# US 9,039,818 B2 · Method for processing air

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- Number: US 9,039,818 B2
- Document ID: US9039818B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/321,798
- Filed: 2014-07-01
- Published: 2014-10-23
- Granted: 2015-05-26
- Earliest claimed: 2011-12-15
- Assignees: The Boeing Company
- Applicants: The Boeing Company
- Inventors: Donald Ray Snow, Jr.
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9039818B2

## CPC

- B01D 53/22: by diffusion (manufacturing semi-permeable membranes B01D67/00; form, structure or properties of semi-permeable membranes B01D69/00; material for semi-permeable membranes B01D71/00)
- B01D 63/02: Hollow fibre modules
- B01D 65/00: Accessories or auxiliary operations, in general, for separation processes or apparatus using semi-permeable membranes
- B64D 37/00: Arrangements in connection with fuel supply for power plant (refuelling during flight B64D39/00)
- B64D 37/32: Safety measures not otherwise provided for, e.g. preventing explosive conditions
- B01D 2256/10: Nitrogen
- B01D 2257/102: Nitrogen
- B01D 2259/4575: in aeroplanes or space ships
- B01D 2311/04: Specific process operations in the feed stream; Feed pretreatment
- B01D 2311/13: Use of sweep gas
- B01D 2311/251: Recirculation of permeate
- B01D 2313/221: Heat exchangers
- B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28)
- B64D: EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT

## Abstract

A method and apparatus for processing air. The apparatus comprises an air separation module, a first input, a first output, a second output, and a flow control system. The air separation module is configured to generate an inert gas. The first input for the air separation module is configured to receive first air. The first output for the air separation module is configured to output the inert gas from the air separation module. The second output for the air separation module is configured to output separated air from the air separation module. The flow control system is configured to control a flow of air in the air separation module that increases a rate at which the air separation module reaches a desired operating temperature for generating the inert gas using a number of ports in the flow control module.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for processing air, the method comprising:
sending first air into a first input in an air separation module, wherein the air separation module is configured to generate nitrogen enriched air from the first air;
outputting nitrogen enriched air at a first output in the air separation module;
outputting oxygen enriched air at a second output; and
increasing a rate at which the air separation module reaches a desired operating temperature using a number of ports in the air separation module, wherein the number of ports comprises a second input for the air separation module, the second input configured to receive second air from a heating source; and
diverting, using a pipe downstream from the first output, at least a portion of the nitrogen enriched air to the air separation module.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the second input is configured to increase the rate at which the air separation module reaches the desired operating temperature.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the number of ports comprises: a third output for the air separation module wherein the third output is configured to output separated air and the third output is configured to increase the rate at which the air separation module reaches the desired operating temperature, and wherein the method further includes:
outputting the separated air.