Aircraft Inert Gas Drying via Heat Exchanger Condensation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing onboard aircraft inert gas systems rely on compressed air, which can reduce engine power and increase fuel consumption, and are subject to maintenance issues, while halocarbons used for fire suppression are detrimental to the ozone layer and lack viable alternatives.

Innovation Solution

An onboard aircraft dried inert gas system utilizing a source of water, an air cycle or vapor cycle cooling system, and a heat exchanger condenser, along with electrochemical cells to generate oxygen-depleted air, which reduces the need for compressed air and minimizes water introduction into fuel tanks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If compressed air is used to provide oxygen-depleted air to fuel tanks, then inerting effectiveness is improved, but engine power is reduced and fuel consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinerting effectivenessVSAvoidfuel consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the water removal function from the compressed air system by introducing a separate heat exchanger condenser that condenses and removes water from the inert gas stream without requiring additional compression, thereby maintaining inerting effectiveness while reducing energy consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The heat exchanger condenser serves multiple functions: it cools the inert gas, condenses water vapor, and removes moisture from the fuel tank environment, replacing the need for separate cooling and drying systems that would increase energy consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If membrane-based gas separators are used to generate oxygen-depleted air, then inerting effectiveness is improved, but device complexity and maintenance requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinerting effectivenessVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the water removal function from the membrane separator system by introducing a dedicated heat exchanger condenser, allowing the membrane separator to focus solely on oxygen depletion while the condenser handles moisture removal, thereby reducing overall system complexity and maintenance requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The heat exchanger condenser acts as an intermediary component between the membrane separator and the fuel tank, conditioning the oxygen-depleted air by removing water vapor before it enters the fuel tank, thereby simplifying the overall system architecture and reducing maintenance burden

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If halocarbons are used for fire suppression, then fire suppression effectiveness is improved, but environmental harm increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefire suppression effectivenessVSAvoidozone layer depletion

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates an inert atmosphere in fuel tanks by maintaining oxygen-depleted air with controlled water content, preventing combustion conditions from developing in the first place, thereby eliminating the need for halocarbon fire suppressants and their associated environmental harm

Inventive Principle:

Principle #39Inert atmosphere (Inert environment)

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

This solution effectively reduces the risk of combustion in fuel tanks by generating oxygen-depleted air without relying on compressed air, minimizing water introduction, and providing a more efficient and environmentally friendly alternative to halocarbons for fire suppression.

Implementation Method 1

a heat exchanger condenser having a heat absorption side in thermal communication with the air cycle or vapor cycle cooling system and a heat rejection side that receives the inert gas comprising water and outputs dried inert gas

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCondensation: Condensation

Implementation Method 2

The heat exchanger condenser has a heat absorption side in thermal communication with the air cycle or vapor cycle cooling system. The heat exchanger condenser has a heat rejection side that receives the inert gas comprising water

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Heat Exchanger

Data Source

PatentUS10179309B2On-board aircraft dried inert gas system

Publication Date: 2019.01.15 HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORP

AI summary

An on-board aircraft dried inert gas system includes a source inert gas containing water, an air cycle or vapor cycle cooling system, and a heat exchanger condenser. The heat exchanger condenser has a heat absorption side in thermal communication with the air cycle or vapor cycle cooling system. The heat exchanger condenser has a heat rejection side that receives the inert gas containing water and outputs dried inert gas.