Method for supplying passengers of an aircraft with an oxygen-rich gas mixture
AssigneeL'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
InventorStéphane Lessi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods of supplying an oxygen rich mixture to the occupants of an aircraft. The mixture is produced through a pressure swing adsorption system which has both an adsorption/production phase and a desorption/regeneration phase. The duration of one cycle of the adsorption system is less than ten seconds. The system makes use of a high-performance adsorbent which has a particle size of less than about 0.8 mm. The feed air which is introduced to the system has an inlet temperature between 50° C. and 90° C.
Claims12
A method which may be used for supplying occupants of an aircraft with an oxygen rich gas mixture, said method comprising producing an oxygen-rich gas mixture by air separation in a pressure swing adsorption system, wherein:
- a) one cycle of said pressure swing adsorption system comprises:
- 1) an adsorption/production phase;
- 2) a desorption/regeneration phase;
- and
- 3) a duration less than about 10 seconds;
- b) said pressure swing adsorption system comprises a high-performance adsorbent, wherein said adsorbent has a particle size less than about 0.8 mm;
- and
- c) feed air is introduced to said pressure swing adsorption system at an inlet temperature between about 50° C. and about 90° C., wherein the feed air is obtained from a stream of hot air from a compressor stage of an aircraft engine which is subsequently cooled in a heat exchanger.
A method which may be used for supplying occupants of an aircraft with an oxygen rich gas mixture, said method comprising producing an oxygen-rich gas mixture by air separation in a pressure swing adsorption system, wherein:
- a) one cycle of said pressure swing adsorption system comprises:
- 1) an adsorption/production phase;
- 2) a desorption/regeneration phase;
- and
- 3) a duration between about 6 seconds and about 9 seconds;
- b) said pressure swing adsorption system comprises a high-performance adsorbent, wherein said adsorbent has an average particle size less than about 0.6 mm;
- and
- c) feed air is introduced to said pressure swing adsorption system at an inlet temperature between about 60° C. and about 80° C., wherein the feed air is obtained from a stream of hot air from a compressor stage of an aircraft engine which is subsequently cooled in a heat exchanger.
A method which may be used for supplying occupants of an aircraft with an oxygen rich gas mixture, said method comprising producing an oxygen-rich gas mixture by air separation in a pressure swing adsorption system, wherein:
- a) one cycle of said pressure swing adsorption system comprises:
- 1) an adsorption/production phase;
- 2) a desorption/regeneration phase;
- and
- 3) a duration between about 6 seconds and about 9 seconds;
- b) said pressure swing adsorption system comprises a high-performance adsorbent, wherein:
- 1) said adsorbent has a particle size less than about 0.8 mm;
- 2) said adsorbent comprises zeolite X with a lithium content greater than about 90%;
- and
- 3) said zeolite has a Si/Al ratio between about 1 and about 1.25;
- and
- c) feed air is introduced to said pressure swing adsorption system, wherein said feed air:
- 1) has an inlet temperature between about 60° C. and about 70° C.;
- 2) has an inlet pressure less than about 5 bar;
- 3) has an inlet flow rate between about 300 Nl/min and about 3600 Nl/min;
- 4) is obtained from a stream of hot air from a compressor stage of an aircraft engine which is subsequently cooled in a heat exchanger.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.