Increasing the performance of aircraft on-board inert gas generating systems by turbocharging
AssigneeShaw Aero Devices, Inc.
InventorPhilip E. Jones
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A modular, on-board, inert gas generating system for aircraft is disclosed in which main components such as a heat exchanger, filter, air separation module, and turbocharger are provided in a modular unit sized to provide a variable 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 and turbocharged engine bleed air is also disclosed.
Claims24
An inerting system, comprising:
- multiple modular units, each modular unit comprising:
- an air separation module configured to receive an air flow from a pressurized air source, said air separation module generating a flow of nitrogen-enriched air from said air flow;
- a turbine communicating with said flow of nitrogen-enriched air and powered thereby;
- and
- a compressor disposed in said air flow between the air separation module and said source and said compressor being rotated by said turbine to increase the pressure of said air flow to the air separation module.
A modular system for inerting a space, comprising:
- multiple modular units connected in parallel and configured to communicate nitrogen-enriched air to a space in a combined quantity sufficient to meet a flow requirement for inerting said space, wherein each said modular unit comprises:
- an air separation module configured to be connected to a source of air, said air separation module generating a flow of nitrogen-enriched air corresponding to at least a portion of said flow requirement;
- a turbine disposed in said flow of nitrogen-enriched air;
- and
- a compressor disposed to receive said air from said source and deliver it to the air separation module at an increased pressure, said compressor being driven by said turbine.
An inerting system comprising at least one modular unit, said at least one modular unit further comprising:
- an air separation module configured to receive engine bleed air from a pressurized air source and to produce a nitrogen-enriched air flow and an oxygen-enriched air flow;
- a first turbine configured to communicate with said nitrogen-enriched air flow and powered thereby;
- a second turbine configured to communicate with said oxygen-enriched air flow and powered thereby;
- a first compressor disposed between said air separation module and said air source and said first compressor configured to be rotated by said first turbine to compress said engine blood air before said air separation module receives said engine bleed air;
- and
- a second compressor disposed between said air separation module and said air source and said second compressor configured to be rotated by said second turbine to further compress said engine bleed air before said air separation module receives said engine bleed air.
An inerting system, comprising:
- multiple air separation modules, each air separation module configured to receive compressed air from a pressurized air source and to produce a nitrogen-enriched air flow and an oxygen-enriched air flow;
- a first turbine configured to communicate with said multiple nitrogen-enriched air flows and powered thereby;
- a first compressor disposed between said multiple air separation modules and said air source and said first compressor being rotated by said first turbine to compress said engine bleed air before said multiple air separation modules receive said engine bleed air;
- a second turbine configured to communicate with said multiple oxygen-enriched air flows and powered thereby;
- and
- a second compressor disposed between said multiple air separation modules and said air source, said second compressor configured to be rotated by said second turbine to further compress said engine bleed air before said multiple air separation modules receive said engine bleed air.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.