Evacuation System Gas Heating for Lighter Reliable Deployment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inflatable evacuation systems on aircraft face challenges with temperature dependence affecting gas requirements, leading to increased weight and potential system failure due to temperature swings, and existing heating solutions add weight and space without addressing these issues effectively.
Innovation Solution
An electrically powered heating system is integrated into various parts of the inflatable device, such as the girt, wrapper, lacing cover, housing, or pressure vessel, to regulate the temperature of the inflation gas and maintain a set temperature, reducing weight and ensuring reliable deployment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a heating element is positioned within the interior of an inflation cylinder to heat the gas, then the gas temperature can be regulated, but the heating element takes up space within the cylinder, adds weight, and can be subject to damage due to vibration
Solution Approach 1:
The heating element is extracted from the interior of the inflation cylinder and repositioned to the exterior. The heater is attached to the outer surface of the cylinder, removing the space-consuming and vibration-vulnerable internal component while maintaining the gas heating function through thermal conduction through the cylinder wall.
Solution Approach 2:
The cylinder wall acts as an intermediary medium that transfers heat from the externally positioned heating element to the gas interior. This allows the heater to be positioned outside the cylinder while still effectively heating the gas, avoiding direct placement of the heater inside the cylinder.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the inflation system is designed to operate at extreme low temperatures, then the equipment can be deployed in cold conditions, but the required pressure of compressed gas increases by up to 33%, requiring heavier and larger inflation systems
Solution Approach 1:
The heating system performs preliminary heating of the gas and cylinder before the inflation process begins. This pre-heating action ensures the gas is at an optimal temperature for inflation, preventing the need to carry excess gas weight to compensate for cold temperature conditions during actual deployment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system actively changes the temperature parameter of the gas and cylinder components during storage and pre-deployment. By maintaining the gas at a warmer temperature through the heating element, the system optimizes the inflation pressure requirements, allowing use of a lighter, smaller inflation system compared to designing for extreme cold conditions.
3Adaptability or versatility
If temperature swings occur in the evacuation system, then the system can experience expansion and contraction of metal parts, but this causes loosening of fittings and seals, as well as stress on air holding fabrics
Solution Approach 1:
The heating system maintains the temperature parameter of the cylinder and components within a stable range, preventing excessive thermal expansion and contraction. This temperature stabilization prevents mechanical stress on fittings, seals, and fabrics, thereby maintaining system reliability despite ambient temperature variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating system operates with temperature feedback control, monitoring the actual temperature of the cylinder and gas, and adjusting heating power accordingly. This feedback mechanism prevents temperature swings that would cause mechanical stress on system components, ensuring reliable operation across varying environmental conditions.
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 heating system maintains consistent gas temperature, reducing the weight and size of inflation systems, ensuring rapid deployment and preventing system failure due to temperature fluctuations.
Implementation Method 1
An electrically powered heating system is integrated into various parts of the inflatable device... to regulate the temperature of the inflation gas
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to systems and methods for controlling the temperature of inflatable evacuation systems. Specific examples provide a system that heats at least one portion of an inflation system of the evacuation system in order to regulate the temperature of the inflation gas.