Temperature controlled nitrogen generation system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016361684-A1
Application number	US-201514736819-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 11, 2015
Priority date	Jun 11, 2015
Publication date	Dec 15, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A nitrogen generation system includes a heat exchanger for receiving supply air and cooling air and providing temperature conditioned supply air, a flow control valve for controlling a flow of the cooling air through the heat exchanger, and an air separation module for receiving the temperature conditioned supply air and generating nitrogen-enriched air. The nitrogen generation system also includes a sensor for measuring a parameter of the nitrogen-enriched air selected from the group consisting of a temperature, a flow rate, an oxygen concentration, and combinations thereof, and a controller connected to the sensor and the flow control valve for controlling the flow of the cooling air through the heat exchanger based on the parameter of the nitrogen-enriched air measured by the sensor.

First claim

1 . A nitrogen generation system comprising:
a heat exchanger for receiving supply air and cooling air and providing temperature conditioned supply air; a first flow control valve for controlling a flow of the cooling air through the heat exchanger; an air separation module for receiving the temperature conditioned supply air and generating nitrogen-enriched air; a first sensor for measuring a parameter of the nitrogen-enriched air selected from the group consisting of a temperature, a flow rate, an oxygen concentration, and combinations thereof; and a controller connected to the first sensor and the first flow control valve for controlling the flow of the cooling air through the heat exchanger based on the parameter of the nitrogen-enriched air measured by the first sensor.

2 . The nitrogen generation system of claim 1 , and further comprising a second sensor for measuring a parameter of the temperature conditioned supply air selected from the group consisting of a temperature, a flow rate, an oxygen concentration, and combinations thereof, wherein the second sensor is connected to the controller.

3 . The nitrogen generation system of claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger is a plate heat exchanger or a shell and tube heat exchanger.

4 . The nitrogen generation system of claim 1 , wherein the supply air is bleed air and the cooling air is ram air.

5 . The nitrogen generation system of claim 1 , wherein the air separation module comprises a membrane.

6 . The nitrogen generation system of claim 5 , wherein the membrane is made of a polymer selected from the group consisting of poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne), Teflon, silicone rubber, poly(4-methyl-1-pentene), poly(phenylene oxide), ethyl cellulose, polyimide, polysulfone, polyaramide, tetrabromo bis polycarbonate, and combinations thereof.

7 . The nitrogen generation system of claim 1 , and further comprising a jacket surrounding the air separation module and a second flow control valve connected to the controller.

8 . The nitrogen generation system of claim 7 , wherein the second flow control valve is a three way valve for controlling a first flow of the temperature conditioned supply air into the air separation module and controlling a second flow of the temperature conditioned supply air into the jacket.

9 . A nitrogen generation system comprising:
a mixer for receiving supply air and cooling air and providing temperature conditioned supply air; a flow control valve for controlling a flow of the cooling air into the mixer; an air separation module for receiving the temperature conditioned supply air and generating nitrogen-enriched air; a first sensor for measuring a parameter of the nitrogen-enriched air selected from the group consisting of a temperature, a flow rate, an oxygen concentration, and combinations thereof; and a controller connected to the first sensor and the flow control valve for controlling the flow of the cooling air through the heat exchanger based on the parameter of the nitrogen-enriched air measured by the first sensor.

10 . The nitrogen generation system of claim 9 , and further comprising a second sensor for measuring a parameter of the temperature conditioned supply air selected from the group consisting of a temperature, a flow rate, an oxygen concentration, and combinations thereof, wherein the second sensor is connected to the controller.

11 . A method of generating nitrogen-enriched air, the method comprising:
cooling supply air with cooling air to produce temperature conditioned supply air; flowing a first flow of the temperature conditioned supply air through an air separation module to generate nitrogen-enriched air; measuring a parameter of the nitrogen-enriched air selected from the group consisting of a temperature, a flow rate, an oxygen concentration, and combinations thereof; controlling a flow of the cooling air based on the parameter of the nitrogen-enriched air.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein cooling the supply air comprises:
flowing the supply air through a heat exchanger; and flowing the flow of the cooling air through the heat exchanger.

13 . The method of claim 12 , and further comprising flowing a second flow of temperature conditioned supply air through a jacket surrounding the air separation module.

14 . The method of claim 13 , and further comprising controlling the first flow of the temperature conditioned supply air through the air separation module and controlling the second flow of the temperature conditioned supply air through the jacket based on the measured parameter of the nitrogen-enriched air.

15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein cooling the supply air comprises:
mixing the flow of the cooling air and the supply air.

16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the temperature of the supply air is between 148 degrees Celsius and 233 degrees Celsius.

17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the temperature of the cooling air is between −46 degrees Celsius and 43.4 degrees Celsius.

18 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the temperature of the nitrogen-enriched air is between 15 degrees Celsius and 93.4 degrees Celsius.

19 . The method of claim 11 , and further comprising measuring a parameter of the temperature conditioned supply air selected from the group consisting of a temperature, a flow rate, an oxygen concentration, and combinations thereof, wherein the second sensor is connected to the controller.

20 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the oxygen concentration of the nitrogen-enriched air is less than 12 percent.

Assignees

• Hamilton Sundstrand Corp

Inventors

• Ranjan Rajiv
• Dardas Zissis A

Classifications

• B01D2053/221

  Devices · CPC title

• B01D2259/4575

  in aeroplanes or space ships · CPC title

• B01D53/228

  characterised by specific membranes · CPC title

• B64D37/32

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

• B01D2256/10

  Nitrogen · CPC title