A gas inerting system employs a carbon dioxide separation unit to remove carbon dioxide and water from an oxygen depleted gas stream generated from a catalytic oxidation unit and subsequently provides a nitrogen rich inerting gas to a fuel tank and/or to a cargo hold. A method of producing an inert gas passes an oxygen depleted gas stream from a catalytic oxidation unit through a carbon dioxide separation unit and provides a nitrogen rich inerting gas for fuel tank inerting and/or cargo hold fire suppression.

A gas inerting system employs a carbon dioxide separation unit to remove carbon dioxide and water from an oxygen depleted gas stream generated from a catalytic oxidation unit and subsequently provides a nitrogen rich inerting gas to a fuel tank and/or to a cargo hold. A method of producing an inert gas passes an oxygen depleted gas stream from a catalytic oxidation unit through a carbon dioxide separation unit and provides a nitrogen rich inerting gas for fuel tank inerting and/or cargo hold fire suppression.

A hydrocarbon tank system environment corrosion inhibitor includes use of inert gas, preferably Nitrogen, to blanket ullage and interstice through the tank system. Blanket gas is provided via controller into coupling to access ullage. Blanket gas is provided upon fueling events to stabilize the pressure in the system and prevent entry of atmospheric air and water (vapor). Blanket gas may be continuously run into the ullage and/or other spaces in tank system. A controlled system allows for monitoring of pressures in the tank, and thereby identifies pressure events and even leaks in system due to unusual events, or general loss of pressure.

A hydrocarbon tank system environment corrosion inhibitor includes use of inert gas, preferably Nitrogen, to blanket ullage and interstice through the tank system. Blanket gas is provided via controller into coupling to access ullage. Blanket gas is provided upon fueling events to stabilize the pressure in the system and prevent entry of atmospheric air and water (vapor). Blanket gas may be continuously run into the ullage and/or other spaces in tank system. A controlled system allows for monitoring of pressures in the tank, and thereby identifies pressure events and even leaks in system due to unusual events, or general loss of pressure.

There is provided a center fuel tank assembly for an aircraft. The assembly includes a center fuel tank disposed in a central part of the aircraft. The assembly further includes one or more fuel barrier members partitioning the center fuel tank into two or more separate volume sections comprising two or more separate sub-tanks arranged in a fore-to-aft alignment to form a partitioned center fuel tank. The assembly further includes a fuel flow control assembly coupled to each of the two or more separate sub-tanks, each fuel flow control assembly operating independently. A sequential fuel burn of fuel in the two or more separate sub-tanks is made in a fore-to-aft sequence while the aircraft is in flight, to assist in shifting aftward a center of gravity (CG) of the aircraft, to reduce aircraft drag.

A system to maintain an inert ullage in a hydrocarbon tank. The system provides for outgassing/venting of ullage gases when a high-pressure event is found within the tank. Further, when a low-pressure event occurs, during fuel discharge or based on ambient conditions, a source of inert gas, such as nitrogen) supplies gas on-demand to the hydrocarbon tank via a pressure regulator (preferably along the venting system) to maintain both the pressure and inerting of the ullage. A method for maintaining the inert ullage is also provided, whereby a low-pressure event triggers a supply of inert gas into the tank.

A liquid storage tank has a breathing valve that vents the tank's headspace at a high-pressure value and admits an ambient gas at a low-pressure value. A controller generates a first control signal when the percentage of the catalyst gas is less than a catalyst threshold, a second control signal when the percentage of the catalyst gas exceeds the catalyst threshold, and a third control signal when the pressure in the headspace is equal to a low-pressure threshold between the breathing valve's low-pressure value and high-pressure value. The first valve is only opened to output inert gas at a discharge pressure greater than the breathing valve's high-pressure value in response to the second control signal. The second valve is only opened to output inert gas at a discharge pressure that is between the breathing valve's low-pressure value and high-pressure value in response to the third control signal.

An aircraft fuel tank inerting system includes an inlet, an oxygen absorption unit, and a vent to discharge oxygen from the system. The inlet may be configured to be in fluid communication with a ullage of a fuel tank. In embodiments, the oxygen absorption unit is in communication with the inlet and includes a chamber, a temperature reversible oxygen absorption medium within said chamber, and a temperature controller for selectively heating or cooling the medium. The reversible oxygen absorption medium may be a medium which absorbs oxygen by chemisorption.

According an embodiment, a liquid storage system comprises a tank for storing liquid fuel, a vent pipe for providing communication between outside of the tank and a gas space above a level of liquid fuel in the tank, a nonflammable gas supplying apparatus for supplying the gas space with nonflammable gases, a pressure control apparatus installed in the vent pipe to operate responsively to the pressure difference between the gas space and atmospheric pressure so as to limit a pressure in the gas space to a predetermined range. The pressure control apparatus introduces ambient air outside the tank into the gas space through the vent pipe when a pressure in the gas space is lower than a predetermined lower limit, and discharge a gas from the gas space out of the tank through the vent pipe when a pressure in the gas space is higher than a predetermined upper limit.

According an embodiment, a liquid storage system comprises a tank for storing liquid fuel, a vent pipe for providing communication between outside of the tank and a gas space above a level of liquid fuel in the tank, a nonflammable gas supplying apparatus for supplying the gas space with nonflammable gases, a pressure control apparatus installed in the vent pipe to operate responsively to the pressure difference between the gas space and atmospheric pressure so as to limit a pressure in the gas space to a predetermined range. The pressure control apparatus introduces ambient air outside the tank into the gas space through the vent pipe when a pressure in the gas space is lower than a predetermined lower limit, and discharge a gas from the gas space out of the tank through the vent pipe when a pressure in the gas space is higher than a predetermined upper limit.