Abstract: Fuel tank inerting systems and methods for aircraft are described. The systems and methods include controlling of (i) a first reactant control element, (ii) a second reactant control valve, (iii) a ram air control valve, (iv) a driving mechanism, and (v) a flow control valve, to control a state of a fuel tank inerting system. The states of the fuel tank inerting system include an OFF state, a CIRCULATE state, a PRIME state, a CATWARM state, an ON state, a DEPRESSURIZE state, and a COOLDOWN state, wherein the states are determined in part by a prior state and/or a position/actuation of a given element of the system.

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 an inert gas recycling system located downstream of the catalytic reactor and upstream of the fuel tank, wherein the inert gas recycling system is arranged to direct a portion of the inert gas to the catalytic reactor.

Abstract: Fuel tank inerting systems for aircraft are provided. The systems include a fuel tank, a catalytic reactor arranged to receive a first reactant from a first reactant source and a second reactant from a second reactant source to generate an inert gas that is supplied to the fuel tank to fill an ullage space of the fuel tank, a heat exchanger arranged between the catalytic reactor and the fuel tank and configured to at least one of cool and condense an output from the catalytic reactor to separate out the inert gas, and a controller configured to perform a light-off operation of the catalytic reactor by controlling at least one light-off parameter and, after light-off occurs, adjusting the at least one light-off parameter to an operating level, wherein the at least one light-off parameter comprises a space velocity through the catalytic reactor.

Abstract: Fuel tank inerting systems are described. The systems include a fuel tank, a catalytic reactor arranged to receive a reactant mixture comprising a first reactant and a second reactant to generate an inert gas to be supplied to the fuel tank to fill an ullage space of the fuel tank, a condenser heat exchanger arranged between the catalytic reactor and the fuel tank and configured to cool an output from the catalytic reactor, and a fan assembly arranged within an inerting system flow path upstream of the catalytic reactor, wherein the fan assembly is arranged within a gas flow having a temperature of at least 185° C.

Abstract: An environmental control system of an aircraft includes a ram air circuit including a ram air shell having a heat exchanger positioned therein and a dehumidification system arranged in fluid communication with the ram air circuit. A plurality of expansion devices is arranged in fluid communication with the ram air circuit and the dehumidification system. At least one of the expansion devices is a simple cycle expansion device.

Abstract: A pressure vessel includes a first wall defining a container and a second wall surrounding the container defining a cavity between the first wall and the second wall. The pressure vessel also includes a vent in the second wall providing fluid communication between the cavity and an outside of the second wall and matter positioned within the cavity configured to prevent flame from propagating through the cavity while providing thermal conductivity between the first wall and the second wall.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for inerting a fuel tank. The system includes a fuel tank and an air separator including an air inlet, a membrane with a permeability differential between oxygen and nitrogen, an oxygen-depleted air outlet, and an oxygen-enriched air outlet. A catalytic reactor is arranged to receive oxygen-depleted air from the oxygen-depleted air outlet and fuel, to react the fuel with oxygen in the oxygen-depleted air, and to discharge an inert gas from a reactor outlet. An inert gas flow path is arranged to receive inert gas from the reactor outlet, or from the air separation module oxygen-depleted air outlet, or from the reactor outlet and from the air separation module oxygen-depleted air outlet, and to direct inert gas to the fuel tank.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for inerting a fuel tank. The system includes a fuel tank and an air separator including a membrane with a permeability differential between oxygen and nitrogen, an air inlet and an inert gas outlet in fluid communication with a first side of the membrane, and a sweep gas inlet and an oxygen-enriched gas outlet in fluid communication with a second side of the membrane. An inert gas flow path is arranged to receive inert gas from the air separation module oxygen-depleted air outlet, and to direct inert gas to the fuel tank. A catalytic reactor is arranged to receive a fuel and air, and configured to catalytically react the fuel and oxygen in the air to form an oxygen-depleted gas, and to discharge the oxygen-depleted gas from a reactor outlet. A sweep gas flow path from the reactor outlet to the air separator sweep gas inlet.

Abstract: A gas inerting system for an aircraft includes a fuel tank configured to contain a liquid fuel, a fuel vaporization system in fluid communication with the fuel tank and configured to receive the liquid fuel from the fuel tank, a source of air in fluid communication with the fuel vaporization system and configured to deliver air into the liquid fuel to produce the fuel vapor, a heat exchanger in fluid communication with the source of air at a location upstream of the fuel vaporization system, and a catalytic oxidation unit in fluid communication with the fuel vaporization system. The heat exchanger is configured to cool the air from the air source. A fluid connection is configured to deliver the fuel vapor to the catalytic oxidation unit.

