Increasing the performance of aircraft on-board inert gas generating systems by turbocharging
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, 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.
Claims15
An inerting system, comprising:
- a first air source configured to provide a first air flow;
- a second air source configured to provide a second air flow;
- a first heat exchanger fluidly coupled to the first air source and the second air source, and configured to cool the first air flow using the second air flow;
- a compressor fluidly coupled to the first heat exchanger and configured to compress the cooled first air flow received from the first heat exchanger;
- a second heat exchanger fluidly coupled to the second air source in parallel to the first heat exchanger, and fluidly coupled to the compressor, where the second heat exchanger is configured to cool the first air flow received from the compressor using the second air flow;
- an air separation module fluidly coupled to the second heat exchanger and configured to generate a flow of nitrogen-enriched air from the first air flow received from the second heat exchanger;
- and
- a turbine fluidly coupled to the air separation module and configured to be powered by the flow of nitrogen-enriched air, where the turbine is configured to drive the compressor to increase the pressure of the first air flow to the air separation module.
A method for inerting void spaces in aircraft, comprising:
- providing a first air flow in parallel to first and second heat exchangers;
- providing a second air flow to the first heat exchanger;
- cooling the second air flow at the first heat exchanger using the first air flow;
- conveying the second air flow from the first heat exchanger to a compressor;
- compressing the second air flow at the compressor;
- conveying the second air flow from the compressor to the second heat exchanger;
- cooling the second air flow at the second heat exchanger using the first air flow;
- conveying the second air flow to an air separation module;
- generating a nitrogen-enriched air flow from the second air flow at the air separation module;
- driving a turbine using the nitrogen-enriched air flow;
- and
- driving the compressor from the turbine.
An inerting system, comprising:
- an air source configured to provide a first air flow;
- first and second compressors configured to compress the air flow;
- an air separation module fluidly coupled to the compressors and configured to generate a nitrogen-enriched air flow and an oxygen-enriched flow from the air flow received from the compressor;
- a first turbine fluidly coupled to the air separation module and configured to be powered by the nitrogen-enriched air flow, where the first turbine is configured to drive the first compressor to increase the pressure of the air flow to the air separation module;
- and
- a second turbine fluidly coupled to the air separation module and configured to be powered by the oxygen-enriched air flow, where the second turbine is configured to drive the second compressor to increase the pressure of the air flow to the air separation module.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.