CATALYTIC FUEL TANK INERTING APPARATUS FOR AIRCRAFT
First Claim
1. A fuel tank inerting system for an aircraft, the system comprising:
- a fuel tank;
a first reactant source fluidly connected to the fuel tank, the first source arranged to receive fuel from the fuel tank;
a second reactant source;
a catalytic reactor arranged to receive a first reactant from the first source and a second reactant from the second source to generate an inert gas that is supplied to the fuel tank to fill a ullage space of the fuel tank;
a back pressure flow restrictor positioned within or along a fuel tank supply line and downstream of the catalytic reactor, the back pressure flow restrictor arranged to maintain high-pressure operation of the catalytic reactor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Fuel tank inerting systems and methods for aircraft are provided. The systems include a fuel tank, a first reactant source fluidly connected to the fuel tank, the first source arranged to receive fuel from the fuel tank, a second reactant source, a catalytic reactor arranged to receive a first reactant from the first source and a second reactant from the second source to generate an inert gas that is supplied to the fuel tank to fill a ullage space of the fuel tank, and a back pressure flow restrictor positioned within or along a fuel tank supply line and downstream of the catalytic reactor, the back pressure flow restrictor arranged to maintain high-pressure operation of the catalytic reactor.
12 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A fuel tank inerting system for an aircraft, the system comprising:
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a fuel tank; a first reactant source fluidly connected to the fuel tank, the first source arranged to receive fuel from the fuel tank; a second reactant source; a catalytic reactor arranged to receive a first reactant from the first source and a second reactant from the second source to generate an inert gas that is supplied to the fuel tank to fill a ullage space of the fuel tank; a back pressure flow restrictor positioned within or along a fuel tank supply line and downstream of the catalytic reactor, the back pressure flow restrictor arranged to maintain high-pressure operation of the catalytic reactor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. Method of supplying inert gas to a fuel tank of an aircraft, the method comprising:
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supplying fuel from a fuel tank to a first reactant source; generating a first reactant within the first reactant source; mixing the first reactant with a second reactant supplied from a second reactant source; catalyzing the mixed first reactant and second reactant within a catalytic reactor to generate an inert gas; supplying the inert gas to the fuel tank to fill a ullage space of the fuel tank; and maintaining high-pressure operation of the catalytic reactor using a back pressure flow restrictor positioned within or along a fuel tank supply line and downstream of the catalytic reactor. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification