Fuel tank inerting system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11040306-B2
Application number	US-201815946211-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 5, 2018
Priority date	Apr 5, 2018
Publication date	Jun 22, 2021
Grant date	Jun 22, 2021

Abstract

A fuel tank inerting system is disclosed, comprising a fuel tank and an electrochemical cell comprising a cathode and an anode separated by a separator comprising an anion transfer medium. A cathode fluid flow path is in operative fluid communication with a catalyst at the cathode between a cathode fluid flow path inlet and a cathode fluid flow path outlet. An anode fluid flow path is in operative fluid communication with a catalyst at the anode, and includes an anode fluid flow path outlet. An electrical connected to a power source is arranged to provide a voltage difference between the anode and the cathode. An air source is in operative fluid communication with either or both of the cathode flow path inlet and the anode flow path inlet. An inert gas flow path is in operative fluid communication with the cathode flow path outlet and the fuel tank.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fuel tank inerting system, comprising
a fuel tank;
an electrochemical cell comprising a cathode and an anode separated by a separator comprising an anion transfer medium, wherein the anion transfer medium comprises a solid polymer membrane comprising quaternary ammonium groups, quaternary pyridinium groups, quaternary imidazolium groups, amino groups, imidazole groups, or combinations thereof;
a cathode fluid flow path in operative fluid communication with a catalyst at the cathode between a cathode fluid flow path inlet and a cathode fluid flow path outlet;
an anode fluid flow path in operative fluid communication with a catalyst at the anode, including an anode fluid flow path outlet;
an electrical connection to a power source, arranged to provide a voltage difference between the anode and the cathode;
an air source in operative fluid communication with either or both of the cathode fluid flow path inlet and the anode fluid flow path inlet; and
an inert gas flow path in operative fluid communication with the cathode fluid flow path outlet and the fuel tank.

2. The fuel tank inerting system of claim 1 , wherein the anion transfer medium comprises quaternary ammonium groups.

3. The fuel tank inerting system of claim 1 , wherein the anode fluid flow path is in fluid communication with the catalyst at the anode between an anode fluid flow path inlet and the anode fluid flow path outlet.

4. The fuel tank inerting system of claim 1 , further comprising a regenerative or replaceable carbon dioxide absorber in operative fluid communication with the air source and the cathode fluid flow path.

5. The fuel tank inerting system of claim 1 , further comprising a water source in operative fluid communication with the cathode fluid flow path.

6. A fuel tank inerting and power generation system, comprising
the fuel tank inerting system of claim 1 ;
an electrical connection between a power sink and the anode and cathode; and
a controller configured to alternatively operate the electrochemical cell in a mode selected from a plurality of modes including at least:
a first mode in which air and water is directed to the cathode, electric power is directed from the power source to the anode and cathode to provide a voltage difference between the anode and the cathode, and oxygen-depleted air is directed from the cathode to the fuel tank, and
a second mode in which fuel is directed to the anode, electric power is directed from the anode and cathode to the power sink, and oxygen-depleted air is directed from the cathode to the fuel tank.

7. An aircraft fuel tank inerting system comprising an aircraft body and an engine, said engine in operative fluid communication with the fuel tank of the fuel tank inerting system of claim 1 .

8. An aircraft fuel tank inerting and air management system, comprising
the fuel tank inerting system of claim 1 ; and
a cabin air flow circulation path in operative fluid communication with a pressurized environmentally controlled cabin and the anode fluid flow path inlet and anode fluid flow path outlet.

Assignees

• Hamilton Sundstrand Corp
• Hamilton Sunstrand Corp

Inventors

• Van Hassel Bart Antonie
• Darling Robert Mason
• Perry Michael L

Classifications

• H01M8/04201

  Reactant storage and supply, e.g. means for feeding, pipes · CPC title

• Y02E60/50

  Fuel cells · CPC title

• B64D13/06

  the air being conditioned (pressurising B64D13/02) · CPC title

• B01D2257/104

  Oxygen · CPC title

• A62C3/065

  for containers filled with inflammable liquids · CPC title