The Boeing Company

Barbara J Evosevich

Ivana Jojic

An aircraft fuel tank flammability reduction method includes feeding pressurized air into an air separation module containing a carbon membrane, the air feed exhibiting a normal pressure of no more than 55 psig. The method includes producing nitrogen-enriched air from the air separation module as a result of removing oxygen from the air feed. An aircraft fuel tank flammability reduction system includes a source for pressurized air, an air separation module configured to receive air feed from the pressurized air source, and a carbon membrane. The carbon membrane is configured to permeate oxygen from the air feed through the carbon membrane at a temperature of at least 120&#xb0; C. (248&#xb0; F.) and to produce nitrogen-enriched air from the air separation module as a result of removing oxygen from the air feed.

Aircraft fuel tank flammability reduction method and system

A gas separation method includes contacting a membrane filter with gas feed, permeating the gas from the gas feed through the membrane, and producing filtered gas from the filter. The filtered gas is produced from the filter as a result of the membrane removing any hydrocarbons containing six or more carbon atoms to produce a total of 0.001 ppm w/w or less. A gas separation method includes feeding gas into a filter containing a hollow fiber membrane that exhibits the property of resisting degradation due to exposure to hydrocarbons containing six or more carbon atoms. The filter exhibits a pressure drop across the membrane of less than 5 psi. The method includes feeding the filtered gas into a gas separation module that exhibits a susceptibility to degradation from exposure to hydrocarbons containing six or more carbon atoms.

Gas separation systems and methods using membranes

An aircraft fuel tank flammability reduction method includes feeding pressurized air into an air separation module containing a carbon membrane, the air feed exhibiting a normal pressure of no more than 55 psig and the carbon membrane containing at least 95 weight percent carbon. The method includes producing nitrogen-enriched air from the air separation module as a result of removing oxygen from the air feed. An aircraft fuel tank flammability reduction system includes a source for pressurized air, an air separation module configured to receive air feed from the pressurized air source, and a carbon membrane containing at least 95 weight percent carbon. The carbon membrane is configured to permeate oxygen from the air feed through the carbon membrane at a temperature of at least 120&#xb0; C. (248&#xb0; F.) and to produce nitrogen-enriched air from the air separation module as a result of removing oxygen from the air feed.

An aircraft fuel tank flammability reduction method includes contacting a membrane filter with air feed, permeating oxygen and nitrogen from the air feed through the membrane, and producing filtered air from the filter. The filtered air is produced from the filter as a result of the membrane removing any hydrocarbons containing six or more carbon atoms to produce a total of 0.001 ppm w/w or less. An air separation method includes feeding air into a filter containing a hollow fiber membrane that exhibits the property of resisting degradation due to exposure to hydrocarbons containing six or more carbon atoms. The filter exhibits a pressure drop across the membrane of less than 5 psi. The method includes feeding the filtered air into an air separation module containing a hollow fiber membrane that exhibits a susceptibility to degradation from exposure to hydrocarbons containing six or more carbon atoms.

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Fullerton, CA, United States of America

Barbara J Evosevich