Process and device for inerting an aircraft fuel tank

US6547188B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• L'Air Liquide, Société Anonyme à Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Étude et l'Exploitation des Procédés Georges Claude · FR

Inventors

• Nicolas Schmutz · Grenoble, FR
• Olivier Vandroux · Grenoble, FR

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 24, 2002
• Grant date: Apr 15, 2003
• Expiry date: Apr 24, 2022

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02T50/40
• WIPO field: Environmental technology
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

There is produced (at 2) air enriched in inert gas, from a source (9) of compressed air internal to the aircraft, and this enriched air is admitted (via 10) into the fuel tank (12). During the cruising phase of the aircraft, there is produced a first fraction of air having a first inert gas content, and this first fraction is admitted into the fuel tank (12) at a first flow rate. Moreover, during the descent phase, there is produced a second fraction of enriched air having a second inert gas content substantially less than the first content, and the second fraction is admitted to the reservoir (12) at a second flow rate substantially greater than the first flow rate.