Cryogenic circuit conditioning system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cryogenic propellant circuits in aircraft face challenges with humidity and oxygen exposure, leading to potential explosions and equipment deterioration, especially during atmospheric flight phases where traditional conditioning methods are cumbersome and mass-penetrating due to the need for onboard gas storage.
Innovation Solution
A system that extracts nitrogen from outside air using an OBIGGS-type separator and distributes it via a pipe circuit with calibrated orifices to condition cryogenic circuits during flight, eliminating the need for onboard gas storage and reducing mass penalties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If nitrogen or helium is circulated continuously around cryogenic circuits during atmospheric flight, then the cryogenic circuits are protected from humidity and oxygen exposure, but the mass of the vehicle increases due to onboard gas storage tanks
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the aircraft's own turbojet engine air intake to provide nitrogen for conditioning the cryogenic circuits. The nitrogen is extracted from the ambient air using an OBIGGS (On-Board Inert Gas Generator) system, eliminating the need for separate onboard nitrogen storage tanks. This self-service approach converts the aircraft's propulsion system into a dual-purpose system that also provides inert gas for cryogenic circuit protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The turbojet engine's air intake system, originally designed solely for propulsion, is utilized to supply nitrogen for cryogenic circuit conditioning. This multi-functional use of the air intake system eliminates the need for dedicated nitrogen storage infrastructure, reducing vehicle mass while maintaining protection capabilities during atmospheric flight.
2Duration of action of moving object
If nitrogen storage tanks and conditioning gas are carried on board the spaceplane, then in-flight conditioning of cryogenic circuits is enabled, but the dry mass becomes very penalizing
Solution Approach 1:
The system eliminates the need for onboard nitrogen storage tanks by continuously extracting nitrogen from ambient air during flight using the OBIGGS system. The air intake is connected to the turbojet engine's compression system, which pressurizes and delivers the nitrogen to the distribution network, enabling sustained in-flight conditioning without carrying heavy gas storage infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the source of nitrogen from stored onboard reserves to continuous extraction from ambient air. By utilizing the dynamic parameters of flight (airflow through the engine intake, compression pressure), the system maintains nitrogen supply for conditioning without the static mass penalty of storage tanks, enabling duration-based operation proportional to flight time.
3Reliability
If ground-based conditioning circuits are used before takeoff, then cryogenic circuits are protected from humidity and oxygen, but the system becomes complex and disconnected during flight
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the ground-based conditioning infrastructure with the aircraft's own propulsion system. The OBIGGS system integrates with the turbojet engine's air intake and compression system, allowing the same hardware to provide nitrogen conditioning both on the ground (when connected to ground equipment) and in-flight (using engine-compressed air), thereby simplifying the overall system architecture and eliminating disconnection requirements.
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 effectively prevents humidity and oxygen ingress, maintaining equipment integrity and reducing mass by using ambient air nitrogen for in-flight conditioning, thereby enhancing performance and safety without the need for onboard gas storage.
Implementation Method 1
extracts the nitrogen therefrom by means of a nitrogen separator of the OBIGGS type
Implementation Method 2
distributing this nitrogen around said components via a circuit of pipes provided with calibrated orifices
Implementation Method 3
the humidity of this air freezes at the contact with these circuits
Implementation Method 4
the oxygen in the air will also be able to liquefy and accumulate
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The subject of the invention is a device for the in-flight conditioning of equipment (6, 7, 8) of cryogenic circuits of an aircraft, which device comprises means for bleeding air from outside the aircraft, means for extracting nitrogen from this air using a nitrogen separator of the OBIGGS type (3) and means (4, 5) for distributing this nitrogen around said equipment. The device notably comprises means for distributing nitrogen around the various pieces of equipment of cryogenic circuits using a system of piping (4) provided with calibrated orifices (5).