Abstract: A detecting assembly and method for identifying and tracking clouds in a zone of the sky being observed where some thermal-infrared flux emitted by the zone is collected and transmitted to a thermal-infrared detector, the detector including a sensor sensitive to the flux in a set band of wavelengths, a measurement of the actual temperature and actual relative humidity of the air at ground level is carried out and the vertical temperature and water vapor distribution is deduced therefrom, the dataset relating to the thermal-infrared signal emitted by a reference sky for the vertical temperature and water vapor distribution is stimulated or obtained, the dataset thus simulated or obtained is subtracted from the dataset measured by the sensor to determine if clouds are present in the zone, and the dataset thus obtained is processed in order to compute the optical thickness and/or altitude of each cloud in the observation area.

Abstract: A detecting assembly and method for identifying and tracking clouds in a zone of the sky being observed where some thermal-infrared flux emitted the zone is collected and transmitted to a thermal-infrared detector, the detector including a sensor sensitive to the flux in a set band of wavelengths, a measurement of the actual temperature and actual relative humidity of the air at ground level is carried out and the vertical temperature and water vapor distribution is deduced therefrom, the dataset relating to the thermal-infrared signal emitted by a reference sky for the vertical temperature and water vapor distribution is stimulated or obtained, the dataset thus simulated or obtained is subtracted from the dataset measured by the sensor to determine if clouds are present in the zone, and the dataset thus obtained is processed in order to compute the optical thickness and/or altitude of each cloud in the observation area.

Abstract: The invention relates to a circuit for supplying oxygen to aircraft passengers. According to the invention, the line (5) used to supply pressurized oxygen to the passenger masks (6) comprises a motorized pressure regulator (8) which can be actuated in response to a pressure control signal (10) provided by an electronic control unit (9) according to a signal (11) that is representative of the cabin pressure (12).

Abstract: Apparatus and methods of supplying a highly enriched oxygen gas steam on board an aircraft. The gas stream is generated by an oxygen concentrator which concentrates atmospheric air by using at least one adsorber. The adsorber is made of a faujasite zeolite and has a Si/Al ratio between 1 and 1.5. The faujasite zeolite is also exchanged with silver by about 10%. Once generated, the gas stream is supplied to the airways of a person onboard an aircraft.

Abstract: The invention relates to an installation for producing oxygen of high purity, which is advantageously installed in a transportable container (21), comprising: an upstream pressure-swing-adsorption (PSA) device (A1) containing a zeolite sieve; a downstream PSA device (A2) containing a carbonaceous sieve; in a loop between the two devices, a permeation device (P) capable of separating oxygen form argon; and a medium-pressure oxygen compressor (20). The invention is used for producing oxygen of high purity on-site, typically in isolated locations.

Abstract: A gas generator assembly, which is especially suited to both transportable and on-board oxygen generators, with at least one adsorbent and a buffer tank to store product gas separated from a feed gas mixture. In order to make the assembly squat and compact, the buffer tank may be of an annular or quadruple U shaped configuration. Such a buffer tank configuration may also provide the assembly with improved structural and protective attributes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a circuit for supplying oxygen to aircraft passengers. According to the invention, the line (5) used to supply pressurised oxygen to the passenger masks (6) comprises a motorised pressure regulator (8) which can be actuated in response to a pressure control signal (10) provided by an electronic control unit (9) according to a signal (11) that is representative of the cabin pressure (12).

Abstract: A self-contained oxygen generator containing a PSA unit and a flowmeter in the outlet line. The flowmeter provides a signal which represents the flow rate of the oxygen in the outlet line. A leakage circuit with a calibrated orifice and a solenoid valve are also located on the outlet line. In response to a signal from the flowmeter, the solenoid can be actuated so as to provide a calibrated leakage at the outlet of the PSA. This calibrated leakage is useful when overall oxygen usage is too low.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods of supplying a highly enriched oxygen gas steam on board an aircraft. The gas stream is generated by an oxygen concentrator which concentrates atmospheric air by using at least one adsorber. The adsorber is made of a faujasite zeolite and has a Si/Al ratio between 1 and 1.5. The faujasite zeolite is also exchanged with silver by about 10%. Once generated, the gas stream is supplied to the airways of a person onboard an aircraft.

Abstract: The self-contained oxygen generator, of the type with a PSA unit (3), includes, in the outlet line (5), a flowmeter (13) providing a signal (14) representative of the flow rate of oxygen circulating in the outlet line, the latter being connected to a leakage circuit (15) comprising a calibrated orifice (17) and a solenoid valve (16) actuated in response to a signal (18) derived from the flow rate signal (14) provided by the flowmeter and organizing a calibrated leakage at the outlet from the PSA unit in the case of too low an oxygen consumption.

Abstract: The gas generator assembly, for generating gas by separation using adsorption in at least one adsorber (3A, 3B), includes a buffer tank (4) for the product gas having at least one part, typically in the shape of a U, forming an open internal space in which at least one part of the adsorber is placed in a compact arrangement with improved strength and mechanical robustness.

Abstract: There is produced (at 2) air enriched in inert gas, from a source (9) of compressed air internal to the aircraft, and this enriched air is admitted (via 10) into the fuel tank (12). During the cruising phase of the aircraft, there is produced a first fraction of air having a first inert gas content, and this first fraction is admitted into the fuel tank (12) at a first flow rate. Moreover, during the descent phase, there is produced a second fraction of enriched air having a second inert gas content substantially less than the first content, and the second fraction is admitted to the reservoir (12) at a second flow rate substantially greater than the first flow rate.

Abstract: There is produced (at 2) air enriched in inert gas, from a source (9) of compressed air internal to the aircraft, and this enriched air is admitted (via 10) into the fuel tank (12). During the cruising phase of the aircraft, there is produced a first fraction of air having a first inert gas content, and this first fraction is admitted into the fuel tank (12) at a first flow rate. Moreover, during the descent phase, there is produced a second fraction of enriched air having a second inert gas content substantially less than the first content, and the second fraction is admitted to the reservoir (12) at a second flow rate substantially greater than the first flow rate.