Dynamic Fuel Gauging Probe Reconfiguration for Aircraft
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft fuel tanks with complex shapes and varying attitudes and accelerations require multiple probes for accurate fuel level measurement, leading to increased cost and weight, and complexity in composite material installations.
Innovation Solution
A fluid gauging system with dynamically configurable connections and computation modules that adapt probe subsets based on tank attitude and acceleration, allowing for reduced probe numbers while maintaining independent and parallel fuel level measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple probes are installed in the fuel tank to measure fuel level accurately under varying aircraft attitudes and accelerations, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic probe assignment system where the control module dynamically selects and assigns subsets of probes to different computation modules based on real-time aircraft attitude and acceleration data. This dynamic reconfiguration allows the same physical probes to serve multiple measurement chains adaptively, reducing the total number of probes needed while maintaining measurement precision under varying flight conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
Each probe is designed to be multi-functional, capable of serving different measurement chains depending on its dynamic assignment. The probes can be assigned to different computation modules at different times, allowing a single probe to contribute to multiple independent measurement results. This universality reduces the overall probe count while maintaining the required measurement redundancy and precision.
2Reliability
If a significant number of probes (15-80) are provided to meet two independent measurement chains requirement, then reliability is improved, but weight increases leading to higher fuel consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically reconfigures probe assignments between the two measurement chains based on aircraft attitude and acceleration. The control module selects different subsets of probes for each computation module in real-time, allowing the same physical probes to support both independent measurement chains without requiring duplicate probe sets. This dynamic sharing reduces weight while maintaining measurement independence.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of the probes by dynamically adjusting which probes are assigned to which measurement chain based on flight conditions. This parameter change allows the probes to be optimally distributed between the two measurement chains, reducing the total number of probes needed while maintaining the required reliability and independence of measurement chains.
3Measurement precision
If probes are arranged in complex patterns to cover various fuel levels and attitudes, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of manufacture deteriorates due to composite material installation difficulties
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of requiring a fixed complex probe arrangement, the system uses dynamic assignment where a smaller number of probes are reconfigured through software based on aircraft attitude and fuel level. This reduces the physical installation complexity in composite materials while maintaining measurement precision through computational reconfiguration of probe usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates virtual copies of measurement chains through software-based computation modules that process data from different probe subsets. Rather than physically duplicating probe arrangements, the patent uses computational copying to create independent measurement chains, simplifying the physical installation while maintaining measurement independence and precision.
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid gauging system includes a set of fuel level probes and two computation modules adapted for inferring fluid level information based on measurement signals which originate from the probes. In a refuelling operation mode, the probes are distributed into two dynamically configurable subsets, which are separate and assigned respectively to the computation modules for deriving two results for the fluid level independently from each other. Such system has special interests for fuel tank equipment designed for aircraft. A major advantage is a reduction in the total number of fuel level probes which are necessary to obtain reliable results whatever the fuel level and the aircraft attitude and acceleration.