Cryogenic Circuit Conditioning Using In-Flight Nitrogen Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cryogenic propellant circuits in aircraft, especially spaceplanes, require continuous conditioning during atmospheric flight to prevent moisture and oxygen ingress, which is weight-penalty inducing as they need to carry and store conditioning gases onboard.
Innovation Solution
A system that bleeds external air, extracts nitrogen using an OBIGGS separator, and distributes it through calibrated orifices to condition cryogenic circuits during flight, eliminating the need for onboard gas storage by supplementing ground-based nitrogen circulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If nitrogen or helium is circulated continuously around cryogenic circuits during atmospheric flight, then moisture and oxygen ingress is prevented, but the weight of the vehicle increases due to onboard gas storage tanks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary component (nitrogen) from ambient air using a separator device, eliminating the need to carry stored nitrogen tanks. The system takes out nitrogen from air on-demand during flight, converting a weight-intensive stored gas system into a lightweight air-breathing system.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the aircraft's own flight environment (ambient air) as the source of conditioning gas, making the system self-sufficient during flight. The aircraft breathes atmospheric air and extracts nitrogen directly, eliminating dependence on pre-stored gases and reducing weight penalties.
2Reliability
If nitrogen is stored onboard in tanks for continuous circulation, then cryogenic circuits are protected during extended atmospheric flight, but the quantity of substance increases due to stored conditioning gas
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts nitrogen from ambient air using a separator that removes oxygen and other components, providing continuous nitrogen supply without storing large quantities of gas. This extraction approach replaces bulk gas storage with on-demand separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system serves multiple functions: it provides conditioning gas for cryogenic protection, utilizes the aircraft's flight path through atmospheric air, and integrates with the existing air intake systems. The same air intake that powers the engine also supplies nitrogen for circuit protection.
3Weight of moving object
If ground-based nitrogen circulation is supplemented for in-flight conditioning, then moisture ingress is prevented without onboard storage, but the device complexity increases due to air bleeding and nitrogen separation systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the air intake system with the nitrogen generation system, using the same air supply for both engine operation and nitrogen extraction. The separator device is integrated into the existing aircraft systems, combining multiple functions into unified subsystems.
Solution Approach 2:
The nitrogen separator acts as an intermediary device that converts ambient air into pure nitrogen through selective separation. This intermediary component enables the transformation from complex stored-gas systems to simpler air-breathing systems with minimal onboard infrastructure.
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 reduces the weight burden and maintains cryogenic circuit integrity by preventing moisture and oxygen ingress, offering a significant weight saving and effective conditioning without the need for onboard nitrogen tanks.
Implementation Method 1
extracts nitrogen from this air using a nitrogen separator of the OBIGGS type
Data Source
AI summary
The subject of the invention is a device for the in-flight conditioning of equipment of cryogenic circuits of an aircraft, which device includes means for bleeding air from outside the aircraft, means for extracting nitrogen from this air using a nitrogen separator of the OBIGGS type and means for distributing this nitrogen around the equipment. The device notably includes means for distributing nitrogen around the various pieces of equipment of cryogenic circuits using a system of piping provided with calibrated orifices.