Abstract: An air separation module includes a separator, a canister, and a nominal-length end cap. The separator is arranged to separate ambient air into an oxygen-enriched air fraction and a nitrogen-enriched air fraction. The canister supports the separator and has a canister end flange, a canister intermediate flange and a canister end, the canister intermediate flange arranged between the canister end flange and the canister end. The nominal-length end cap is fixed to the canister end flange, and the separator extends between the canister end flange and the canister end. Nitrogen generation systems and methods of generating nitrogen-enriched air flows are also described.

Abstract: An air separation module includes a cylindrical canister and a separator. The cylindrical canister has a longitudinal axis, an inlet, an oxygen-depleted air outlet, and a drain portion with an oxygen-enriched air outlet. The separator is arranged within the cylindrical canister to separate a compressed air flow into an oxygen-depleted air flow fraction and an oxygen-enriched air flow fraction, the oxygen-depleted air flow fraction provided to the oxygen-depleted air outlet and the oxygen-enriched air flow fraction to the drain portion of the canister. The drain portion extends tangentially from the cylindrical canister to issue the oxygen-enriched air flow fraction with entrained condensate from the oxygen-enriched air outlet with a tangential flow component. Nitrogen generation systems and methods of removing condensate from air separation modules are also described.

Abstract: An air separation module includes canister, a separator, and a band. The canister has an inlet end, an axially opposite outlet end, and an oxygen-enriched air flow fraction outlet port between the inlet end and the outlet end of the canister. The separator is supported within the canister and is arranged to separate compressed air flow into an oxygen-depleted air flow fraction and an oxygen-enriched air flow, provide the oxygen-depleted air flow fraction to the outlet end of the canister, and divert the oxygen-enriched air flow fraction to the oxygen-enriched air flow outlet port. The band is fixed to the canister and extends about the separator at a location axially between the oxygen-enriched air flow fraction outlet port and the inlet end of the canister to support the air separation module. Nitrogen generation systems and methods of making air separation modules are also described.

Abstract: An air separation module includes a canister extending between a first end and an opposite second end, a separator fixed within the canister to separate a compressed air flow into an oxygen-enriched air flow fraction and an oxygen-depleted air flow fraction, and a one-piece cap. The one-piece cap is connected to the first end of the canister and has a filter module mount portion on a side of the one-piece cap opposite the separator to support a filter module with the air separation module. Nitrogen generation systems and methods of making air separation modules are also described.

Abstract: Cabin outflow temperature control systems and methods for use on aircraft are described. The systems include an aircraft cabin, a heat load source, a heat exchanger configured to receive cabin outflow air from the aircraft cabin and heat load discharge air, the heat exchanger configured to enable thermal transfer from the heat load discharge air to the cabin outflow air to generate high temperature cabin outflow air and low temperature discharge air as outputs from the heat exchanger, and one or more downstream operation systems configured to receive the high temperature cabin outflow air and perform a downstream operation using said high temperature cabin outflow air.

Abstract: A fuel tank inerting system is disclosed. In addition to a fuel tank, the system includes a catalytic reactor with an inlet, an outlet, a reactive flow path between the inlet and the outlet, and a catalyst on the reactive flow path. The catalytic reactor is arranged to receive fuel from the fuel tank and air from an air source, and to react the fuel and air along the reactive flow path to generate an inert gas. The system also includes an inert gas flow path from the catalytic reactor to the fuel tank. The system also includes a non-uniform catalyst composition along the reactive flow path.

Abstract: A fuel tank inerting system is provided including an air flow comprising air from a first source having a first temperature and air from a second source having a second temperature. The second temperature is cooler than the first temperature. At least one separating module is configured to separate an inert gas from the air flow.

Abstract: A method for startup of a catalytic oxidation unit includes flowing air from an air source into the catalytic oxidation unit, recycling air from an outlet of the catalytic oxidation unit to an inlet of the catalytic oxidation unit through a recycle duct, and flowing a fuel from a fuel source into the catalytic oxidation to cause a catalytic reaction.

Abstract: A system and method that comprises an air cycle machine, a flow of bleed air, at least one heat exchanger, and an inlet configured to supply the flow of the bleed air is provided. The bleed air flows from a source to mix with recirculated air in accordance with a high pressure mode or a recirculation chilling mode. The system and method also can also utilize the recirculated air flowing from the chamber to drive or maintain the air cycle machine in accordance with the above modes.

Abstract: A fuel tank inerting system includes a primary catalytic reactor comprising an inlet, an outlet, a reactive flow path between the inlet and the outlet, and a catalyst on the reactive flow path. The catalytic reactor is arranged to receive fuel from the fuel tank and air from an air source that are mixed to form a combined flow, and to react the combined flow along the reactive flow path to generate an inert gas. The system also includes an input sensor that measures a property of the combined flow before it enters the primary catalytic reactor and an output sensor that measures the property of the combined flow after it exits the primary catalytic reactor.

Abstract: A fuel tank inerting system is provided including an air flow comprising air from a first source having a first temperature and air from a second source having a second temperature. The second temperature is cooler than the first temperature. At least one separating module is configured to separate an inert gas from the air flow.