Aircraft Fuel Tank Flammability Reduction Method and System
First Claim
1. An aircraft fuel tank flammability reduction method comprising:
- feeding pressurized air into an air separation module containing a carbon membrane, the air feed exhibiting a normal pressure of no more than 55 psig and the carbon membrane containing at least 95 weight percent carbon;
contacting the carbon membrane with the air feed, permeating oxygen from the air feed through the carbon membrane, and producing nitrogen-enriched air from the air separation module as a result of removing oxygen from the air feed; and
feeding the nitrogen-enriched air into the fuel tank on board the aircraft.
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Abstract
An aircraft fuel tank flammability reduction method includes feeding pressurized air into an air separation module containing a carbon membrane, the air feed exhibiting a normal pressure of no more than 55 psig and the carbon membrane containing at least 95 weight percent carbon. The method includes producing nitrogen-enriched air from the air separation module as a result of removing oxygen from the air feed. An aircraft fuel tank flammability reduction system includes a source for pressurized air, an air separation module configured to receive air feed from the pressurized air source, and a carbon membrane containing at least 95 weight percent carbon. The carbon membrane is configured to permeate oxygen from the air feed through the carbon membrane at a temperature of at least 120° C. (248° F.) and to produce nitrogen-enriched air from the air separation module as a result of removing oxygen from the air feed.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An aircraft fuel tank flammability reduction method comprising:
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feeding pressurized air into an air separation module containing a carbon membrane, the air feed exhibiting a normal pressure of no more than 55 psig and the carbon membrane containing at least 95 weight percent carbon; contacting the carbon membrane with the air feed, permeating oxygen from the air feed through the carbon membrane, and producing nitrogen-enriched air from the air separation module as a result of removing oxygen from the air feed; and feeding the nitrogen-enriched air into the fuel tank on board the aircraft. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An aircraft fuel tank flammability reduction method comprising:
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feeding pressurized air into an air separation module containing a pyrolyzed polymer hollow fiber, the air feed exhibiting a temperature from 120°
C. to 195°
C. (248°
F. to 383°
F.), the hollow fiber containing at least 95 weight percent carbon, and the hollow fiber exhibiting a selectivity ratio of oxygen permeability to nitrogen permeability of at least 9 and a permeance of at least 80 gas permeation units when measured at an operating temperature of 160°
F.;contacting the hollow fiber with the air feed, permeating oxygen from the air feed through the hollow fiber, and producing nitrogen-enriched air from the air separation module as a result of removing oxygen from the air feed; substantially cooling the nitrogen-enriched air from the air separation module in a heat exchanger; and feeding the cooled nitrogen-enriched air into the fuel tank on board the aircraft. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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10. An aircraft fuel tank flammability reduction system comprising:
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a source for pressurized air; an air separation module configured to receive air feed from the pressurized air source; a carbon membrane containing at least 95 weight percent carbon in the air separation module, the carbon membrane being configured to permeate oxygen from the air feed through the carbon membrane at a temperature of at least 120°
C. (248°
F.) and to produce nitrogen-enriched air from the air separation module as a result of removing oxygen from the air feed; anda fuel tank on board the aircraft and configured to receive the nitrogen-enriched air. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification