Fuel storage system

Abstract

A system (fig.1,10) with a differential pressure sensor diaphragm 64 connected to a cryogenic fuel storage chamber (fig.1,12) such that gas is located on both sides of the diaphragm when fuel (fig.1,28), such as liquid hydrogen (LH2), is stored in the chamber. The diaphragm is preferably part of an optical differential pressure sensor 14 located in a vacuum capsule (fig.1,26) which may be outside of the chamber, positioned above a plane defined by a surface of cryogenic fuel stored in the chamber. Preferably, when fuel is stored in the chamber an upper head space or ullage (fig.1,36), which does not contain liquid fuel, is fluidically connected to a first side 70 of the diaphragm by a first thermally insulated feed pipe 16, and a lower liquid space (fig.1,40) is fluidically connected to a second side 72 of the diaphragm by a second feed pipe 18 at least partially submerged in the fuel. The system may be located in an aircraft wing or tail section and have a number of processors (fig.1,56) receiving diaphragm pressure differential signals to gauge fuel in the chamber and output an indication to an airport operator or aircraft crew.

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