Aircraft-Loaded Mobile Power Plant Restraints for Turbulence Stability

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Permanent power plants face challenges in meeting increased demand, maintenance, and disruptions from natural disasters, while mobile power plants struggle with environmental issues like wind and seismic conditions during transport and installation.

Innovation Solution

A mobile power plant system utilizing a trailer with power generation equipment, hooks, a winching beam, and winching shackles for secure aircraft transport, and turnbuckles for secure installation at remote locations, addressing environmental and turbulence challenges.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If mobile power plants are transported via aircraft to remote locations, then delivery speed and accessibility are improved, but securing the plant during transport becomes more difficult due to turbulence and environmental conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedelivery speedVSAvoidsecurity during transport
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The mobile power plant is divided into separable components that can be independently secured during transport. The aircraft restraint system uses multiple individual restraint points rather than a single securing mechanism, allowing each component to be independently stabilized against turbulence and movement forces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The aircraft restraints are pre-positioned and configured before the mobile power plant is loaded onto the aircraft. The restraint system is prepared in advance to quickly secure the plant once loaded, minimizing exposure to turbulence during the critical loading and unloading phases.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Power

If permanent power plants are used to meet growing demand, then power generation capacity is maintained, but adaptability to remote locations and environmental conditions deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower generation capacityVSAvoidadaptability to remote locations
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The mobile power plant system is designed with universal mounting and restraint mechanisms that can be deployed across different terrains and environmental conditions. The aircraft transport system with standardized restraint points allows the same power generation equipment to be deployed to various remote locations regardless of environmental challenges.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The power generation system transitions from a static permanent installation to a dynamic mobile platform that can be transported and repositioned as needed. The aircraft transport system enables the power plant to adapt its location dynamically in response to changing demand and environmental conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If mobile power plants are deployed to meet temporary power needs, then flexibility and response time are improved, but stability under environmental stress such as wind and seismic conditions worsens

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveflexibilityVSAvoidstability under environmental stress
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The aircraft restraint system employs counterbalancing forces through multiple restraint points that distribute environmental stresses across the mobile power plant structure. The restraint mechanism creates opposing forces to counteract wind and seismic loads during transport and deployment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

Solution Approach 2:

The restraint system is designed to preemptively absorb and dissipate environmental stresses before they can compromise the stability of the mobile power plant. The aircraft restraints are configured to cushion against expected turbulence and environmental forces during transport and initial deployment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Data Source

PatentEP4438474A1Aircraft transportation for mobile power generation packages
Publication Date: 2024.10.02 GENERAL ELECTRIC TECH GMBH
  • EP4438474A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4438474A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4438474A1 patent drawingFigure 3~5

AI summary

The present application provides a mobile power plant system (100) for loading power generation equipment (10) into an aircraft (430) via a winch cable (395) and secured within the aircraft (430) via a number of aircraft restraints (325). The mobile power plant system (100) includes a trailer (110) with the power generation equipment (10) thereon, a number of hooks (320) attached to the trailer (110), a winching beam (390) attached to the trailer (110), and one or more winching shackles (380) attached to the winching beam (390). The winch cable (395) may be attached to the winching shackles (380) to pull the trailer (110) into the aircraft (430) and the aircraft restraints (325) may be attached to the hooks (320) to secure the trailer (110) in the aircraft (430).