3D Woven Conformable Tank for Aircraft Water Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft pressurized tanks used for potable water face challenges in withstanding pressure, vibration, and shock stresses while being lightweight to improve fuel efficiency, as metal tanks are heavy and prone to deformation under internal pressure.
Innovation Solution
A conformable tank made of 3D woven composite materials with internal support structures, such as baffles and ribs, to provide structural support and prevent deformation while allowing fluid flow, allowing the tank to conform to irregular aircraft spaces and reduce weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If metal tanks with internal bracing are used to withstand pressure and stress, then structural strength is improved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials (fiberglass-reinforced plastic or carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic) to replace traditional metal alloys in tank construction. These composite materials provide high strength-to-weight ratio, maintaining structural integrity under pressure while significantly reducing tank weight. The composite material is formed into a monolithic structure with integrated stiffening features that distribute stress effectively without requiring additional metal bracing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs curved or spherical tank geometries instead of flat-walled metal tanks. The curved surfaces naturally distribute internal pressure stresses more evenly throughout the structure, eliminating the need for heavy internal bracing that would be required in flat-walled metal constructions. This geometric approach maintains strength while reducing weight by utilizing the inherent load-bearing properties of curved composite structures.
2Ease of manufacture
If flat-walled metal tanks are used, then manufacturing is simplified, but resistance to pressure-induced deformation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from flat-walled to curved-walled tank designs. The curved geometry inherently resists pressure-induced deformation by distributing stresses uniformly across the surface. The composite material is molded directly into these curved shapes, creating a monolithic structure that maintains its form under pressure without requiring complex internal bracing or reinforcement typical of flat-walled metal tanks.
Solution Approach 2:
The use of composite materials enables the creation of complex curved geometries that would be difficult to achieve with metal fabrication. These materials can be molded into seamless curved surfaces that naturally resist deformation, combining manufacturing efficiency with superior structural performance under pressure.
3Stability of the object's composition
If rigid metal tank structures are used, then structural integrity is maintained, but adaptability to irregular aircraft spaces deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite materials that can be manufactured with varying structural parameters to match different spatial requirements. The material properties and geometric parameters can be customized for each specific aircraft installation, allowing the tank to conform to irregular spaces while maintaining structural integrity through optimized fiber orientation and wall thickness variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The curved, flexible geometry of composite tanks allows them to conform to irregular aircraft cabin spaces, engine compartments, or other confined areas. Unlike rigid metal tanks that require precise fitting and fabrication, composite tanks can be molded to match complex three-dimensional spaces while maintaining their structural integrity through the inherent strength properties of the composite material.
Data Source
AI summary
A conformable tank includes a body with a plurality of walls defining a cavity in the body, and an internal support structure connected to an internal surface of one of the plurality of walls and protruding into the cavity of the body. The plurality of walls are formed of a first 3D woven composite material. The internal support structure is formed of a second composite material.