Water systems for onboard inerting systems of vehicles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11745140-B2
Application number	US-201916374976-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 4, 2019
Priority date	Apr 4, 2019
Publication date	Sep 5, 2023
Grant date	Sep 5, 2023

Abstract

Systems and methods for generating inerting gas on vehicles are described. The systems include a proton exchange membrane (PEM) inerting system, a pure water replenishment system configured to provide pure water to the PEM inerting system, wherein the pure water replenishment system is in fluid communication with the PEM inerting system to replenish water lost during operation of the PEM inerting system, and a control system configured to control operation of the pure water replenishment system to automatically replenish pure water to the PEM inerting system.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for generating inerting gas on an aircraft a vehicle, the system comprising:
a proton exchange membrane (PEM) inerting system configured to generate inert gas to be supplied to at least one of an aircraft fuel tank ullage space, an aircraft cargo hold, an aircraft fire suppression system, and an aircraft equipment bay;
a pure water supply tank fluidly connected to the PEM inerting system and configured to provide pure water to be used in the generation of the inert gas;
a pure water replenishment system arranged onboard the aircraft and configured to provide replenishment pure water to the pure water supply tank, wherein the pure water replenishment system is in fluid communication with the pure water supply tank to replenish pure water lost during operation of the PEM inerting system, wherein the pure water replenishment system includes a pure water replenishment source of pure water arranged onboard the aircraft;
a valve arranged along a supply line between the pure water replenishment source and the pure water supply tank and configured to control a supply of the replenishment pure water to the pure water supply tank;
a valve sensor arranged along the supply line and configured to detect at least one of a fluid flow, a fluid pressure, and a valve state of the valve;
a fluid level sensor arranged in the pure water supply tank and configured to monitor a level and/or amount of pure water that is available for use with the PEM inerting system; and
a control system configured to control operation of the pure water replenishment system to automatically replenish pure water to the pure water supply tank from the pure water replenishment source,
wherein the control system is operably connected to the valve sensor and the fluid level sensor and configured to monitor a water level within the pure water supply tank, and
wherein the control system is configured to (i) detect a low water level within the pure water supply tank and (ii) maintain a predetermined minimum level of pure water within the pure water supply tank in response to a detected low water level by controlling the valve to open and supply pure water from the pure water replenishment source to maintain the level of pure water within the PEM inerting system at or above a level of pure water to maintain a predetermined water quality within the PEM inerting system.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control system comprises a controller configured to electronically control operation of the pure water replenishment system.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control system comprises a mechanical actuator configured to passively control operation of the pure water replenishment system.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the mechanical actuator is a float valve.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the pure water replenishment system comprises a water purification system to treat water and generate pure water to be supplied to at least one of the PEM inerting system and the pure water supply tank.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the water purification system receives water from an onboard domestic water tank on the aircraft.

7. The system of claim 5 , wherein the water purification system includes at least one of a particulate filter, a heat source, and a condenser.

8. The system of claim 5 , further comprising at least one treatment component configured to pre-treat the water prior to entering the water purification system.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the at least one treatment component comprises an ultraviolet light source.

10. The system of claim 5 , wherein the water purification system includes at least one of a particulate filter and an ion exchange module.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the water purification system includes at least one of an organic filter and a reverse osmosis module.

12. The system of claim 5 , wherein a portion of water treated within the water purification system is supplied to an onboard domestic water supply of the aircraft.

13. The system of claim 5 , further comprising a pump configured to supply water to the water purification system.

14. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a recapture loop configured to direct at least one of moisture and water from an output of the PEM inerting system back into the PEM inerting system.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the recapture loop includes a water treatment system.

16. The system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one sensor configured to monitor a fluid flow rate of the pure water replenishment system.

17. A method for generating inerting gas on an aircraft, the method comprising:
generating an inerting gas using a proton exchange membrane (PEM) inerting system employing an electrolysis reaction using pure water;
supplying the inerting gas to at least one of an aircraft fuel tank ullage space, an aircraft cargo hold, an aircraft fire suppression system, and an aircraft equipment bay;
providing pure water to the PEM inerting system from a pure water supply tank onboard the aircraft at or above a level of pure water to maintain a predetermined water quality within the PEM inerting system;
monitoring a water quality in the PEM inerting system;
in response to detecting a water quality below a predetermined quality, supplying the pure water supply tank with replenishment water from a pure water replenishment system, wherein the pure water replenishment system is in fluid communication with the pure water supply tank to replenish water lost during operation of the PEM inerting system, the pure water replenishment system comprises a pure water replenishment source, a valve arranged along a supply line between the pure water replenishment source and the pure water supply tank and configured to control a supply of pure water to the pure water supply tank from the pure water replenishment source, a valve sensor arranged along the supply line and configured to detect at least one of a fluid flow, a fluid pressure, and a valve state of the valve, and a fluid level sensor arranged in the pure water supply tank and configured to monitor a level and/or amount of pure water that is available for use with the PEM inerting system;
monitoring a water level within the pure water supply tank using the fluid level sensor arranged within the pure water supply tank;
detecting a low water level within the pure water supply tank; and
controlling operation of the pure water replenishment system to automatically replenish pure water to the pure water supply tank from the pure water replenishment source to maintain a predetermined minimum level of pure water within the PEM inerting system to maintain the predetermined water quality.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising treating water to generate treated water using a water purification system and supplying said treated water to at least one of the PEM inerting system and the pure water supply tank.

19. The method of claim 17 , further comprising recapturing at least one of moisture and water from an output of the PEM inerting system and directing said recaptured moisture and/or water through a recapture loop to direct back into the PEM inerting system.

Assignees

• Hamilton Sundstrand Corp

Inventors

• Pess Matthew
• Cocks Peter A T
• Aceves Kevin P
• Perry Michael L
• Rheaume Jonathan

Classifications

• B01D53/326 Primary

  in electrochemical cells · CPC title

• B64D37/32 Primary

  Safety measures not otherwise provided for, e.g. preventing explosive conditions · CPC title

• C02F1/008

  Control or steering systems not provided for elsewhere in subclass C02F · CPC title

• C02F9/00

  Multistage treatment of water, waste water or sewage · CPC title

• C02F1/001

  Processes for the treatment of water whereby the filtration technique is of importance (C02F1/44 takes precedence; construction of filters in general B01D24/00 - B01D41/00) · CPC title