Aircraft Cryogenic Gas Distribution With Buffer Reservoirs
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge of efficiently storing and distributing low-polluting gases like hydrogen, methane, ethane, ethylene, or oxygen on board an aircraft, due to their small molecule size and high-pressure requirements, while ensuring safety and compliance with maintenance and ETOPS certification, is unresolved by existing technologies.
Innovation Solution
An aeronautical gas-distribution device comprising cryogenic reservoirs, buffer reservoirs, and controlled valves to manage gas distribution, allowing for independent autonomy and safety features like sequential filling and emptying, and pressure regulation, eliminating the need for cryogenic pumps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If gas is stored in high-pressure containers on the ground, then storage density is improved, but safety and transportability deteriorate due to excessive pressure energy and bulk
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of gas from gaseous to liquid form through cryogenic cooling, enabling high-density storage at moderate pressures (several hundred bars) rather than extreme pressures, thus improving safety while maintaining storage density
Solution Approach 2:
The system divides gas storage into multiple buffer reservoirs that can be independently filled and emptied, allowing controlled distribution and reducing the risk associated with storing all gas in a single high-pressure container
2Duration of action of moving object
If liquefied gas is stored in cryogenic reservoirs, then storage autonomy is improved, but system complexity increases due to temperature and pressure management requirements
Solution Approach 1:
Buffer reservoirs are pre-filled with liquefied gas during ground operations or previous flight phases, so that during flight the system can directly draw from these pre-prepared reservoirs without requiring complex real-time liquefaction equipment
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces buffer reservoirs as intermediary storage between the cryogenic reservoir and consumer members, simplifying the distribution system by decoupling the complex cryogenic storage from the simpler gas distribution to consumers
3Reliability
If multiple buffer reservoirs are used for gas distribution, then flight safety and autonomy are improved, but device complexity increases due to additional valves and control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses multiple buffer reservoirs that can be independently filled and emptied, allowing controlled distribution and reducing the risk associated with storing all gas in a single container
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit manages sequential filling and emptying of buffer reservoirs in a periodic manner, where one reservoir is filled while another supplies gas, optimizing the use of valves and control mechanisms over time
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 reliable gas supply to consumer members with enhanced safety and compliance with maintenance requirements, reducing the risk of leaks and accidents, and extending flight range by optimizing gas storage and distribution.
Implementation Method 1
sequential filling of the buffer reservoirs by pressure difference
Implementation Method 2
a pressure-reducing valve mounted at the output of the third controlled valves
Implementation Method 3
at least one compressor supplied by at least one of the buffer reservoirs
Data Source
AI summary
Aeronautical device for distributing gas in an aircraft between at least one source of liquefied gas and at least one gas consumer member, comprising at least one first controlled or all-or-nothing valve at the output of each source of liquefied gas, a cryogenic distributor connected to each first controlled all-or-nothing valves connected to the cryogenic distributor, in parallel, two-phase buffer reservoirs supplied with liquid, each via one of the second controlled valves, and supplying gas, third controlled valves mounted at the output of each buffer reservoir, for supplying gas, a pressure-reducing valve mounted at the output of the third controlled valves, a collector supplied by the pressure-reducing valve in order to supply the at least one consumer member.