Feasibility of Adapting a Thin Film Permeable Membrane to Jet Transport Fuel Tank Inerting System

摘要

A liquid nitrogen fuel tank inerting system has been certificated and is in operation in the FAA DC-9 jet transport. This system reduces the fuel tank ullage space and vent system oxygen concentration to a non-combustible level by dilution with nitrogen which is stored aboard the airplane in a liquid state. The objective of this contractual effort was to investigate whether the new concept of on-board nitrogen generation by separating nitrogen from engine bleed air using ultrathin semi-permeable membranes will eliminate the requirement to carry liquid nitrogen in the airplane and thus reduce the logistics requirements of nitrogen inerting systems. The function of the inerting system is to reduce the oxygen concentration in the fuel tank vapor spaces and vent lines to a level below which combustion and thus explosion cannot occur, regardless of the presence of an ignition source.