4 Hero 2 with silver, blue and black parts

Press Release: Honeywell addresses ‘smell in cabin’ with nextgen catalyst

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Press Release hub banner blue with title in red white and blueHoneywell has unveiled a new catalyst designed for aircraft cabin air systems that can help reduce delays, cancellations and unscheduled maintenance due to in-cabin odors from certain volatile organic compounds in “bleed air” — also known as undesirable “smell-in-cabin” events.

In clinical tests, Honeywell’s fourth-generation Combined Hydrocarbon Ozone Catalyst, CHOC4, has proved capable of removing two to three times more VOCs that cause undesired odors compared with other solutions. Honeywell’s solution has also been shown to be more effective in the removal of ozone at lower temperatures.

Air supplied to a cabin for air conditioning and pressurization, also known as bleed air, comes directly from the engines and auxiliary power unit. Sometimes it contains volatile organic compounds (VOCs), fumes or particles from sources like jet fuel, hydraulic oils or de-icing fluid. When VOCs enter the cabin through the bleed air, they can cause unwanted odors in the cabin, resulting in delays.

“Severe smell-in-cabin incidents can cost airlines up to $50 million per year in flight disruptions and unscheduled maintenance,” said Tom Hart, vice president and general manager, Air & Thermal Systems, Honeywell Aerospace. “CHOC4 reduces VOCs from the engines and bleed air supply, thereby reducing the severity and frequency of these incidents.”

Honeywell’s new proprietary catalyst CHOC4 is applied to an aircraft’s ozone converter to catalyze or absorb compounds that cause undesirable odors. It can be applied during normal maintenance as an upgrade to the existing converter unit at a fraction of the cost of a new unit. It is available now for Airbus A320 aircraft, with plans to expand to additional platforms in early 2021.

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Thousands of passenger, cargo and military aircraft worldwide are currently flying with Honeywell environmental, air and thermal systems on board. Now, Honeywell is using its decades of experience developing cabin air-management systems to help improve in-flight comfort.

About Honeywell

Honeywell Aerospace products and services are found on virtually every commercial, defense and space aircraft. The Aerospace business unit builds aircraft engines, cockpit and cabin electronics, wireless connectivity systems, mechanical components and more. Its hardware and software solutions create more fuel-efficient aircraft, more direct and on-time flights and safer skies and airports.

Honeywell is a Fortune 100 technology company that delivers industry-specific solutions that include aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings and industry; and performance materials globally. Our technologies help aircraft, buildings, manufacturing plants, supply chains, and workers become more connected to make our world smarter, safer, and more sustainable.