Sorbent-Based Aircraft Fuel Tank Inerting System.
Abstract
An analytical study of a new concept for inerting aircraft fuel tanks was performed. The Sorbent-Based Aircraft Fuel Tank Inerting System studied makes use of the solid sorbent fluomine to inert air by the absorption of oxygen. Various pressure and temperature conditioning schemes are considered to obtain a high inerting performance capability. A vapor cycle refrigerator (heat pump) system is used to thermally condition the sorbent beds, a bootstrap turbocompressor is employed to boost the engine bleed air pressure to the absorbing bed, and stripping air at near-ambient pressure accomplishes the desorption process. The system meets the desired performance and weight objectives for application to the B-1 aircraft. In addition, the system compares favorably with the stored liquid nitrogen and the catalytic reactor inerting concepts. The basic concept is so similar to the sorbent-based oxygen generator systems for crew breathing that it is advantageous to integrate the two concepts into a single system. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1972
- Accession Number
- AD0894621
Entities
People
- Gilbert E. Limberg
- Joseph M. Ruder
- Robert H. Norman