Airplane Spare Propulsion Engine for Engine Failure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Airplanes face significant challenges when all propulsion engines fail, as they lose thrust and have limited control over descent, increasing the risk of unsafe landings if no suitable location is within reach, as demonstrated by incidents like US Airways flight 1549 and Air Canada flight 143.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a spare auxiliary propulsion jet engine with an independent fuel supply and electric circuitry, along with a protective cap to safeguard it from common failure causes, allowing continued flight and potentially reducing descent rate.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a spare auxiliary propulsion jet engine is added with independent fuel supply and electric circuitry, then the reliability of continued flight after engine failure is improved, but the device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The propulsion system is segmented into main propulsion engines and a separate spare auxiliary propulsion engine with independent fuel supply and electric circuitry. This segmentation ensures that failure of the main engines does not affect the spare engine, allowing continued flight capability while isolating the complexity into modular, independent systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational state of the spare engine from inactive to active when needed. The independent fuel supply and electric circuitry allow the engine parameters (fuel flow, electrical power) to be independently controlled and activated only when main engines fail, maintaining reliability without permanent complexity.
2Reliability
If a protective cap is added to safeguard the spare engine from common failure causes, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity and ease of operation worsen
Solution Approach 1:
A protective cap is preliminarily installed over the air intake opening of the spare engine to prevent bird ingestion and other contaminants before flight. The cap is designed to be automatically or manually deployed only when the spare engine needs to be activated, protecting the engine during normal operation while allowing quick access when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective function is extracted as a separate component (protective cap) that can be independently deployed or removed. This allows the spare engine to remain protected during normal flight operations while enabling quick access and activation when engine failure occurs, without permanently complicating the operational procedure.
3Reliability
If the spare engine is kept inactive and protected during flight, then it remains ready for operation when needed, but access to it is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The protective cap is installed in advance over the spare engine air intake to maintain readiness by preventing contamination while keeping the engine sealed and protected. The cap design allows for quick deployment or removal when activation is needed, balancing protection with accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective cap transitions from a static protective barrier to a dynamic component that can be deployed or removed based on operational needs. This dynamic behavior allows the system to maintain engine readiness while providing protection during normal flight, and enabling access when the spare engine must be activated.
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 spare propulsion engine increases the chances of finding a suitable landing spot by extending flight range and duration, enhancing survival chances in engine failure scenarios.
Implementation Method 1
spare auxiliary propulsion jet engine
Implementation Method 2
the plane is left without thrust and will descend
Implementation Method 3
When all engines fail, the plane is left without thrust and will descend
Data Source
AI summary
An airplane has main propulsion engines and a first fuel supply for the main propulsion engines. The airplane further has an auxiliary propulsion engine and a second fuel supply for the auxiliary propulsion engine, this second fuel supply being separate from the first fuel supply. The auxiliary propulsion engine can be switched on independently from the main propulsion engines. Such airplane has increased safety, since it will be possible to maintain flight, particularly when at high altitude, even if all main propulsion engines have failed.