External Aircraft Cryogenic Pod for Hydrogen Storage and Gasification
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Solution Overview
Problem
The aeronautical industry faces challenges in storing and using hydrogen, oxygen, methane, ethane, and ethylene gases due to their small molecule size leading to leaks and the need for pressurized casings that are heavy and bulky, which are not suitable for aircraft storage, and these gases cannot be used by existing engines without gasification. Additionally, establishing new standards and maintenance protocols for gas-powered aircraft is time-consuming and costly.
Innovation Solution
A dismountable aeronautical pod device with cryogenic storage capacity, comprising front and rear cryogenic tanks, central temporary storage tanks, and a quick attachment mechanism, allowing for efficient gas storage and gasification on an aircraft, with separate storage and gasification processes, and a distribution circuit for reliable gas supply to consumer members.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pressurized casings are used to store hydrogen, oxygen, methane, ethane, or ethylene gases, then the gases can be stored without leaks, but the casings become too heavy and bulky for aircraft storage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the temperature parameter of gas storage from ambient to cryogenic conditions. By storing gases like hydrogen, oxygen, methane, ethane, and ethylene in liquid form at extremely low temperatures, the system achieves high density storage without requiring heavy pressurized casings, thus resolving the contradiction between storage reliability and weight
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes phase transitions by converting gases into liquid form through cryogenic cooling. The phase change from gas to liquid enables compact storage with high energy density, eliminating the need for bulky pressurized containers while maintaining storage reliability through controlled phase management
2Volume of moving object
If gases are stored in liquid state, then space efficiency is improved, but the gases cannot be used by existing engines which require gaseous state
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the storage and usage functions into separate components: cryogenic storage tanks for liquid gas storage and gasification units for phase conversion. This segmentation allows the system to maintain liquid state for compact storage while providing gaseous state at the point of consumption for engine compatibility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a gasification unit as an intermediary component between the cryogenic storage tanks and the engines. This intermediary performs the phase transition from liquid to gas, enabling the system to benefit from compact liquid storage while delivering gaseous fuel suitable for existing engine operation
3Reliability
If new standards and maintenance protocols are established for gas-powered aircraft, then safety and reliability are improved, but the process is time-consuming and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the cryogenic storage system with universal interfaces and standardized components that can be adapted to existing aircraft platforms. By making the system multi-functional and compatible with current aviation infrastructure, it reduces the need for entirely new standards and protocols, thereby decreasing implementation time and cost while maintaining safety and reliability
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
Enables quick and safe mounting of cryogenic tanks on aircraft, optimizing space usage, reducing weight, and ensuring reliable gas supply to engines or fuel cells, while avoiding the need for new maintenance standards and protocols.
Implementation Method 1
an isolation chamber defined between the inner casing and the outer casing
Implementation Method 2
each cryogenic tank is super-insulated under vacuum against conduction, convection and radiation
Implementation Method 3
super-insulated under vacuum against conduction, convection and radiation
Implementation Method 4
super-insulated under vacuum against conduction, convection and radiation
Implementation Method 5
super-insulated under vacuum against conduction, convection and radiation
Implementation Method 6
The temporary tanks can be designed for a gas pressure of several hundred bar, although a selected gas pressure is supplied to the consumer members
Data Source
AI summary
Dismountable aeronautical pod device 30 with cryogenic storage capacity, for external transportation by an aircraft, comprising a front cryogenic tank 36, a rear cryogenic tank 37, and at least one central temporary storage tank for the rise in pressure of the gas supplied by the front cryogenic tank 36 and the rear cryogenic tank 37.