Testing device and method for inerting detection of oil tank

Abstract

The invention provides a test device and method for inerting detection of an oil tank, and the device comprises a gas source simulation unit which is used for simulating the air entraining of an engine to carry out the pretreatment of an inlet gas source of an airborne oil tank inerting system; the inert gas distribution unit is used for distributing the inert gas and then introducing the inert gas into each simulation oil tank; the simulation oil tank unit comprises four oil tanks which are symmetrically combined; and the gas concentration detection unit is used for sampling the sampling gas at the meteorological space measuring point in the oil tank from the oil tank through a sampling mechanism and detecting the gas concentration of the sampling gas. An experiment is carried out by using the simulation oil tank; a ventilation valve of the simulation oil tank meets ventilation parameters given by technical requirements, oil consumption rates of flight envelopes are simulated by arranging an oil pump set at the bottom of the oil tank, and test verification is carried out by reserving air inlet positions of an optimal distribution mode and a suboptimal distribution mode on the upper portion of the simulation oil tank.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of airborne fuel tank testing technology, and particularly relates to a test device and method for fuel tank inerting detection. Background Technology

[0002] Inertization of aircraft fuel tanks involves using an onboard inert gas generation system to maintain the oxygen concentration in the upper space of the fuel tank below the level required for fuel combustion throughout the entire flight, thus ensuring the safety of the aircraft fuel tank. Numerous international studies have shown that when the oxygen concentration in the upper space of the aircraft fuel tank is below 9%, combustion and explosion will not occur. Therefore, accurate measurement of the oxygen concentration in the upper space during fuel loading and unloading and throughout the entire flight envelope is a crucial experimental method for verifying inertization protection technology.

[0003] Current fuel tank inerting test devices can measure the oxygen concentration in the upper space of the fuel tank under a single test condition. The device of this invention can simultaneously simulate and load test conditions such as fuel consumption of airborne fuel tank, fuel supply flow control, and full flight envelope control, to verify the comprehensive and accurate measurement of gas concentration in the upper space of the airborne fuel tank at multiple points. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Purpose of the invention: To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, this invention provides a test device for fuel tank inerting detection, which solves the technical problems of traditional fuel tank inerting detection processes being limited by single conditions, single measuring points, and inability to fully simulate the supply and transportation relationship.

[0005] In a first aspect, this application provides a test apparatus for detecting fuel tank inertization, the test apparatus comprising: The air source simulation unit is used to simulate the pretreatment of the air source at the inlet of the airborne fuel tank inerting system by engine bleed air. An inert gas distribution unit is used to distribute inert gas and then introduce it into each simulated oil tank. The simulated fuel tank unit includes at least four symmetrically arranged fuel tanks; The gas concentration detection unit uses a sampling mechanism to take samples of the gas from the meteorological space measuring point inside the fuel tank and detect its gas concentration. The host computer unit uses software to perform closed-loop control of each component of the experimental device.

[0006] Preferably, the air source simulation unit includes an air compressor, a refrigerated dryer, an air storage tank, a comprehensive filter, a heater, a bleed air shut-off valve, a regulating valve 1, a flow meter 1, and a temperature and pressure composite sensor 1 connected in sequence.

[0007] Preferably, the inert gas distribution unit includes: a flow meter, an air separation device, and a nozzle.

[0008] Preferably, each of the simulated fuel tank units is equipped with an oxygen concentration sensor at a specific location within each fuel tank.

[0009] Preferably, the gas concentration detection unit includes at least nine gas analyzers for detecting the oxygen concentration of the gas.

[0010] Preferably, the host computer unit includes dedicated software for the fuel tank inertization detection test device.

