Air Separation Module Tubesheet Support Member
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Solution Overview
Problem
The high stresses on the tubesheet of an Air Separation Module (ASM) due to pressure loads can cause structural failure, such as delamination, which may lead to ineffective inerting of aircraft fuel tanks.
Innovation Solution
A support member is disposed downstream of the inlet tubesheet and abuts against it to support the tubesheet against the pressure load, thereby improving its load-carrying capability and preventing premature delamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the inlet tubesheet is designed to block spaces between hollow fibers and separate high pressure inlet air from low pressure oxygen-rich portion, then the air separation function is achieved, but the tubesheet is subjected to high pressure loads causing structural failure
Solution Approach 1:
A support member is introduced as an intermediary component between the inlet tubesheet and the downstream environment. This support member abuts against the inlet tubesheet and provides mechanical reinforcement, distributing the pressure load and preventing direct stress concentration on the tubesheet structure, thereby resolving the contradiction between maintaining air separation function and withstanding pressure loads
Data Source
AI summary
An example air separation module includes: a housing; a bundle of hollow fibers disposed within the housing, wherein the bundle is configured to receive inlet air and separate the inlet air into an oxygen-rich portion and a nitrogen-rich portion; an inlet tubesheet coupled to a proximal end of the bundle and configured to block respective spaces between the hollow fibers of the bundle, wherein a first side of the inlet tubesheet is configured to be subjected to the inlet air before flowing through the bundle, while a second side of the inlet tubesheet is configured to be subjected to the oxygen-rich portion having a lower pressure compared to the inlet air such that the inlet tubesheet is subjected to a pressure load; and a support member disposed downstream of the inlet tubesheet and abutting against the inlet tubesheet to support the inlet tubesheet against the pressure load.