The present disclosure discloses a catalyst and a method for preparing 2-ethoxyphenol by catalytic depolymerization of lignin. The catalyst comprises sepiolite as a carrier and tungsten, nickel and molybdenum as active components supported on sepiolite. The catalyst for preparing 2-ethoxyphenol by catalytic depolymerization of lignin in the present disclosure can catalytically depolymerize lignin, realize the directional preparation of 2-ethoxyphenol from lignin, and co-produce lignin oil. It has a comparatively high selectivity for 2-ethoxyphenol and can achieve a lignin conversion rate of more than 95%, a 2-ethoxyphenol selectivity of more than 20% in a liquid product, and a yield of more than 100 mg/g of lignin.

A method for air separation module management includes determining an amount of nitrogen-enriched-air to be supplied to each fuel tank of a plurality of fuel tanks of an aircraft. The method also includes evaluating a status and usage of each air separation module of a plurality of air separation modules onboard the aircraft. The method additionally includes determining an optimal distribution of workload among the plurality of air separation modules based on the amount of the nitrogen-enriched-air to be supplied to each fuel tank and the status and usage of each air separation module. The method further includes regulating a valve associated with each air separation module or a group of air separation modules based on the optimal distribution of workload to each air separation module.

According to this disclosure, there is provided a pyrolysis reaction system and a direct non-oxidative methane coupling process using the same by which it is possible to reach the selectivity for good C.sub.≤10 hydrocarbons and at the same time to inhibit coke from being generated while a good methane conversion is maintained during direct conversion of methane into C.sub.2+ hydrocarbons through non-oxidative pyrolysis.

Fuel tank inerting systems for aircraft are provided. The systems include a fuel tank, a catalytic reactor arranged to receive a first reactant from a first reactant source and a second reactant from a second reactant source to generate an inert gas that is supplied to the fuel tank to fill an ullage space of the fuel tank, a heat exchanger arranged between the catalytic reactor and the fuel tank and configured to at least one of cool and condense an output from the catalytic reactor to separate out the inert gas, and a controller configured to perform a light-off operation of the catalytic reactor by controlling at least one light-off parameter and, after light-off occurs, adjusting the at least one light-off parameter to an operating level, wherein the at least one light-off parameter comprises a space velocity through the catalytic reactor.

Fuel tank inerting systems for aircraft are provided. The systems include a fuel tank, a catalytic reactor arranged to receive a first reactant from a first reactant source and a second reactant from a second reactant source to generate an inert gas that is supplied to the fuel tank to fill an ullage space of the fuel tank, a heat exchanger arranged between the catalytic reactor and the fuel tank and configured to at least one of cool and condense an output from the catalytic reactor to separate out the inert gas, and a controller configured to perform a light-off operation of the catalytic reactor by controlling at least one light-off parameter and, after light-off occurs, adjusting the at least one light-off parameter to an operating level, wherein the at least one light-off parameter comprises a space velocity through the catalytic reactor.

Fuel tank inerting systems are described. The systems include a fuel tank, a catalytic reactor arranged to receive a reactant mixture comprising a first reactant and a second reactant to generate an inert gas to be supplied to the fuel tank to fill an ullage space of the fuel tank, a condenser heat exchanger arranged between the catalytic reactor and the fuel tank and configured to cool an output from the catalytic reactor, and a fan assembly arranged within an inerting system flow path upstream of the catalytic reactor, wherein the fan assembly is arranged within a gas flow having a temperature of at least 185° C.

A method of carrying out direct thermal decomposition of a hydrocarbon compound into carbon and hydrogen comprises: introducing a gaseous feed stream comprising at least one hydrocarbon compound into a reactor; and removing at least hydrogen gas and particulate carbon formed by thermal decomposition from the reactor. The method includes providing in the reactor a layer permeable to the particulate carbon and comprising loose particles other than the particulate carbon in a gas phase and passing the gaseous feed stream through the layer. The loose particles other than the particulate carbon comprise particles comprising a catalyst on a carrier. The method includes removing at least part of the layer from the reactor, separating constituents of the removed part, the constituents including some of the particles comprising a catalyst on a carrier, and returning the separated particles comprising a catalyst on a carrier to the layer.

A method of carrying out direct thermal decomposition of a hydrocarbon compound into carbon and hydrogen comprises: introducing a gaseous feed stream comprising at least one hydrocarbon compound into a reactor; and removing at least hydrogen gas and particulate carbon formed by thermal decomposition from the reactor. The method includes providing in the reactor a layer permeable to the particulate carbon and comprising loose particles other than the particulate carbon in a gas phase and passing the gaseous feed stream through the layer. The loose particles other than the particulate carbon comprise particles comprising a catalyst on a carrier. The method includes removing at least part of the layer from the reactor, separating constituents of the removed part, the constituents including some of the particles comprising a catalyst on a carrier, and returning the separated particles comprising a catalyst on a carrier to the layer.

A system and method for providing inerting gas to a protected space. Oxygen is directed from an oxygen source to a motive port of an ejector, and air is introduced to a suction port of the ejector. A gas mixture of oxygen and air is directed from an outlet port of the ejector to a reactor, and a reactant is directed from a reactant source to the reactor. Oxygen in the gas mixture is reacted with the reactant to incorporate the oxygen into a non-combustible compound, and an inerting gas comprising the non-combustible compound is directed to the protected space.

A system and method for inerting a protected space is disclosed. According to the method, process water is delivered to an anode of an electrochemical cell comprising the anode and a cathode separated by a separator comprising a proton transfer medium. A portion the process water is electrolyzed at the anode to form protons and oxygen, and the protons are transferred across the separator to the cathode. Process water is directed through a process water fluid flow path including a gas outlet, and a pressure differential is applied between the process water fluid flow path and a discharge side of the gas outlet to remove gas from the process water. Air is delivered to the cathode and oxygen is reduced at the cathode to generate oxygen-depleted air, which is directed from the cathode along an inerting gas flow path to the protected space.