Fuel Tank Inerting
Background
The FAA has focused research to support two primary methods of fuel tank protection, both involving fuel tank inerting. Ground-based fuel tank inerting would involve some combination of fuel scrubbing and ullage washing with Nitrogen Enriched Air (NEA) while the airplane is on the ground. On-board fuel tank inerting would involve ullage washing during some or all aircraft operations with a system that generates NEA on the aircraft with the APU and/or engine bleed air. FAA research has evaluated Hollow Fiber Membrane (HFM) gas separation technology. HFM technology could be used to develop on-board inerting systems that are much lighter with greatly improved dispatch reliability than current military aircraft systems. Thus there is an interest in ground-based fuel tank inerting, with either airport supplied or on-board generated NEA, and also in an on-board inert gas generating system (OBIGGS) with the capability of providing NEA, as required throughout the ground/flight profile. OBIGGS also has the potential to improve commercial transport airplane fire safety as NEA generated on-board the aircraft could be used in an emergency for fire suppression in other parts of the aircraft.
Additional Information
For information contact:
William Cavage
Phone: (609) 485-4993
Fax: (609) 485-5785
William.M.Cavage@faa.gov