Conductive Composite Fuel Tank Dissipating Static Charge
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Composite materials used in aerospace platforms, such as fuel tanks, lack sufficient conductivity to dissipate static electricity effectively, leading to potential electrical discharges and increased complexity and weight when additional dissipation mechanisms like primers are employed.
Innovation Solution
A composite structure comprising a first and second composite layer, where the second layer is designed to dissipate electric charges and limit electrical current flow caused by electromagnetic events, integrated into the manufacturing process to avoid additional operations and weight, using conductivity levels that allow charge dissipation while controlling current flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If composite materials are used in place of metals for fuel tanks, then weight and corrosion resistance are improved, but conductivity to dissipate static electricity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials consisting of a conductive polymer matrix combined with insulating fiber reinforcements. This composite structure provides both the weight and corrosion resistance benefits of composites while maintaining sufficient electrical conductivity through the conductive polymer phase to dissipate static electricity, resolving the contradiction between lightweight composite construction and electrical conductivity requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the electrical conductivity parameter of the composite material by selecting conductive polymers with specific resistivity ranges (10^-6 to 10^2 ohm-cm). This parameter optimization ensures that the composite structure achieves adequate static electricity dissipation capability while maintaining the inherent advantages of composite materials, thereby resolving the conductivity-reliability contradiction
2Reliability
If additional dissipation mechanisms like primers are employed, then static electricity dissipation is improved, but device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the structural function and static electricity dissipation function into a single integrated composite material system. The conductive polymer composite serves both as the structural fuel tank wall and as the static electricity dissipation mechanism, eliminating the need for separate primer coatings or additional dissipation components, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining dissipation reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The conductive polymer composite material performs multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural integrity, corrosion resistance, and static electricity dissipation. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dissipation mechanisms like primers, thereby reducing overall device complexity while ensuring reliable static electricity management
3Reliability
If additional dissipation mechanisms like primers are employed, then static electricity dissipation is improved, but weight of the structure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the dissipation function with the structural material itself, eliminating the need for separate primer coatings. The conductive polymer composite provides both structure and dissipation capability in a single layer, avoiding the additional weight that would result from applying separate dissipation primers or coatings on top of the structural material
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 solution effectively reduces static electricity buildup and limits electrical discharges, reducing the complexity and weight of aerospace structures while maintaining structural integrity and preventing galvanic corrosion.
Implementation Method 1
The second composite layer has a conductivity configured to dissipate an electric charge on a surface of the structure
Implementation Method 2
limit a flow of an electrical current in the second composite layer in which the electrical current is caused by an electromagnetic event
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus comprising a first composite layer and a second composite layer in which the second composite layer is associated with the first composite layer. The first composite layer and the second composite layer form a structure. The second composite layer has a conductivity configured to dissipate an electric charge on a surface of the structure and limit a flow of an electrical current in the second composite layer in which the electrical current is caused by an electromagnetic event.