[0011] Secondly, this application also provides a test method for detecting fuel tank inerting, the test method being applied to the test apparatus as described above, the test method comprising: Turn on the power to the air compressor and control cabinet, and check if the electronic pressure reducing valve, flow meter and switching valve are working properly. Turn on the main control computer, search for the NI-9073 expansion chassis signal through the wired device and establish a connection with it, and open the "Inertization System Test Bench" software; Keep the manual valve in the pipeline closed, and open the inlet solenoid valve of the corresponding gas line in the software; The pressure of the electronic pressure reducer is adjusted by the measurement and control software on the main control computer, and the inlet pressure is displayed on the software flowchart interface; Turn on the heater power switch button on the heater cabinet; Gas control section: Air enters the storage tank through an air compressor and refrigerated dryer, and then enters the integrated gas filter after passing through a manually controlled valve. The filtered gas passes through a heater, priming shut-off valve, regulating valve 1, flow meter 1, and temperature and pressure composite sensor 1 before entering the inlet of the air separation device. The software controls regulating valve 1 and flow meter 1 to ensure that the pressure and flow rate of the inlet gas meet the test requirements. After the air separation device generates inert gas, it passes through temperature and pressure composite sensor 2, flow meter 2, regulating valve 2, flow meter 3, check valve, flow meter 4 or flow meter 5 or flow meter 6 or flow meter 7, and vent valve into the upper space of the simulated oil tank. The temperature of the heater is controlled by software, and regulating valve 2 is controlled by software to allow inert gas that meets the test pressure, flow rate, and temperature requirements to enter the upper space of the simulated oil tank. The vacuum system controls the height change of the air pressure above the simulated oil tank through a vacuum pump, regulating valve, vacuum tank, oil filter, regulating valve 5, and vent valve. At the same time, the low-pressure chamber matches the height change of the space above the oil tank in real time, so that the height of the external environment of the air separation device is consistent with the height of the space above the simulated oil tank.

[0012] Preferably, the test method further includes: The software controls the transfer oil pump to adjust the return and delivery rates, ensuring that the oil consumption rate of each tank meets the test requirements. At the same time, the software collects the measurement data from the gas composition analyzer in the upper space of the oil tank in real time, generating a complete curve data.

[0013] The beneficial effects of this application are as follows: This invention utilizes several interconnected simulated airborne fuel tanks; the vent valves of the simulated fuel tanks meet the venting parameters specified in the technical requirements; fuel pumps are installed in each fuel tank to simulate the fuel consumption rate of each flight envelope; the transfer rate of the fuel pumps is set between each compartment and the fuel supply compartment; the vent is pre-connected to the low-pressure compartment to simulate changes in environmental pressure within the flight envelope; and based on the inerting gas distribution results, sampling tests are conducted to verify the optimal and suboptimal distribution methods by reserving air intake positions on the upper part of the simulated fuel tanks. Attached Figure Description

[0014] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of this application and form part of this application, illustrate exemplary embodiments and are used to explain this application, but do not constitute an undue limitation of this application. In the drawings: Figure 1 This is a diagram illustrating the composition of a test apparatus for detecting fuel tank inerting, provided for the implementation of this invention. Detailed Implementation The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0015] This invention provides an experimental apparatus and method for fuel tank inerting detection. The experimental apparatus includes a gas source simulation unit, which simulates engine bleed air to pre-treat the inlet gas source of the airborne fuel tank inerting system; an inert gas distribution unit, which distributes inert gas and introduces it into each simulated fuel tank; a simulated fuel tank unit, which includes four symmetrically arranged fuel tanks; a gas concentration detection unit, which samples gas from meteorological spatial measurement points inside the fuel tank through a sampling mechanism and detects its gas concentration; and a host computer unit, which performs closed-loop control of each component of the experimental apparatus. This invention uses simulated fuel tanks for experiments; the vent valves of the simulated fuel tanks meet the venting parameters given by the technical requirements; fuel pump sets are set at the bottom of the fuel tanks to simulate the fuel consumption rate of each flight envelope; and the optimal and suboptimal air distribution methods are reserved at the upper part of the simulated fuel tanks for experimental verification.

