Module for aircraft comprising dihydroprocessing system

Abstract

The invention relates to a module (200) for an aircraft, the module (200) comprising: a sealed housing (202) comprising a wall (205) defining an interior volume (203); a treatment system (204) intended to treat dihydrogen, fixed on the inside of the housing (202); and a filling element (214a-214b) that at least partially fills the interior volume (203) around the processing system (204). In such an arrangement, the filling element fills the interior volume, such that less space is left for dihydros when a leak occurs.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a module comprising a housing containing a dihydrogen treatment system for supplying an aircraft engine, wherein the housing is filled with a filling element, and to an aircraft comprising at least one such module. Background Art

[0002] In order to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from aircraft engines, it is known in the art to use dihydrogen as a fuel. The aircraft then comprises a dihydrogen tank and at least one engine powered by said dihydrogen via lines extending in the aircraft between the tank and each engine, on which dihydrogen handling systems such as pumps, heaters and valves are installed.

[0003] If an accident occurs in the supply line between the tank and the engine, safety must be ensured. To this end, it is known in the art to install various safety systems. Although this arrangement is effective, it is still necessary to limit the volume of dihydrogen that escapes in the event of an accident. Summary of the invention

[0004] The object of the invention is to propose an aircraft module comprising a casing in which a dihydrogen treatment system is arranged, wherein the casing is filled with filling elements allowing the space available for dihydrogen to be reduced in the event of a leak.

[0005] To this end, a module for an aircraft is proposed, the module comprising:

[0006] - a sealed housing comprising a wall defining an interior volume;

[0007] - a treatment system, which is designed to treat dihydrogen and is fixed on the inside of the shell;

[0008] as well as

[0009] - A filling element which at least partially fills the inner volume around the treatment system and conforms to the shape of the treatment system.

[0010] The presence of packing elements around the treatment system means that there is less space available for dihydrogen in the event of a leak in the housing, which limits the amount of dihydrogen that may be present in said housing.

[0011] According to one particular embodiment, each filling element takes the form of a foam block attached to the wall of the inside of the housing.

[0012] Advantageously, the foam is sealed.

[0013] According to one particular embodiment, each filling element takes the form of a bag containing beads.

[0014] Advantageously, the beads are sealed.

[0015] Advantageously, the beads are glass beads.

[0016] Advantageously, the bag is sealed.

[0017] The present invention also proposes an aircraft, comprising a dihydrogen tank, an engine and at least one module according to any one of the above embodiments, wherein the module is fluidically connected between the tank and the engine. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] The above and other features of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading the following description of exemplary embodiments, which is taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0019] Figure 1 is a side view of an aircraft according to the present invention;

[0020] Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a module according to a first embodiment of the present invention; and

[0021] Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a module according to a second embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] In the following description, position-related terms refer to the aircraft in its normal flight position, i.e. Figure 1 The aircraft shown.

[0023] In the following description, by convention, X refers to the longitudinal direction of the aircraft, Y refers to the lateral direction, which is horizontal when the aircraft is on the ground, and Z refers to the vertical direction, which is vertical when the aircraft is on the ground. These three directions X, Y and Z are orthogonal to each other.

[0024] Figure 1 An aircraft 100 is shown having a fuselage 102 to each side of which are fixed wings 104, the wings 104 carrying at least one engine 106 running on dihydrogen as fuel. Figure 1 In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the engine 106 is a propeller engine, such as an electric motor powered by a hydrogen fuel cell, but any other type of engine is contemplated.

[0025] Arrow F indicates the forward direction of the aircraft 100 .

[0026] The aircraft 100 comprises at least one tank 110 in which dihydrogen is preferably stored in liquid form. In the embodiment of the present invention, the tank 110 is arranged at the rear of the fuselage 102, but it can also be at different locations.

[0027] The aircraft 100 also comprises at least one module 200 which is fluidically connected between the tank 110 and the engine 106 , in particular by means of a main line 152 which is itself fluidically connected between the tank 110 and the engine 106 to be supplied.

[0028] The module 200 is mounted on the main line 152 in a sealed manner, which means that the main line 152 passes through the module 200 from one side to the other side. Figure 1 In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, there is only one module 200 , but several other modules may be arranged one behind the other along the main line 152 .

[0029] Figure 2 2 shows a module 200 according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 3 A module 200 according to a second embodiment of the invention is shown.

[0030] In the first and second embodiments, the module 200 includes a housing 202 including a wall 205 defining an interior volume 203. The housing 202 is sealed to prevent dihydrogen that may be present in the housing 202 from diffusing to the outside of the housing 202.

[0031] The main line 152 passes from the tank 110 through one of the walls 205 and through one of the walls 205 to the engine 106. A passage through each wall 205 of the main line 152 is formed in a sealed manner using suitable means known to those skilled in the art.

