Fuel separation unit for inert gas generating system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10654582-B2
Application number	US-201715673012-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 9, 2017
Priority date	Aug 9, 2017
Publication date	May 19, 2020
Grant date	May 19, 2020

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.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An inert gas generating system comprising:
a source of a gaseous mixture;
a fuel separation unit configured to receive a portion of the gaseous mixture from the source, the fuel separation unit comprising a silicone-based membrane configured to separate the gaseous mixture into a condensable gas portion and a non-condensable gas portion;
a pressure differential generator in fluid communication with a permeate side of the silicone-based membrane, wherein the pressure differential generator is configured to create a partial pressure gradient across the silicone-based membrane; and
a catalytic oxidation unit configured to receive the condensable gas portion and to produce an inert gas.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the pressure differential generator is a source of a sweep gas.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the sweep gas is selected from the group consisting of ram air, compressed air, engine bleed air, air passed through a heat exchanger, conditioned air, cabin outflow air, air passed over a heating element, and combinations thereof.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the pressure differential generator is a vacuum source.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the vacuum source is one of a pump and an ejector.

6. The system of claim 1 and further comprising: a fluid passageway configured to provide the inert gas to a defined space.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the defined space is a fuel tank.

8. The system of claim 6 , wherein the defined space is an aircraft compartment.

9. The system of claim 1 and further comprising:
a source of a liquid hydrocarbon fuel; and
a fractioning unit configured to receive a portion of the liquid hydrocarbon fuel from the source and to separate from the portion of the liquid hydrocarbon fuel a hydrocarbon vapor portion;
wherein the fractioning unit is configured to provide the hydrocarbon vapor portion to the catalytic oxidation unit.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the source of the gaseous mixture and the liquid hydrocarbon fuel is a fuel tank.

11. A method for generating an inert gas, the method comprising:
providing a gaseous mixture to a fuel separation unit, the fuel separation unit comprising a silicone-based membrane configured to separate the gaseous mixture into a condensable gas portion and a non-condensable gas portion;
creating a partial pressure gradient using a pressure differential generator in fluid communication with a permeate side of the silicone-based membrane such that a partial pressure of the condensable gas portion of the gaseous mixture is lower on the permeate side of the silicone-based membrane;
providing an amount of the condensable gas portion drawn through the silicone-based membrane to a catalytic oxidation unit; and
reacting hydrocarbon vapors within the condensable gas portion to produce the inert gas.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein generating the partial pressure gradient comprises flowing a sweep gas over the permeate side of the silicone-based membrane.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein generating the partial pressure gradient comprises operating a vacuum source in fluid communication with the permeate side of the silicone-based membrane.

14. The method of claim 11 and further comprising: mixing the amount of the condensable gas portion with an amount of combustion air from a combustion air source prior to the reacting step.

Assignees

• Hamilton Sundstrand Corp

Inventors

• Rheaume Jonathan
• Cordatos Haralambos

Classifications

• B01D53/22

  by diffusion (manufacturing semi-permeable membranes B01D67/00; form, structure or properties of semi-permeable membranes B01D69/00; material for semi-permeable membranes B01D71/00) · CPC title

• B01D53/229

  Integrated processes (Diffusion and at least one other process, e.g. adsorption, absorption) · CPC title

• B01D2257/702

  Hydrocarbons · CPC title

• B01D53/864

  Removing carbon monoxide or hydrocarbons · CPC title

• B01D2257/504

  Carbon dioxide · CPC title