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
9 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, 5, 6)
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4. 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 a temperature of at least 120°
C. (248°
F.), 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 (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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Specification