Honeywell, with Parker Bertea Aerospace, has delivered the test nitrogen generating system (NGS) to Boeing, where the rack, piping and instrumentation are being plumbed into a 747-400 Combi test aircraft. A similar prototype has been built by Shaw Aerospace, Parker and Air Liquide for FAA ground tests on a 747SP.
FAA ground tests are under way on the 747SP at its Technical Center in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The aircraft's centre wing tank has been fitted with thermocouples mounted to measure conditions in the fuel tank.
A gas sampling system is also fitted in the airframe, systems, engines, auxiliary power unit and the rest of the fuel system. This can measure oxygen concentration and total hydrocarbon concentration at eight locations in the tanks. A 737-200 has also been acquired by the FAA Technical Center for conversion into a fuel tank inerting system testbed.
Source: Flight International