[0032] The module 200 also includes a treatment system 204 that treats the dihydrogen flowing in the main line 152 passing through the housing 202. Such a treatment system 204 is, for example, a pump, a heater or a valve or something else, or a collection of several of these components, which can be connected by single-wall or double-wall pipes.

[0033] The processing system 204 is fixed in the housing 202, in particular by being fixed to the wall 205 by any suitable fixing means, such as a nut system, rivets, etc. Alternatively, the processing system 204 may be welded to the wall 205.

[0034] Placing the treatment system 204 within the housing 202 allows the dihydrogen to be contained within the housing 202 in the event of a leak in the treatment system 204 .

[0035] The housing 202 is at least partially filled with filling elements 214a - 214b.

[0036] Thus, the filling elements 214a-214b partially fill the internal volume 203 around the treatment system 204, and the space remaining for dihydrogen in the event of a leak is reduced by the same amount depending on the filling degree of the internal volume 203. Each filling element 214a-214b is an element that does not participate in the operation of the treatment system 204 and has no other function than filling the internal volume 203.

[0037] Thus, with this arrangement, it is easy to fill the housing 202 with the filling elements 214a-214b, thereby limiting the volume available for dihydrogen in the event of a leak.

[0038] exist Figure 2 In the illustrated first embodiment of the invention, each filling element 214 a takes the form of a foam block attached to the wall 205 inside the housing 202 , in other words, to the inner face of the wall 205 .

[0039] To best fit the shape of the handling system 204 , the foam block is machined to closely match the contours of the handling system 204 .

[0040] The foam block is then glued into the housing 202 in place.

[0041] The foam used is preferably sealed to limit the absorption of dihydrogen by the foam.

[0042] Sealing of the foam can also be achieved, for example, by covering the foam block with a waterproof film or resin.

[0043] exist Figure 3 In the second embodiment of the present invention shown, each packing element 214b is a bag containing beads, particularly glass beads, with a diameter of about 30 microns to 125 microns. Each bead is preferably sealed to prevent dihydrogen from entering therein.

[0044] Depending on the space that the bead bag needs to fill, the bag can have different shapes to adapt to the location where it needs to be positioned; in addition, the flexible shape of the bead bag allows the filling elements (bag and beads) to also conform to the shape of the processing system 204.

[0045] According to one embodiment, the bag is sealed to prevent the ingress of hydrogen gas.

[0046] exist Figure 2 and Figure 3 In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the housing 202 consists of two shells 202a-202b which are fixed to each other in a sealed manner by any suitable fixing means 218 such as a screw-nut system, rivets or the like.

[0047] In the embodiment of the present invention proposed herein, each housing 202a-202b has a flange 219a-219b extending around the periphery of the shell 202a-202b, the flange 219a-219b is opposite to the flange 219b-219a of another housing 202b-202a, and the fixing device 218 fixes the flanges 219a-219b together.

[0048] In order to ensure sealing between the two housings 202a - 202b , a gasket 220 is arranged between them, more specifically between the flanges 219a - 219b in this example.

[0049] In both embodiments, the method of filling the module 200 comprises the following steps:

[0050] - providing two separate housings 202a-202b;

[0051] - providing filling elements 214a-214b;

[0052] - placing filling elements 214a-214b and handling system 204; and

[0053] - The two housings 202a-202b are joined and fixed together in a sealed manner.

[0054] If the processing system 204 is delivered already fixed to a housing 202b, it does not need to be installed during the placement step.

[0055] If desired, placement of the filler elements may further include machining the filler elements 214a-214b and / or securing the filler elements 214a-214b to one of the housings 202a-202b.

[0056] During the bonding and securing steps, the spacer 220 is also put in place.

[0057] Although the filling elements 214 a - 214 b are described as taking the form of foam blocks or bags containing beads, both types of filling elements may be used with the same housing 202 .

Claims

1. A module (200) for an aircraft (100), the module (200) comprising: - a sealed housing (202) comprising a wall (205) defining an internal volume (203); a treatment system (204) intended for treating dihydrogen, said treatment system being fixed on the inside of said housing (202); as well as - filling elements (214a-214b) which at least partially fill the inner volume (203) surrounding the treatment system (204) and conform to the shape of the treatment system (204).

2. The module (200) according to claim 1, characterized in that Each filling element (214a) is in the form of a foam block attached to the wall (205) on the inside of the housing (202).

3. The module (200) according to claim 2, characterized in that The foam is sealed.

4. The module (200) according to claim 1, characterized in that Each filling element (214b) takes the form of a bag containing beads.

5. The module (200) according to claim 4, characterized in that The beads are sealed.

6. The module (200) according to claim 4, characterized in that The beads are glass beads.

7. The module (200) according to claim 4, characterized in that The bag is sealed.

8. An aircraft (100) comprising a dihydrogen tank (110), an engine (106) and at least one module (200) according to claim 1, the module being fluidically connected between the tank (110) and the engine (106).

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