Aircraft Fuel Tank Inerting System Market Size, Share & Forecast (2019-2024)

Aircraft Fuel Tank Inerting System Market Insights

Fuel tank inerting system, also known as flammability reduction system, is a component in the fuel system that protects against fire and explosion in the fuel tank by developing an inert condition within the ullage space of the fuel tank. It is achieved by supplying inert gas, mostly nitrogen, to displace the oxygen in that ullage space of the tank. The odds of fuel tank fire or explosion is high during aircraft refueling in the ground and in-flight. In the case of aircraft refueling, ground-based systems are used for the supply of inert gas to the aircraft when an aircraft is an inactive mode. During the flight, fuel is continuously consumed creating the space for the flammable gases where the fuel tank inerting system converts the bleed air to nitrogen-enriched air (NEA), replacing the flammable gases in the fuel tank. This reduction of oxygen in the fuel tank prevents combustion, even if a spark is present. The oxygen concentration inside the fuel tank of an aircraft should be less 11.9% but can vary in the range of 9%-12%. In such type of systems, the nitrogen-enriched air (NEA) is supplied at a concentration of 10%-12%.

The aircraft fuel tank inerting system market is forecasted to grow at an impressive rate over the next five years to reach an estimated value of US$ 493.6 million in 2024. Increasing aircraft deliveries fuelled by rising passenger traffic, the introduction of variants of existing programs, increasing the production rate of key aircraft programs, and expanding fleet size are the major factors driving the growth of fuel tank inerting systems in the aerospace industry. The fuel tank inerting system is an essential part of the airframe fuel system. The aviation industry is increasingly incorporating advanced lightweight materials in both structural and semi-structural components to reduce the weight of an aircraft. Reduction in the weight of an aircraft considerably improves fuel efficiency. Fuel tank inerting systems are also not untouched with such dynamics and experiencing a greater usage of lightweight materials, such as aluminum and advanced high-strength steel (AHSS), in order to align with the airlines’ requirements.

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Initially, fuel tank inerting systems were deployed only on military aircraft to protect it from hazards. The first inerting system was based on cryogenic liquid nitrogen (LN2), in that system, liquid nitrogen was vaporized to gaseous nitrogen and then sent to fuel tanks to provide a blanket over the top of the fuel. In the 1970s, LN2-based systems were gradually replaced with the Halon-based system. Halon inerting systems used to discharge a fire-suppressing agent into the fuel tank to create an inert atmosphere over the fuel. A fixed amount of inertant was required to be loaded and stored on the aircraft before the flight in the halon inerting system too.

In the 1980s and 1990s, the developments of the hollow-fiber membrane air separation technology from atmospheric pressure took place. In the present scenario, the fuel tank inerting system is based on Air Separation Modules (ASM) which contain thousands of hollow-fiber membranes. In this system, high-pressure air enters the ASM and is separated into nitrogen-enriched and oxygen-enriched air streams. The nitrogen-enriched air stream is directed towards the fuel tank to provide a covering of inert gas over liquid fuel.

In commercial aircraft, the usage of the fuel tank inerting system was examined and studied after the fatal accident of TWA800 in 1996. In the industry, the current focus is on the development and commercialization of catalytic inerting technology. Parker Aerospace and Phyre Technologies have signed an exclusive license agreement on the product development of Phyre’s patented catalytic inerting technology.

Aircraft Fuel Tank Inerting System Market Share Analysis

Aircraft Fuel Tank Inerting System Market Share by Platform Type

Based on the platform type, the market is segmented into commercial aircraft and military aircraft.  Commercial aircraft are expected to remain the larger segment of the market during the forecast period. Increasing deliveries of commercial and regional aircraft owing to rising air passenger traffic, growing demand for fuel-efficient aircraft, and expanding aircraft fleet size are the key growth drivers of the segment’s market. Boeing anticipated that approximately 44,040 commercial and regional aircraft will be delivered from 2019 to 2038. A320 family, B737, B787, and A350XWB would remain the growth engines of the market.

Aircraft Fuel Tank Inerting System Market Share by Method Type

Based on the method type, the market is segmented into inert gas supply, ullage washing, and fuel scrubbing. Inert gas supply is expected to remain the most preferred choice in the market during the forecast period, driven by its higher penetration in the commercial and regional aircraft. Since the development of hollow-fiber membrane air separation technology, on-board inert gas generating system (OBIGGS) is widely used in the aerospace industry as it eliminates the usage of an inert gas storage systems in the aircraft.

