Aircraft Water Supply Filtration Using Pump Reverse Flushing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional aircraft water supply systems with high-pressure technology are sensitive to foreign particles, leading to increased maintenance efforts and performance degradation due to filter cake formation, without effective solutions for reducing these issues.

Innovation Solution

A method and system utilizing a pump that operates in both supply and reverse modes, with a filter device upstream, where the pump fills buffer tanks in the supply mode and cleans the filter by reversing flow to remove accumulated particles during periods of low demand, minimizing maintenance and performance reduction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a filter device is installed upstream of the high-pressure pump to protect the water system from particles, then the system reliability is improved, but the maintenance effort increases due to filter cartridge replacement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem reliabilityVSAvoidmaintenance effort

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The pump is operated in reverse mode to flush accumulated particles from the filter device back through the system. This inversion of the normal flow direction allows the filter to be self-cleaning, eliminating the need for manual cartridge replacement while maintaining system reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs self-maintenance by using the pump in reverse mode to automatically flush the filter device. This self-service mechanism removes accumulated particles without requiring external intervention or filter cartridge replacement, reducing maintenance effort while preserving reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If a filter device is installed to remove particles from the water, then the system reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem reliabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pump serves dual functions: normal forward operation for water supply and reverse operation for filter cleaning. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate cleaning mechanisms, reducing device complexity while maintaining system reliability through automatic filter maintenance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If the pump operates continuously in supply mode to deliver water to consumer assemblies, then the productivity is improved, but the filter cake formation increases leading to performance degradation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater supply productivityVSAvoidsystem performance

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The pump operates in periodic cycles, alternating between forward supply mode and reverse flushing mode. This periodic action prevents filter cake formation by regularly removing accumulated particles, maintaining both productivity and system performance over time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system maintains continuous useful action by integrating the filter cleaning function into the pump's operational cycles. The reverse flushing mode removes particles that would otherwise degrade performance, ensuring continuous reliable operation without interrupting water supply productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

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 system maintains long-term performance with reduced maintenance by automatically cleaning the filter, keeping particle accumulation low and avoiding the need for manual filter replacement, thus ensuring consistent water supply to aircraft consumer assemblies.

Implementation Method 1

a pump (21) having an upstream side (25) and a downstream side (27) and being configured such that it can operate in a supply mode and a reverse mode

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPump: Pump

Implementation Method 2

a filter device (23) which protects the water system from particles, turbidity, etc.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS12534387B2Water supply and distribution system on-board an aircraft and method for operating such system with low maintenance effort

Publication Date: 2026.01.27 AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH

AI summary

A method for operating an on-board water supply and distribution system of an aircraft for supplying water includes a central tank, consumer assemblies with a supply device and a buffer tank, pump operable in a supply mode and reverse mode, filter device, and high-pressure conduit system. The central tank connects to the pump's upstream side. The conduit system connects the downstream side and consumer assemblies. The pump in supply mode delivers water from the downstream side to the buffer tank. In reverse mode, the pump can convey water from the downstream side to the upstream side. The method includes operating the pump in supply mode so water from the central tank goes to a consumer assembly in a first time interval to fill the buffer tank, and operating the pump in reverse mode in a second time interval so water from the buffer tank passes through the filter device.