Fuel tank inerting systems for aircraft
AssigneeHamilton Sundstrand Corporation
InventorsPaul M. D'Orlando, Eric Surawski
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Aircraft air separation systems having a compressed air source arranged to supply compressed air, an air separation module arranged to receive air from the compressed air source, the air separation module arranged to separate air into nitrogen enriched air and oxygen enriched air, wherein the nitrogen enriched air is supplied to a fuel tank of the aircraft, and a source of mixing air arranged to fluidly supply the mixing air at a location between the compressed air source and the air separation module such that the mixing air is selectively mixed with the compressed air to generate treated air that is supplied to the air separation module.
Claims19
An aircraft air separation system, the air separation system comprising:
- a compressed air source arranged to supply compressed air;
- an air separation module arranged to receive air from the compressed air source, the air separation module arranged to separate air into nitrogen enriched air and oxygen enriched air, wherein the nitrogen enriched air is supplied to a fuel tank of the aircraft;
- and
- a source of mixing air arranged to fluidly supply the mixing air at a location between the compressed air source and the air separation module such that the mixing air is selectively mixed with the compressed air to generate treated air that is supplied to the air separation module,
- wherein the source of mixing air includes a cold air source configured to remove heat from the mixing air prior to generating the treated air, wherein the cold air source is one of cabin recirculation air and cabin exhaust air.
An aircraft comprising:
- a pressurized zone;
- and
- an air separation system, the air separation system comprising:
- a compressed air source arranged to supply compressed air;
- an air separation module arranged to receive air from the compressed air source, the air separation module arranged to separate air into nitrogen enriched air and oxygen enriched air, wherein the nitrogen enriched air is supplied to a fuel tank of the aircraft;
- and
- a dedicated air separation module heat exchanger forming in part a source of mixing air arranged to fluidly supply the mixing air at a location between the compressed air source and the air separation module such that the mixing air is selectively mixed with the compressed air to generate treated air that is supplied to the air separation module, wherein the source of mixing air includes a cold air source configured to remove heat from the mixing air prior to generating the treated air, wherein the cold air source is one of cabin recirculation air and cabin exhaust air,
- wherein air in the pressurized zone cools the mixing air.
A method of separating air into oxygen enriched air and nitrogen enriched air on an aircraft, the method comprising:
- supplying compressed air from a compressed air source to an air separation module;
- supplying mixing air at a location between the compressed air source and the air separation module such that the mixing air is selectively mixed with the compressed air to generate treated air that is supplied to the air separation module to be separated into oxygen enriched air and nitrogen enriched air, wherein the source of mixing air includes a cold air source configured to remove heat from the mixing air prior to generating the treated air, wherein the cold air source is one of cabin recirculation air and cabin exhaust air;
- separating air received from the compressed air source at the air separation module;
- and
- supplying nitrogen enriched air to a fuel tank of the aircraft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.