VIDEO: Inerting systems
A320 inerting pallet
Designed for single-aisle aircraft, this lightweight and lower-cost fuel tank inerting pallet system offers higher performance and a modular design that supports on-wing maintenance. It effectively performs the safety-critical function of preventing a flammable mixture from forming in the ullage space above the aircraft’s fuel tank.
This single-aisle inerting pallet system provides inert gas to aircraft fuel tanks. The nitrogen enriched air (NEA)generation subsystem removes oxygen from the conditioned bleed airstream to supply the tanks with inert gas. The air separation module (ASM) is the enabling technology element of the entire fuel tank inerting system. It uses semi-permeable, hollow fiber membranes inside the cylindrical canister to remove oxygen and produce the needed nitrogen-enriched air stream.
The palletized system features air filtration, over-temperature and fuel ingress protection, flow switching, system control, health monitoring, and NEA generation using the air separation module. Most of the equipment upstream of the ASM is used to properly condition the ASM inlet air, ensuring optimal ASM performance and life. Parker’s single-aisle ASM pallet design offers a modular approach to support on-wing maintenance actions. The pallet is installed in non-pressurized belly-fairing compartments.
The single-aisle inerting pallet system uses proprietary Parker fibers, resulting in a smaller envelope that is lighter weight and less costly than competing systems. The Parker fiber also has the highest performance of all available aerospace ASMs.
Inerting systems
Dual-shutoff valve
A multi-functional fuel tank inerting system valve that saves space and weight by eliminating the need for multiple valves.
Our dual-flow shutoff valve is used in the fuel tank inerting system to control the flow of nitrogen-enriched air (NEA) to the fuel tanks.
The valve is used for switching the NEA flow between off, low, medium, and high flow. Its secondary, but critical, function is to prevent fuel and fuel vapor migration from the fuel tank back to the air separation module when the system is not operating.
The dual-flow shutoff valve optimizes NEA flow for different aircraft flight phases. This eliminates the need for multiple valves to achieve different flow settings.
Inerting systems
Pressure sensor
Delivering high accuracy, reliability, and stability in harsh environmental conditions, the pressure sensor also provides health, system safety shutdown, and over-pressure protection monitoring.
Our pressure sensor is an absolute pressure sensor designed to produce a voltage output that is proportional to the applied pressure. The sensor determines when sufficient bleed-air pressure is available to operate the inerting system and is used during start-up processes to ensure that there is sufficient pressure; further, it functions during normal operation to keep the system running.
It's used on such aircraft as the Airbus A350 XWB, providing optimal system health monitoring and system safety shutdown monitoring for over-pressure and under-pressure detection. Parker's sensor is tested to the most severe EMC, HIRF, vibration and shock requirements of DO-160G standards.
Inerting systems
Fuel tank inerting controller
The fuel tank inerting system controller providing automatic control of the system. Its multifunctionality reduces weight and saves fuel while minimizing costs and maximizing efficiency.
Our fuel tank inerting controller monitors and controls the fuel tank inerting system (FTIS). Pressure, oxygen, and temperature data acquired via analog sensors are used by the controller to support the distribution of nitrogen-enriched air (NEA) into the fuel tank ullage.
Fundamental features of the fuel tank inerting controller include the following:
- Provides over-temperature protection
- Monitors the oxygen concentration to ensure the health of air separation modules
- Directs the temperature control valve and ground cooling fan to provide temperature-controlled bleed air for inerting.
- Microprocessor-based design
- System fault and health monitoring trend recording in NVM
- Software development according to RTCA-DO 178B and DAL Criticality Level B
- Over-pressure monitoring system
- Independent and isolated analog backup channels to monitor temperature
- Capable of directly interfacing with onboard maintenance system
