Process and device for inerting an aircraft fuel tank
AssigneeL'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
InventorsNicolas Schmutz, Olivier Vandroux
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
There is produced (at 2) air enriched in inert gas, from a source (9) of compressed air internal to the aircraft, and this enriched air is admitted (via 10) into the fuel tank (12). During the cruising phase of the aircraft, there is produced a first fraction of air having a first inert gas content, and this first fraction is admitted into the fuel tank (12) at a first flow rate. Moreover, during the descent phase, there is produced a second fraction of enriched air having a second inert gas content substantially less than the first content, and the second fraction is admitted to the reservoir (12) at a second flow rate substantially greater than the first flow rate.
Claims12
A process for inerting an aircraft fuel tank, which comprises:
- providing an air separation device fluidly connected to a source of air under pressure on board for producing air enriched in inert gas;
- operating the air separation device during at least a cruising phase of a flight of the aircraft to produce a first fraction of enriched air having a first inert gas content at a first flow rate;
- admitting said first fraction at said first flow rate into the fuel tank;
- operating the air separation device during a descent phase of said flight to produce a second fraction of enriched air having a second inert gas content, which is substantially smaller than said first inert gas content;
- mixing said second fraction with ambient air to obtain a mixture;
- and
- admitting said mixture into the fuel tank at a second flow rate, which is substantially greater than said first flow rate.
Apparatus for inerting an aircraft fuel tank, which comprises:
- an air separation device fluidly connected to a source of compressed air internal to the aircraft for producing air enriched in inert gas;
- means for operating the air separation device during at least a cruising phase of a flight of the aircraft to produce a first fraction of enriched air having a first inert gas content at a first flow rate;
- means for admitting the first fraction at said first flow rate into the fuel tank;
- means for operating the air separation device during a descent phase of said flight to produce a second fraction of enriched air having a second inert gas content, which is substantially smaller than said first inert gas content;
- means for mixing said second fraction with ambient air to obtain a mixture;
- and
- means for admitting said mixture into the fuel tank at a second flow rate, which is substantially greater than said first flow rate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.