[0016] Example 1 Please refer to Figure 1 This application provides a testing apparatus for detecting inertization in fuel tanks, comprising: The gas source simulation unit is used to pre-process the inlet gas source of the airborne fuel tank inerting system. The gas source simulation unit includes: an air compressor, a refrigerated dryer, a gas storage tank, a comprehensive gas filter, a bleed gas shut-off valve, and a temperature and pressure composite sensor to provide clean high-pressure air under specific operating conditions for the inerting gas generator, and to adjust the temperature, pressure, flow rate, particle size and other parameters of the inlet gas according to different test requirements. An inert gas distribution unit is used to distribute the inert gas generated by the inert gas generator. The inert gas distribution unit includes a flow meter, an air separator, and nozzles. To ensure the proper introduction of inert gas into the simulated oil tank, the pressure, flow rate, and other parameters of the inert gas are adjusted according to different experimental requirements. After adjusting the inert gas data, the gas is fully injected into the simulated oil tank compartment through four adjustable branches via nozzles. Flow meters and flow regulating valves are installed on the branches to adjust the gas flow rate. The inert gas generator is placed in a low-pressure chamber to match the ambient height with the height of the upper space of the oil tank.

[0017] The simulated fuel tank unit includes at least four symmetrically arranged simulated fuel tanks, each equipped with an oxygen concentration sensor. Figure 1 As shown. Based on the communication, this experiment uses a symmetrical fuel tank for simulation. During the experiment, it is necessary to record the fuel quantity, oxygen concentration, temperature, and pressure in the simulated fuel tank, as well as the fuel consumption rate of the simulated fuel tank on the engine; The oxygen concentration detection unit and sampling device precisely position the sensor in the upper space of the fuel tank. The oxygen concentration detection unit includes at least 9 gas analyzers for detecting the oxygen concentration of the gas. The gas at the measuring point inside the fuel tank is extracted from the fuel tank by a pump, processed, and then its oxygen concentration is detected.

[0018] Example 2 This application provides a test method for detecting fuel tank inerting, comprising the following steps: 1. Turn on the power to the air compressor and control cabinet, and check whether the electronic pressure reducing valve, flow meter and switching valve are working properly; 2. Turn on the main control computer. Search for the NI-9073 expansion chassis signal through the wired device and establish a connection with it (this step is completed automatically), and open the "Inerting System Test Bench" software; 3. Keep the manual valve in the pipeline closed. Open the inlet solenoid valve of the corresponding gas line in the software; 4. Adjust the pressure of the electronic pressure reducer through the measurement and control software on the main control computer. The inlet pressure is displayed on the software flowchart interface. 5. Turn on the heater power switch button on the heater cabinet; 6. Gas Control Section: Air enters the storage tank after passing through an air compressor and refrigerated dryer. After passing through a manually controlled valve, it enters the integrated gas filter. The filtered gas passes through a heater, bleed shut-off valve, regulating valve 1, flow meter 1, and temperature and pressure composite sensor 1 before entering the inlet of the air separation device. The pressure and flow rate of the inlet gas are controlled by software through regulating valve 1 and flow meter 1 to meet the test requirements. After the air separation device generates inert gas, it passes through temperature and pressure composite sensor 2, flow meter 2, regulating valve 2, flow meter 3, check valve, flow meter 4 (flow meter 5, flow meter 6, flow meter 7), and vent valve into the upper space of the simulated oil tank. The temperature of the heater is controlled by software, and the inert gas that meets the test pressure, flow rate, and temperature requirements is introduced into the upper space of the simulated oil tank through software-controlled regulating valve 2.

[0019] 7. The vacuum system controls the height change of the air pressure above the simulated oil tank through a vacuum pump, regulating valve, vacuum tank, oil filter, regulating valve 5, and vent valve. At the same time, the low-pressure chamber matches the height change of the space above the oil tank in real time, so that the height of the external environment of the air separation device is consistent with the height of the space above the simulated oil tank.

[0020] 8. The oil pump is controlled by software to adjust the return and delivery rates so that the oil consumption rate of each tank meets the test requirements. At the same time, the software collects the measurement data of the gas composition analyzer in the upper space of the tank in real time to form the complete curve data.

[0021] The control method of this invention is automatic control through software and a controller. The control principle of the controller is implemented by those skilled in the art through programming. The power supply is also common knowledge in the field. Furthermore, since this invention is mainly used to protect mechanical devices, the control method and circuit connection will not be explained in detail here.

