Abstract: An inert gas generating system includes a source of a liquid hydrocarbon fuel, and a fractioning unit configured to receive a portion of the liquid hydrocarbon fuel from the source. The fractioning unit includes a perm-selective membrane configured to separate the portion of the liquid hydrocarbon fuel into substantially sulfur-free vapors and a sulfur-containing remainder. The system further includes a catalytic oxidation unit configured to receive and react the substantially sulfur-free vapors to produce an inert gas.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of this disclosure an integrated fuel cell and environmental control system includes a turbo-compressor. The turbo-compressor includes a rotatable shaft, a compressor rotatable with the shaft to generate a flow of compressed air, a motor connected to the shaft, and a turbine connected to the shaft. The system further includes a fuel cell connected to the compressor by a first compressed air supply line that supplies a first portion of the flow of compressed air to the fuel cell. The fuel cell is connected to the turbine by a fuel cell exhaust line that supplies a flow of fuel cell exhaust to the turbine and causes the turbine to rotate. The system further includes an environmental control system connected to the compressor by a second compressed air supply line that supplies a second portion of the flow of compressed air to the environmental control system.

Abstract: An inert gas generating system includes a source of a gaseous mixture, and a fuel separation unit configured to receive a portion of the gaseous mixture from the source. The fuel separation unit includes a reverse selective membrane configured to separate the gaseous mixture into a condensable gas portion and a permanent gas portion. The inert gas generating system further includes a catalytic oxidation unit configured to receive and react hydrocarbon vapors within the condensable gas portion to produce an inert gas.

Abstract: A gas inerting system employs a carbon dioxide separation unit to remove carbon dioxide and water from an oxygen depleted gas stream generated from a catalytic oxidation unit and subsequently provides a nitrogen rich inerting gas to a fuel tank and/or to a cargo hold. A method of producing an inert gas passes an oxygen depleted gas stream from a catalytic oxidation unit through a carbon dioxide separation unit and provides a nitrogen rich inerting gas for fuel tank inerting and/or cargo hold fire suppression.

Abstract: A method for mitigating gas and vapor absorption into organic compounds includes degassing an organic compound to generate a degassed organic compound that includes an O2 content less than or equal to 50% of a saturated value of the organic compound. The method includes transferring the degassed organic compound while preventing contamination of the organic compound through gas absorption. The method includes storing the degassed organic compound in a storage receptacle to mitigate gas and vapor absorption. An organic compound storage and transfer system includes an organic compound source. An organic compound from the organic compound source includes an O2 content less than or equal to 50% of a saturated value of the organic compound. A storage receptacle is in fluid communication with the organic compound source. An inert gas source is in fluid communication with the storage receptacle to purge the storage receptacle of other gasses and vapors.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fuel system with a fuel tank containing hydrocarbon fuel, a hydrocarbon fuel flow path in fluid communication with the fuel tank, and a gas separation pump disposed on the flow path. The gas separation pump has a pump housing with an inner wall defining a cylindrical internal cavity. The pump housing includes an inlet at a first axial position along the cylindrical cavity outer circumference, an outlet at a second axial position along the cylindrical cavity outer circumference, and a vacuum connection in fluid communication with the cylindrical cavity axis. A first impeller with an outer edge configured to sweep along the inner wall is axially disposed between the inlet and the outlet. A second impeller configured to eject liquid through the fluid outlet is axially disposed between the first impeller and the outlet.

Abstract: An on-board aircraft dried inert gas system includes a source inert gas containing water, an air cycle or vapor cycle cooling system, and a heat exchanger condenser. The heat exchanger condenser has a heat absorption side in thermal communication with the air cycle or vapor cycle cooling system. The heat exchanger condenser has a heat rejection side that receives the inert gas containing water and outputs dried inert gas.

Abstract: A method of producing inert gas uses an electrochemical gas separator with a proton exchange membrane to produce oxygen-depleted air and a water vapor transport module to dehumidify oxygen-depleted air. A drying mechanism is leveraged in conjunction with the water vapor transport module to dry the oxygen-depleted air. The dried oxygen-depleted air is then used in a location requiring inerting.

Abstract: A heat transfer system is disclosed including a plurality of modules arranged in a stack. The stack modules include electrocaloric element and electrodes on each side of the film. A fluid flow path is disposed between two or more electrocaloric elements. A first electrical bus element (18) in electrical contact with the first electrode (14), and a second electrical bus element (20) in electrical contact with second electrode (16). The first electrical bus element is electrically connected to at least one other electrical bus of another electrocaloric element in the stack at the same polarity as said first electrical bus, or the second electrical bus element is electrically connected to at least one other electrical bus of another electrocaloric element in the stack at the same polarity as said second electrical bus.

