Aircraft Hydrogen Fuel Routing for Cryogenic Dormancy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for handling hydrogen fuel in aircrafts face challenges in maintaining cryogenic conditions during dormancy, requiring additional space, weight, and power, which compromise flight range and passenger capacity.
Innovation Solution
A fuel supply arrangement with a switch valve and fuel junction allows controlled distribution of hydrogen to internal and external conversion devices, maintaining cryogenic conditions and enabling continuous energy conversion, reducing the need for complex solutions during long dormancy periods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cryogenic storage conditions are maintained during dormancy, then hydrogen fuel stability is preserved, but additional space, weight, and power are required
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel supply system is configured in advance with multiple outlets and distribution pathways, so that when the aircraft needs to be dormant, the hydrogen can be redistributed to maintenance outlets without requiring active cryogenic maintenance during the dormancy period
Solution Approach 2:
The fuel supply system is divided into multiple independent outlets (main fuel outlet and auxiliary fuel outlets) that can operate independently, allowing selective fuel distribution to different locations based on operational needs, thereby reducing the need for comprehensive cryogenic maintenance
2Reliability
If cryogenic storage conditions are maintained during dormancy, then hydrogen fuel stability is preserved, but additional power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system is pre-configured with multiple fuel outlets and distribution pathways, enabling hydrogen to be redistributed to maintenance outlets before dormancy begins, thereby eliminating the need for continuous power-intensive cryogenic maintenance during dormancy periods
3Weight of moving object
If fuel supply system is simplified, then weight and space are reduced, but controllability and flexibility of fuel distribution decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel supply system is designed with multiple outlets that can serve different functions: main fuel outlet for operational fueling and auxiliary outlets for maintenance and external devices. This multi-functionality allows a single system to handle various scenarios without requiring separate dedicated systems, maintaining flexibility while avoiding excessive weight
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates controllable valves at each outlet that can dynamically adjust or completely close fuel flow paths based on operational requirements, enabling flexible fuel distribution control without requiring a complex overall system architecture
Data Source
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AI summary
A fuel supply arrangement (3) for a vehicle (2), in particular an aircraft, a vehicle (1), in particular an aircraft, comprising a fuel supply arrangement (3), an external fuel conversion device (4), in particular for ground based and/or stationary fuel conversion of a fuel (F) for a vehicle (1), such as an aircraft, and an energy system (2) are provided, wherein the fuel supply arrangement (3) comprises a fuel reservoir (9) for storing a fuel (F), such as a hydrogen tank for storing hydrogen as the fuel (F), a main fuel outlet (22) for fuelling an internal fuel conversion device (11), such as a propulsion unit (5) and/or fuel cell, of the vehicle (2), an auxiliary fuel outlet (23) configured to be connected to an external fuel conversion device (4), such as a cogeneration plant for supplying a ground installation with electrical power (E) and/or thermal power (H), and a fuel line (10) leading from a reservoir outlet of the fuel reservoir (9) to the main fuel outlet (22), wherein the auxiliary fuel outlet (23) is connected to the fuel line (10) via a fuel junction (12) arranged between the reservoir outlet and the main fuel outlet (22), and wherein the external fuel conversion device (4) comprises an auxiliary fuel inlet (24) configured to be connected to the auxiliary fuel outlet (23).