Aircraft fuel tank flammability reduction methods and systems
US9327243B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 4, 2014 |
| Grant date | May 3, 2016 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 4, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02T50/40
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
An aircraft fuel tank flammability reduction method includes feeding pressurized air into an air separation module containing an oxygen separation membrane. The method includes contacting the separation membrane with the air feed, permeating oxygen from the air feed through the separation membrane, and producing nitrogen-enriched air from the air separation module as a result of removing oxygen from the air feed. The NEA from the air separation module is substantially cooled in a NEA flow heat exchanger and the substantially cooled, nitrogen-enriched air is fed into the fuel tank on board the aircraft. An aircraft fuel tank flammability reduction system includes a NEA flow heat exchanger configured to cool substantially the nitrogen-enriched air from the air separation module and a fuel tank on board the aircraft configured to receive the cooled nitrogen-enriched air.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.