Regional Insights

In terms of regions, North America is projected to remain the largest market for aerospace fuel tank inerting systems during the forecast period. The USA is the growth engine of the region’s market and has the largest fleet of military aircraft and one of the largest fleets of commercial aircraft in the world. The presence of all major aircraft OEMs, tier players, fuel tank inerting system suppliers, and raw material suppliers are primarily driving the aircraft fuel tank inerting system market in the country.

Asia-Pacific is likely to witness the highest growth during the same period, driven by a host of factors including increasing demand for commercial aircraft to support rising passenger traffic, the opening of assembly plants of Boeing and Airbus in China, and upcoming indigenous commercial and regional aircraft (COMAC C919 and Mitsubishi MRJ).

Key Players

The supply chain of this market comprises of raw material suppliers, aircraft fuel tank inerting system suppliers, distributors/part brokers, aircraft manufacturers, airlines, MRO companies, and aircraft leasing companies. The key players in the aircraft fuel tank inerting system market are Parker-Hannifin Corporation, Air Liquide S.A., Cobham plc, Collins Aerospace (UTC), Eaton Corporation Inc., ESCO Technologies Inc., Honeywell International Inc., Porvair plc, Valcor Engineering Corporation, and Zodiac Aerospace (Safran S.A.). Formation of long-term contracts, development of lightweight components, and strategic alliances are the key strategies adopted by major players to gain a competitive edge in the market.

Research Methodology

For calculating the market size, our analysts follow either Top-Bottom or Bottom-Top approach or both, depending upon the complexity or availability of the data points. Our reports offer high-quality insights and are the outcome of detailed research methodology comprising extensive secondary research, rigorous primary interviews with industry stakeholders and validation and triangulation with Stratview Research’s internal database and statistical tools. We leverage multitude of authenticated secondary sources, such as company annual reports, government sources, trade associations, journals, investor presentation, white papers, and articles to gather the data. More than 10 detailed primary interviews with the market players across the value chain in all four regions and industry experts are usually executed to obtain both qualitative and quantitative insights.

Market Scope & Segmentation

The market is segmented in the following ways:

Aircraft Fuel Tank Inerting System Market Size, Share & Forecast by Platform Type:

• Commercial Aircraft
• Military Aircraft

Aircraft Fuel Tank Inerting System Market Size, Share & Forecast by Stage Type:

• Aircraft-based System
• Ground-based System

Aircraft Fuel Tank Inerting System Market Size, Share & Forecast by Method Type:

• Inert Gas Supply
• Ullage Washing
• Fuel Scrubbing

Aircraft Fuel Tank Inerting System Market Size, Share & Forecast by Technology Type:

• ASM-based System
• Pressure Swing Adsorption
• Others

Aircraft Fuel Tank Inerting System Market Size, Share & Forecast by End-User Type:

• OE
• Aftermarket

Aircraft Fuel Tank Inerting System Market Size, Share & Forecast by Region:

• North America (Country Analysis: The USA, Canada, and Mexico)
• Europe (Country Analysis: Germany, France, Spain, The UK, Russia, and Rest of Europe)
• Asia-Pacific (Country Analysis: China, Japan, India, and Rest of Asia-Pacific)
• Rest of the World (Sub-Region Analysis: Latin America, Middle East, and Others)

Report Features

This strategic assessment report, from Stratview Research, provides a comprehensive analysis that reflects today’s aircraft fuel tank inerting system market realities as well as future possibilities for the forecast period of 2019 to 2024. After a continuous interest in our aircraft fuel system market and aircraft airframe fuel system market reports from the industry stakeholders, we have tried to further narrow down our research scope to aircraft fuel tank inerting system market in order to provide the most crystal-clear picture of the market. The report segments and analyzes the market in the most detailed manner to provide a panoramic view of the market. The vital data/information provided in the report can play a crucial role for market participants as well as investors in the identification of low-hanging fruits available as well as formulate growth strategies.

The following are the key features of the report:

• Market structure: Overview, industry life cycle analysis, supply chain analysis.
• Market environment analysis: Growth drivers and constraints, Porter’s five forces analysis, SWOT analysis.
• Market trend and forecast analysis.
• Market segment trend and forecast.
• Competitive landscape and dynamics: Market share, product portfolio, product launches, etc.
• Attractive market segments and associated growth opportunities.
• Emerging trends.
• Strategic growth opportunities for the existing and new players.
• Key success factors.