[0022] It should be noted that, in this document, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used only to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Furthermore, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.

[0023] The various embodiments in this specification are described in a progressive manner, with each embodiment focusing on its differences from other embodiments. Similar or identical parts between embodiments can be referred to interchangeably. Since the above embodiments are substantially similar to the method embodiments, their descriptions are relatively simple; relevant parts can be referred to the descriptions of the method embodiments.

[0024] Although embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A test apparatus for detecting fuel tank inerting, characterized in that: The test apparatus includes: The air source simulation unit is used to simulate the pretreatment of the air source at the inlet of the airborne fuel tank inerting system by engine bleed air. An inert gas distribution unit is used to distribute inert gas and then introduce it into each simulated oil tank. The simulated fuel tank unit includes at least four symmetrically arranged fuel tanks; The gas concentration detection unit uses a sampling mechanism to take samples of the gas from the meteorological space measuring point inside the fuel tank and detect its gas concentration. The host computer unit uses software to perform closed-loop control of each component of the experimental device.

2. The experimental apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that: The air source simulation unit includes an air compressor, a refrigerated dryer, an air storage tank, a comprehensive filter, a heater, an air cut-off valve, a regulating valve 1, a flow meter 1, and a temperature and pressure composite sensor 1 connected in sequence.

3. The test apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that: The inert gas distribution unit includes a flow meter, an air separator, and a nozzle.

4. The test apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that: Each of the simulated fuel tank units is equipped with an oxygen concentration sensor at a specific location within its respective fuel tank.

5. The test apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that: The gas concentration detection unit includes at least nine gas analyzers for detecting the oxygen concentration in the gas.

6. The test apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that: The host computer unit includes dedicated software for the test device used for fuel tank inertization detection.

7. A test method for detecting fuel tank inerting, characterized in that: The test method is applied to the test apparatus as described in any one of claims 1-6, and the test method includes: Turn on the power to the air compressor and control cabinet, and check if the electronic pressure reducing valve, flow meter and switching valve are working properly. Turn on the main control computer, search for the NI-9073 expansion chassis signal through the wired device and establish a connection with it, and open the "Inertization System Test Bench" software; Keep the manual valve in the pipeline closed, and open the inlet solenoid valve of the corresponding gas line in the software; The pressure of the electronic pressure reducer is adjusted by the measurement and control software on the main control computer, and the inlet pressure is displayed on the software flowchart interface; Turn on the heater power switch button on the heater cabinet; Gas control section: Air enters the storage tank through an air compressor and refrigerated dryer, and then enters the integrated gas filter after passing through a manually controlled valve. The filtered gas passes through a heater, bleed shut-off valve, regulating valve 1, flow meter 1, and temperature and pressure composite sensor 1 before entering the inlet of the air separation device. The software controls regulating valve 1 and flow meter 1 to ensure that the pressure and flow rate of the inlet gas meet the test requirements. After the air separation device generates inert gas, it passes through temperature and pressure composite sensor 2, flow meter 2, regulating valve 2, flow meter 3, check valve, flow meter 4 or flow meter 5 or flow meter 6 or flow meter 7, and vent valve into the upper space of the simulated oil tank. The temperature of the heater is controlled by software, and regulating valve 2 is controlled by software to allow inert gas that meets the test pressure, flow rate, and temperature requirements to enter the upper space of the simulated oil tank. The vacuum system controls the height change of the air pressure above the simulated oil tank through a vacuum pump, regulating valve, vacuum tank, oil filter, regulating valve 5, and vent valve. At the same time, the low-pressure chamber matches the height change of the space above the oil tank in real time, so that the height of the external environment of the air separation device is consistent with the height of the space above the simulated oil tank.

8. The test method according to claim 7, characterized in that, The test method also includes: The software controls the transfer oil pump to adjust the return and delivery rates, ensuring that the oil consumption rate of each tank meets the test requirements. At the same time, the software collects the measurement data from the gas composition analyzer in the upper space of the oil tank in real time, generating a complete curve data.

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