Abstract: A system for creating inert air for an aircraft or other application where inert gas may be required, utilizes a catalytic oxidation unit. The catalytic oxidation unit utilizes a catalyst to convert fuel and air to inert air, decreasing the amount of oxygen in the air. The inert air can be used in an inerting location on aircraft.

Abstract: An on-board aircraft inert gas system includes a source of hydrocarbon, a source of gas comprising oxygen, and a first fluid flow path between the source of gas comprising oxygen and an inert gas output. A reactor is disposed along the first fluid flow path that reacts oxygen and hydrocarbon from the fuel tank gas space to produce an oxygen-depleted gas. A heat exchanger condenser removes some water from the oxygen-depleted gas. A water-permeable gas membrane separator receives the oxygen-depleted gas from the heat exchanger and outputs dried oxygen-depleted gas.

Abstract: A taxi tug includes a chassis, a motive power source, and an auxiliary power services system. The chassis has at least one drive wheel. The motive power source is operatively connected to the at least one drive wheel. The auxiliary power services system is disposed on the chassis and is configured to provide at least one of electric power, pneumatic power, and low pressure conditioned air to an aircraft.

Abstract: A fuel system is provided comprising: an engine that in operation consumes fuel; a fuel tank that in operation supplies fuel to the engine; a fuel degassing unit fluidly connecting the engine to the fuel tank, the fuel degassing unit in operation separates selected species from the fuel; and a vacuum generation device operably connected to the fuel degassing unit, the vacuum generation device in operation generates a vacuum to remove the selected species from the fuel degassing unit; wherein the vacuum generation device comprises at least one operating fluid-free vacuum pump that operates without an operating fluid.

Abstract: A thermal/overheat sensor for an aircraft includes an outer electrode, an inner electrode, a support layer disposed between the outer electrode and the inner electrode. The support layer contains a state changing material wherein the state changing material is configured to transition between a non-conductive state to a conductive state at a threshold temperature to electrically connect the outer and inner electrodes.

Abstract: An inert gas generating system includes a source of a liquid hydrocarbon fuel, and a fractioning unit configured to receive a portion of the liquid hydrocarbon fuel from the source. The fractioning unit includes a perm-selective membrane configured to separate the portion of the liquid hydrocarbon fuel into substantially sulfur-free vapors and a sulfur-containing remainder. The system further includes a catalytic oxidation unit configured to receive and react the substantially sulfur-free vapors to produce an inert gas.

Abstract: A method of selectively operating an ullage passivation system includes receiving at least one of a temperature signal and a vapor composition signal. The method further includes operating an ullage passivation system to provide a fluid to the fuel tank, in response to at least one of a temperature exceeding a temperature threshold and a component of the vapor composition exceeding a threshold composition.

Abstract: An air inert gas generating system consists of heat exchangers, a heating element, and a plurality of solid oxide electrochemical gas separator (SOEGS) cells. The SOEGS cells are interconnected in series to create a stack. A voltage is applied to the stack causing oxygen ions to be transported from the air flowing through the cathode through the electrolyte to the anode side of the SOEGS, resulting in oxygen-depleted gas. The oxygen-depleted gas can be used to inert the ullage of aircraft fuel tank or support the fire suppression system in the cargo hold. The oxygen-enriched gas can be used for other purposes.

Abstract: An on-board aircraft inert gas system includes a source of hydrocarbon, a source of gas comprising oxygen, and a first fluid flow path between the source of gas comprising oxygen and an inert gas output. A reactor is disposed along the first fluid flow path that reacts oxygen and hydrocarbon from the fuel tank gas space to produce an oxygen-depleted gas. A heat exchanger condenser removes some water from the oxygen-depleted gas. A water-permeable gas membrane separator receives the oxygen-depleted gas from the heat exchanger and outputs dried oxygen-depleted gas.

Abstract: An inert gas generating system includes an air source configured to provide an air stream that comprises at least one of ram air, external air, conditioned air, or compressed air. An electrochemical gas separator is configured to receive the air stream and to produce an oxygen-depleted air stream. A contained volume is configured to receive the oxygen-depleted air stream.

Abstract: A system for generating inert gas comprising includes a fuel tank including an inner storage volume containing a fuel. A fuel stabilization chamber has an inner volume. The inner volume of said fuel stabilization chamber is arranged in fluid communication with the inner storage volume such that said fuel is movable from the inner storage volume to the inner volume. An inert gas device is operably coupled to the inner volume of the fuel stabilization chamber. Inert gas output from the inert gas device interacts with a fuel in the inner volume to remove dissolved oxygen from the fuel in said inner volume.