Abstract: An ionic conduction device of the kind including a tri-layer including an electrolytic membrane having a pair of opposed surfaces, and a gas permeable electrode in contact with each opposed surface. The device has a first gas flow path for a first gas across one of the opposed surfaces, and second gas flow path for a second gas across the one of the opposed surfaces, and a third gas flow path for a third gas along the other of the opposed surfaces of the membrane. The device includes a fourth flow path through the device for a heat exchanging fluid. The fourth flow path bringing the heat exchanging fluid into heat exchange relationship with the tri-layer.

Abstract: A method of operating a life support system for an aircraft, the system including a plurality of oxygen supply apparatus, each of which in use is operable to supply product gas, which may be pure oxygen or oxygen enriched gas, to a breathing gas supply apparatus, at least one of the oxygen supply apparatus being a main oxygen supply apparatus and the remainder of the oxygen supply apparatus being auxiliary oxygen supply apparatus, the main oxygen supply apparatus being operable independently of the auxiliary oxygen supply apparatus, characterized in that the method includes operating the main oxygen supply apparatus and supplying product gas to each of the auxiliary oxygen supply apparatus.

Abstract: An ionic conduction device of the kind including a tri-layer including an electrolytic membrane having a pair of opposed surfaces, and a gas permeable electrode in contact with each opposed surface. The device has a first gas flow path for a first gas across one of the opposed surfaces, and second gas flow path for a second gas across the one of the opposed surfaces, and a third gas flow path for a third gas along the other of the opposed surfaces of the membrane. The device includes a fourth flow path through the device for a heat exchanging fluid. The fourth flow path bringing the heat exchanging fluid into heat exchange relationship with the tri-layer.

Abstract: A method of operating a life support system for an aircraft, the system including a plurality of oxygen supply apparatus, each of which in use is operable to supply product gas, which may be pure oxygen or oxygen enriched gas, to a breathing gas supply apparatus, at least one of the oxygen supply apparatus being a main oxygen supply apparatus and the remainder of the oxygen supply apparatus being auxiliary oxygen supply apparatus, the main oxygen supply apparatus being operable independently of the auxiliary oxygen supply apparatus, characterized in that the method includes operating the main oxygen supply apparatus and supplying product gas to each of the auxiliary oxygen supply apparatus.

Abstract: A gas generating system for generating a supply of oxygen or at least an oxygen rich gas, and a residual gas, the system including a first gas separation device for separating from a supply gas, a first gas being oxygen enriched gas, to leave a residual gas. The first oxygen enriched gas from the first gas separation device is communicated to a second gas separation device for further separating from the first oxygen enriched gas, oxygen gas. The second gas separation device generating a product gas which is at least highly oxygen enriched and a further residual gas, with at least one of the first and second gas separating devices including a ceramic membrane through which in use gas ions diffuse.

Abstract: An ionic conduction device comprises a stack of layers, each layer comprising an electrolyte membrane having a pair of opposed surfaces, a gas permeable electrode in contact with each opposed surface, and there being a plurality of interconnects in electrical contact with the electrodes of the layers, to provide electrical continuity through the stack, wherein there is at least one gas flow path though the layers and the interconnects of the stack.

Abstract: An oxygen generating device (11, 211) to which a gas mixture containing oxygen is fed, and which is operable to separate the gas mixture into oxygen rich and oxygen depleted gas components, the device (11, 211) including a negative temperature coefficient material (36a 36b 36c; 236) which is active at an elevated temperature above a minimum operating temperature, to separate the gas mixture into oxygen rich and oxygen depleted gas components, there being an electronic control unit coupled to the device to pass an electrical current through the device (11, 211) to produce a heating effect within the device to heat the gas mixture at least towards the minimum operating temperature wherein the device includes a plurality of active sections (A, B, C) through each of which the gas mixture passes in turn, and the electrical current supply is connected to each of the sections (A, B, C) so that the sections electrically are connected in series.

Abstract: An oxygen generating device to which a gas mixture containing oxygen is fed, and which is operable to separate the gas mixture into oxygen rich and oxygen depleted gas components, the device comprising a first material which when at an elevated temperature at or above a minimum operating temperature, is active to separate the gas mixture into oxygen rich and oxygen depleted gas components wherein a second material is provided which produces a heating effect within the device when an electrical current passes therethrough, to heat the gas mixture at least when the gas mixture is at a temperature below the minimum operating temperature.