Aircraft Potable Water System with Preinstalled Interfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing potable water systems in aircraft are technically expensive and restrictive, limiting the flexible installation of monuments in the cabin due to complex piping requirements, which hinders individual customer preferences for monument placement and type.
Innovation Solution
A potable water system with preinstalled interfaces in the aircraft cabin floor and monuments, allowing for flexible monument placement and customized piping, featuring quick connect/disconnect interfaces and routing of water lines in warm areas to prevent icing, thus simplifying assembly and reducing system complexity and weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional potable water systems with complex piping are used to supply fresh water to consumer equipment, then reliable water supply is achieved, but device complexity and installation cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The potable water system is segmented into modular components: pre-installed potable water interfaces in the cabin floor, removable monuments with openings, and connecting potable water lines. This segmentation allows flexible configuration without complex integrated piping, reducing system complexity while maintaining reliable water supply through standardized connection points.
Solution Approach 2:
The cabin floor is pre-equipped with potable water interfaces at defined locations before monument installation. This preliminary action eliminates the need for complex custom piping during monument installation, as the interfaces are already in place to receive water lines, thereby reducing both device complexity and installation time while ensuring reliable water supply.
2Reliability
If complex piping is used to supply water to consumer equipment, then water supply reliability is ensured, but ease of manufacture and installation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides water supply into discrete segments: pre-installed interfaces in the cabin floor, removable monuments with openings, and modular potable water lines. This segmentation simplifies installation procedures while maintaining reliable water supply, as each component can be independently installed and connected without complex integration requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The cabin floor is pre-equipped with potable water interfaces at defined locations before monument installation. This preliminary action significantly eases installation procedures, as the interfaces are ready to receive water lines without requiring complex custom piping or modification during monument installation, while still ensuring reliable water supply.
3Adaptability or versatility
If custom piping is installed for each monument, then individual customer needs are met, but device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cabin floor is equipped with universal potable water interfaces at multiple defined locations that can serve different monuments and consumer equipment. This universality allows flexible monument placement and customization without requiring custom piping for each configuration, as the same interface type can accommodate various monuments through standardized connections, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The water supply system is segmented into standardized interfaces and modular lines that can be configured for different monument placements. This segmentation enables individual customer needs to be met through flexible monument selection and positioning without requiring custom piping, as the standardized interface system can be adapted through simple reconfiguration of existing components, reducing both complexity and weight.
4Length of stationary object
If water lines are routed in cold areas, then compact routing is achieved, but ice protection equipment is required increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The potable water interfaces and water lines are strategically positioned in warm areas of the aircraft cabin where temperatures remain above freezing during operation. This local quality consideration eliminates the need for ice protection equipment in the water supply system, as the warm environment naturally prevents icing, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining efficient routing.
Data Source
AI summary
An aircraft with a potable water system to feed potable water from a potable water tank to a consumer equipment of a monument in the aircraft cabin, including potable water interfaces, and at least one monument, with at least one opening in the monument to establish a fluid connection to the consumer equipment, wherein at least one potable water interface is accessible through the at least one opening, and an assembly method for installing a potable water system wherein standard parts of the potable water system are preinstalled and customized parts are installed later on.