Ground Based Fuel Tank Inerting

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NEA Ullage Washing Testing With a Vented Fuel Tank
August 29th-30th, 2000International Aircraft
Systems FireProtection Working Group
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Outline

• Background
• Ullage Washing Data
• Model Validation
• Hydrocarbon Effects Data
• Temperature Effects Data

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Background

• Obtained Nitrogen Supply System from Air Liquide
  to Examine Fuel Tank Ullage Washing
• Utilized Existing Test Article
• Primary Task is to Characterize the Ability of
  Nitrogen to Inert an Empty Fuel Tank
• Effective of Nitrogen Purity, Flow Rate
• Effective Ullage Temperature / Hydrocarbon
  Concentration

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Nondimensional Time

• Want to Express Time in Terms of Volume Delivered
  
• Volumetric Tank Exchange
  Time Volume Flow Rate / Total Tank Volume
• Should Allow for Comparison of Data with
  Different Parameters, Regardless of Volume Flow
  Rate

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Nondimensional Oxygen Concentration

• Want to Express O2 in Terms of Purity
  Delivered. Consider that Gas is Slowly Changing
  the Ullage to Gas Purity
• Tank Inertion Ratio
  AirO2 - TankO2 / AirO2 - NEAO2
• Should Allow for Comparison of Data with
  Different Parameters, Regardless of Purity

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Effects of Ullage Temperature / THC

• Performed Several Tests Varying Tank Ullage
  Temperature and Total Hydrocarbon Concentration
• Used Hot Plate Element, Kerosene Heater, and
  Liquid CO2
• Final Results Show Little Effect on Time to Inert

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Future Work

• Continue with Re-circulate and Replace Work and
  Quantify Benefit
• Extrapolate Requirements for an On-Aircraft
  System and Determine Preliminary Cost/Ben
• Work with Manufacturers to Develop Innovative
  Designs to Cut Cost/Weight/Size