On-board vehicle inert gas generation system

An on-board vehicle inert gas system, comprising:

• a plurality of electrochemical cells, individually comprising a cathode and an anode separated by an electrolyte separator;
• a cathode fluid flow path in fluid communication with the cell cathodes that receives a flow of air from an air source and discharges nitrogen-enriched air;
• an anode fluid flow path in fluid communication with the cell anodes;
• an electrical circuit connecting the anode and the cathode, and an electrical power source connected to the electrical circuit that provides power to the electrical circuit at a voltage that electrolyzes water at the anode and forms water at the cathode or that reduces oxygen at the cathode and forms oxygen at the anode;
• a membrane gas separator comprising a membrane having a greater permeability to oxygen or water than to nitrogen, a nitrogen-enriched air flow path along a first side of the membrane that receives nitrogen-enriched air from the cathode fluid flow path and discharges the nitrogen-enriched air to a fuel tank, a fire suppression system, or both a fuel tank and a fire suppression system, and an exhaust flow path along a second side of the membrane that receives oxygen or water or both oxygen and water through the membrane for exhaust from the on-board inert gas system.