ON-BOARD AIRCRAFT ELECTROCHEMICAL INERT GAS GENERATION SYSTEM

An onboard inert gas system (100) has an electrochemical and a membrane gas separator (104). The electrochemical separator includes an electrochemical cell including a cathode (14) and anode (16) separated by an electrolyte separator (12). An electrical power source provides power to the electrical circuit at a voltage that electrolyzes water at the anode and forms water at the cathode, or reduces oxygen at the cathode (14) and forms oxygen at the anode (16). Oxygen is consumed at the cathode (14), providing nitrogen-enriched air. Nitrogen-enriched air from the cathode is connected by a flow path to the membrane gas separator (104), which comprises a membrane having a greater permeability to oxygen or water than to nitrogen. Nitrogen-enriched air from the membrane gas separator that is further enriched in nitrogen, reduced in water content, or both, is connected by a flow path to a fuel tank, a fire suppression system, or both a fuel tank and a fire suppression system.