Air Separation Module Flow Control for Faster Warm-Up

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current aircraft inert gas generation systems require excessive warm-up time for air separation modules, prolonging the preparation time for flight due to inefficient temperature distribution and flow configurations within the modules.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a flow control system that introduces a secondary air input to enhance the thermal exposure of permeable membranes, increasing the rate at which air separation modules reach the desired operating temperature by redirecting airflow to cover a greater surface area and expedite the warming process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the air separation module operates at elevated temperatures to improve inert gas generation efficiency, then the productivity and separation performance are improved, but the warm-up time required before operation increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinert gas generation efficiencyVSAvoidwarm-up time

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary heating of the air separation module using a heating element before initiating the air separation process. This preliminary action ensures the module reaches optimal operating temperature quickly, reducing warm-up time while maintaining high productivity during operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the temperature parameter dynamically by applying heat during the warm-up phase and then maintaining a stable elevated temperature during operation. This parameter change enables quick transition from ambient to operating temperature, resolving the contradiction between fast startup and high efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Volume of moving object

If the air separation module is designed to operate near the material temperature limit to reduce module size, then the device complexity and volume are reduced, but the risk of material degradation and operational reliability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveair separation module sizeVSAvoidmaterial long-term operation reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically controls the temperature of the air separation module, operating near the material temperature limit during active use to minimize size, while implementing monitoring and control mechanisms to prevent exceeding safe temperature thresholds, thus maintaining both compactness and reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates temperature monitoring and feedback control to ensure the air separation module operates within safe temperature ranges. This feedback mechanism allows the module to be sized for high-temperature operation while preventing material degradation through active temperature management

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If high flow mode is used to reduce warm-up time by increasing nitrogen enriched air flow rate, then the productivity during operation is improved, but the energy consumption and system complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenitrogen enriched air flow rateVSAvoidenergy consumption during warm-up

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies preliminary heating to the air separation module before high-flow operation, which reduces the warm-up time required when operating in high-flow mode. This preliminary action decouples the heating requirement from the high-flow operation, allowing high productivity without proportionally increased energy consumption during warm-up

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution significantly reduces the warm-up time of air separation modules, thereby accelerating the generation of inert gas and enhancing the readiness of aircraft for operation by ensuring faster temperature attainment across the module's surface.

Implementation Method 1

enhance the thermal exposure of permeable membranes, increasing the rate at which air separation modules reach the desired operating temperature

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

redirecting airflow to cover a greater surface area and expedite the warming process

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentUS9039818B2Method for processing air

Publication Date: 2015.05.26 THE BOEING CO

AI summary

A method and apparatus for processing air. The apparatus comprises an air separation module, a first input, a first output, a second output, and a flow control system. The air separation module is configured to generate an inert gas. The first input for the air separation module is configured to receive first air. The first output for the air separation module is configured to output the inert gas from the air separation module. The second output for the air separation module is configured to output separated air from the air separation module. The flow control system is configured to control a flow of air in the air separation module that increases a rate at which the air separation module reaches a desired operating temperature for generating the inert gas using a number of ports in the flow control module.