Modular on-board inert gas generating system
AssigneeShaw Aero Devices, Inc.
InventorPhilip E. Jones
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A modular, on-board, inert gas generating system for aircraft is disclosed in which main components such as a heat exchanger, filter and air separation module are provide in a modular unit sized to provide predetermined flow of nitrogen-enriched air to the aircraft spaces to be inerted. For different inert gas requirements, for example in larger aircraft, multiple modular units may be provided without redesigning the basic system. A method for inerting fuel tanks, cargo holds and other void spaces using the modular approach is also disclosed.
Claims48
An inerting system, comprising:
- a filter configured to be connected with a source of pressurized air;
- and
- an air separation module mounted to the filter to form a modular unit, said air separation module receiving conditioned air from the filter and generating a flow of nitrogen-enriched air of at least one predetermined flow rate and oxygen purity level.
A modular system for inerting void spaces in aircraft, comprising at least one modular unit, wherein a modular unit is configured to receive engine bleed air from the aircraft and to deliver a flow of nitrogen-enriched air of at least one predetermined flow rate and oxygen purity level to a space to be inerted, the modular units being mounted in the aircraft and communicating with said space in a number sufficient in combination to meet a nitrogen-enriched flow requirement for inerting said space.
A modular nitrogen-enriched air producing system, comprising:
- a housing;
- an air separation module disposed in the housing, said air separation module being configured to separate nitrogen-enriched air from air and having an air inlet and outlets for nitrogen-enriched air and oxygen-enriched air;
- a filter disposed in said housing and communicating with the air separation module to provide filtered air to said air inlet;
- and
- a heat exchanger disposed in said housing between said filter and air separation module, the heat exchanger having an air inlet and an air outlet communicating with said filter, and a cooling air inlet and cooling air outlet.
A method for inerting void spaces in aircraft, the aircraft having an inert gas requirement for said inerting, the method comprising:
- providing at least one modular unit capable of producing a flow of nitrogen-enriched air of at least one predetermined flow rate and oxygen purity level;
- mounting in said aircraft a number of said modular units sufficient to meet the aircraft inert gas requirement with a combination of said predetermined flow rates;
- connecting said modular units to a source of air;
- and
- connecting an output of each of said modular units to the space to be inerted.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.