System for supplying source air to an air separation membrane of a fuel inerting system

A system for supplying source air to an air separation membrane (ASM) of an inerting system of an aircraft, the system comprising:

• a first compressor;
• a turbine, operationally coupled to the first compressor;
• a motor-generator, operationally coupled to the first compressor and the turbine;
• a second compressor, operationally coupled to the turbine and configured to be fluidly coupled to the air separation membrane;
• a first flow-path configured to receive cabin air from a cabin of the aircraft, the first flow-path having:
• a first branch, fluidly coupled to the first compressor;
• and a second branch, fluidly coupled to the turbine, wherein the motor-generator operates in a generator mode when pressure in the first flow-path is above a threshold;
• a second flow-path, fluidly coupled between the first compressor and the second compressor;
• a third flow-path, fluidly coupled between the second compressor, a fuel tank and the ASM;
• a first heat exchanger, operationally coupled to the second branch of the first flow-path to heat flow through the second branch before it is provided to the turbine;
• and
• a second heat exchanger, operationally coupled to the second flow-path between the first compressor and the second compressor to cool the flow through the second flow-path.