Nitrogen inerting system
First Claim
1. A method of separating air into a nitrogen enriched fraction and an oxygen enriched fraction using a plurality of strands of hollow fibre separation membrane wound around a core, said method comprising applying a pressure difference across said hollow fibre separation membrane, wherein said pressure difference is ≦
- 30 psi.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A gas separation module 25 is disclosed for separating air into nitrogen 27 and oxygen 26 enriched fractions. The nitrogen enriched fraction 27 may be used to inert an atmosphere inside a fuel tank 32. The air is separated into nitrogen 27 and oxygen 26 enriched fractions by providing a plurality of strands of gas separation membrane wound around a core and maintaining a pressure difference across the walls of the strands of membrane. A low pressure difference of≦30 psi maintained across the membrane is able to effect gas separation and provide highly nitrogen enriched air. The membrane has preferably been subjected to a modification technique to increase its gas permeability.
-
Citations
51 Claims
- 1. A method of separating air into a nitrogen enriched fraction and an oxygen enriched fraction using a plurality of strands of hollow fibre separation membrane wound around a core, said method comprising applying a pressure difference across said hollow fibre separation membrane, wherein said pressure difference is ≦
-
28. A gas separation module for separating air into a nitrogen enriched fraction and an oxygen enriched fraction, said module comprising a plurality of strands of hollow fibre separation membrane wound around a core, wherein said hollow fibre separation membrane is configured to separate air into nitrogen and oxygen enriched fractions when a pressure difference of ≦
- 30 psi is applied across said membrane.
- View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
- 31. A gas separation module for separating air into a nitrogen enriched fraction and an oxygen enriched fraction, said module comprising a plurality of strands of composite hollow fibre separation membrane wound around a core, wherein said membrane comprises a porous hollow fibre tube coated with a selective polymer, and wherein the external surface of said porous fibre tube has been subjected to a modification technique so as to increase the number of pores in said external surface before it has been coated with said selective polymer.
-
51. A gas separation module comprising:
-
a plurality of strands of hollow fibre separation membrane;
means for releasing at a first rate permeate oxygen enriched air from the hollow cores of said strands of membrane to the outside of said module; and
means for releasing retentate nitrogen enriched air from the module at a second rate;
wherein said first rate is greater than said second rate.
-
Specification