Aircraft High-Pressure Water Architecture Using External Buffer Tanks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional aircraft high-pressure water systems face challenges in optimizing space utilization within monuments, such as lavatories and galleys, due to the integration of centralized water tanks and pipes, which restricts passenger comfort and flexibility in aircraft design.
Innovation Solution
A decentralized buffer tank system is implemented outside the monument's dedicated space, allowing for reduced monument size and increased passenger space, with flexible installation options and efficient water distribution controlled by a controller.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a centralized water tank and pipe network are integrated within the monument, then water supply reliability is improved, but the monument size increases and passenger space is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The water storage system is segmented into a centralized water tank located outside the monument and a decentralized buffer tank located inside the monument. This segmentation allows the bulk of water storage to be positioned externally, reducing the footprint within the monument while maintaining supply reliability through the distributed buffer tank.
Solution Approach 2:
The main water tank is extracted from the monument and positioned in an external location. Only the essential buffer tank and piping remain within the monument, extracting the space-consuming component while preserving the water supply function through the external tank's reservoir capacity.
2Reliability
If the buffer tank is placed inside the monument, then water supply consistency is improved, but passenger space and flexibility are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer tank is positioned in a region above or below the monument rather than within its horizontal footprint. This dimensional relocation allows the tank to be situated in unused vertical or horizontal spaces adjacent to the monument, maintaining water supply consistency while preserving passenger space and aircraft layout flexibility.
3Weight of moving object
If high-pressure hoses of smaller diameter are used, then weight is reduced, but the required pressure level increases and system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from using high-pressure hoses with small diameters to using conventional diameter hoses with reduced pressure requirements. This parameter change in the water distribution system simplifies the overall system by eliminating the need for specialized high-pressure flexible hoses while maintaining adequate water flow to consumer equipment.
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
The solution enhances space efficiency by reducing monument size while maintaining water supply to consumers, offering flexibility in aircraft layout and ease of maintenance, and ensuring consistent water pressure without additional structural stress.
Implementation Method 1
The water is conveyed through such flexible hoses at a higher pressure to compensate for the smaller diameter
Implementation Method 2
At the end of each hose is a decentralised pressureless buffer tank for storing water to be supplied to associated water consumer equipment
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure relates to an aircraft section (100) having a monument and a buffer region (110). The buffer region includes at least one buffer tank storing a water supply for at least one water consumer of the monument. The buffer region does not intersect with a dedicated three-dimensional space encased by the monument and including the water consumer.