REGENERATIVE ACTIVATED CARBON FILTRATION FOR AIRCRAFT OBIGGS

摘要

An onboard aircraft inerting system includes an apparatus and method for regenerating an activated carbon media of a filter module while the aircraft is in flight. In regeneration mode, the activated carbon media is heated to a temperature sufficient to desorb the VOC contaminants adsorbed thereon and the air stream passing through the filter module is at a pressure lower than the air pressure of the air stream passing through the filter in normal inerting mode.

主权项

1. An onboard aircraft inerting system comprising:
a main inlet for connection to an upstream source of pressurized air, the pressurized air containing VOC contaminants; a filter module comprising an activated carbon media for adsorbing VOC contaminants from the air stream supplied thereto by the main inlet; a thermal control system upstream of the filter module for controlling the temperature of the air stream transported to the filter module; flow control components for directing air flow exiting the filter module; wherein in a normal mode, the flow control components direct filtered air exiting the filter module to a first passage connected to one or more air separation modules, and in a regeneration mode, the flow control components direct air exiting the filter module to a second passage connected to an overboard outlet for release to a lower pressure ambient environment; and wherein in regeneration mode the activated carbon media is operated at a higher temperature than in normal mode, the higher temperature being sufficient to desorb the VOC contaminants adsorbed during normal mode.