System and method for scavenging ullage from center wing tanks in an airplane

A system for reducing reactive components in ullage of a fuel tank comprising:

• an air driven unit for creating a fluidic motive force to remove ullage from the fuel tank;
• a main catalytic unit for receiving the ullage and reducing the reactive components to yield processed ullage for return to the fuel tank;
• a secondary catalytic unit to create heated ullage for the main catalytic unit, wherein the secondary catalytic unit is relatively smaller than the main catalytic unit;
• and
• a secondary heat exchanger cooled by ram air;
• wherein the fuel tank is a center wing tank of an airplane and airplane ram air is used to drive the air driven unit and cool the processed ullage.

A method for reducing reactive components in ullage of a fuel tank, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) using engine bleed air to create a fluidic motive force;
• b) applying the fluidic motive force to the fuel tank to remove ullage;
• c) providing the removed ullage to a main catalyst for reducing the reactive components to yield processed ullage;
• d) returning the processed ullage to the fuel tank;
• e) during ground operations, using engine bleed air to cool the catalyst and, in turn, the ullage;
• and
• f) during flight, additionally using ram air to cool the catalyst and, in turn, the ullage.