Aircraft Water Buffer Drainage Through Consumer Valves

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional aircraft water distribution systems using flexible conduits with diameters of 8 mm or less require efficient methods to drain water for hygiene and to prevent freezing damage, as they lack effective drainage mechanisms.

Innovation Solution

A method for draining local water distribution systems involving buffers, consumer valves, and controlled sequence of valve openings, utilizing gravity, positive/negative pressure, and dedicated drain valves to remove water from supply lines and buffers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If flexible conduits with diameter of 8 mm or less are used in the water supply system, then the ease of installation and weight are improved, but the drainage efficiency deteriorates due to lack of effective drainage mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of installationVSAvoiddrainage efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The water supply system is segmented into multiple local water distribution systems, each with its own buffer and drainage capability. This segmentation allows each segment to be drained independently through consumer valves, improving overall drainage efficiency while maintaining the flexibility benefits of narrow conduits.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service drainage by utilizing existing consumer valves and buffer infrastructure to drain water from supply lines. The buffers themselves serve dual purposes: water storage during operation and water collection during drainage, eliminating the need for separate drainage mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If water is removed from the supply system for hygienic reasons, then the hygiene condition is improved, but the complexity of the drainage process increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehygiene conditionVSAvoiddrainage process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Existing consumer valves and buffers are given multi-functionality: they serve both their primary function of water distribution during operation and their secondary function of water drainage and collection during hygiene maintenance. This eliminates the need for separate drainage valves or mechanisms, reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The drainage function is merged with the existing water distribution infrastructure. Consumer valves and buffers that originally served only water supply now also handle water drainage and collection, combining multiple functions into existing components rather than adding separate drainage systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Productivity

If water is drained from the buffer through supply lines and consumer valves, then the drainage efficiency is improved, but the risk of water re-entry into supply lines increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrainage efficiencyVSAvoidsystem integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of trying to prevent water from entering supply lines during drainage, the system inverts the approach by actively pushing water out of supply lines first using positive pressure, then draining the buffer. This reverse sequence ensures supply lines are cleared before buffer drainage begins, preventing water re-entry.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary drainage of supply lines using positive pressure before beginning buffer drainage. This preliminary action ensures that supply lines are already cleared of water and air pathways are established, preventing water from the buffer from re-entering the supply lines during subsequent buffer drainage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Ensures complete and efficient drainage of water from local water distribution systems, minimizing power requirements and preventing freezing, while maintaining system integrity.

Implementation Method 1

water contained in the pipework is drained by gravity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Implementation Method 2

The buffer is drained through one of the supply lines by applying a positive or negative pressure

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure gradient: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentUS12503232B2Method for draining a local water distribution system

Publication Date: 2025.12.23 AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH

AI summary

A method for draining a local water distribution system including a buffer, supply lines connecting one or more consumers to the buffer and consumer valves associated with the one or more consumers. The buffer is configured for locally storing water from an aircraft water supply system to be distributed to the one or more consumers. Water from the buffer can be dispensed through a consumer of the one or more consumers by opening the consumer valve associated with the respective consumer. Water is drained from the supply lines by opening the consumer valves. Water is drained from the buffer through one of the supply lines and the consumer valves or through a drain valve connecting the buffer to a wastewater system of an aircraft. A corresponding local water distribution system and an aircraft are disclosed.