Composite Tank Grounding With Dissipative Coating and Feed-Through
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Solution Overview
Problem
The design of composite material tanks for gas turbine engines faces challenges in grounding and bonding due to the constraints of the engine's geometry, leading to difficulties in accessing and refilling the oil reservoir without disassembly, and the risk of static electricity buildup due to triboelectric charging, which can result in safety hazards during maintenance.
Innovation Solution
The use of a non-conductive composite material tank with a dissipative plastic coating and a conductive feed-through assembly that connects the tank's interior and exterior surfaces to a static ground, ensuring effective discharge of static electricity and compliance with grounding regulations, while minimizing the physical distance to the system static ground connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a composite material tank is used in a gas turbine engine with constrained geometry, then the tank can be installed in confined locations, but accessing the tank for refilling requires substantial disassembly of the engine system
Solution Approach 1:
The engine system is divided into modular components with the tank as a separate, accessible unit. The tank can be removed and serviced independently from the main engine assembly, allowing refilling operations without disassembling the entire engine system.
Solution Approach 2:
The tank is designed with pre-positioned access points and filling ports that are accessible from the exterior of the engine housing. This preliminary design consideration allows maintenance personnel to refill the tank without requiring disassembly of the engine system.
2Reliability
If a long flexible grounding strap is used to connect the tank to static ground, then the grounding requirement can be met, but mechanical wear and dynamic reliability are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
A rigid grounding structure serves as an intermediary between the tank and the static ground connection point. This rigid mediator provides a stable, wear-free electrical connection path that meets grounding requirements without the mechanical deficiencies of flexible straps.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible mechanical grounding strap is replaced with a rigid structural grounding path integrated into the engine mounting system. This substitution eliminates the mechanical wear and dynamic stress issues associated with flexible connections while maintaining electrical continuity for grounding purposes.
3Volume of moving object
If the tank is located in a confined space within the engine, then space utilization is optimized, but the bonding path to static ground becomes excessively long
Solution Approach 1:
The grounding and mounting functions are merged into a single integrated structure. The engine mounting system that secures the tank in its confined location also provides the bonding path to static ground, eliminating the need for separate, long bonding conductors.
Solution Approach 2:
The engine housing and mounting structure serve multiple functions: structural support, space definition for the confined tank location, and electrical bonding path to static ground. This multi-functionality reduces the overall bonding path length while maintaining proper grounding.
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 allows for safe and efficient refilling of the tank without disassembly, reduces the risk of static discharge, and ensures compliance with grounding regulations, enhancing both operational safety and maintenance efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the risk of static electricity buildup due to triboelectric charging
Implementation Method 2
a dissipative plastic coating and a conductive feed-through assembly that connects the tank's interior and exterior surfaces to a static ground, ensuring effective discharge of static electricity
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method of safely servicing a liquid-tight container installed in a location where flammable vapors or electrostatic shock exist, where the structure of the container is fabricated of a non-conductive material. The electrostatic charge build-up inside the container is achieved by coating the inside surface with a dissipative plastic and connecting the dissipative coating to a conductive feed-through with a metallic layer, where at least one of the metallic layer or the conductive layer extends over at least the region between a lower design fill level and an upper design fill level. The conductive feed-through is connected to a system static ground point which is isolated from electronic power supply grounds.