External Hydrogen Tank Fairing for Aircraft Fuselage Space
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional aircraft designs are inadequate for hydrogen fuel due to the need for significantly larger storage volumes, reducing usable interior space.
Innovation Solution
The aircraft incorporates a set of elongate hydrogen storage tanks mounted externally and contiguously around the fuselage, enclosed by an aerodynamic fairing, which can be cylindrical or arcuate with planar connections, and integrates with a hydrogen-fuelled fuel-cell system or gas turbine engine.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If hydrogen storage tanks are mounted externally around the fuselage, then storage capacity is maximized, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hydrogen storage system is divided into multiple discrete elongate tanks arranged around the fuselage, allowing modular installation and maintenance while achieving high storage capacity through distributed placement
Solution Approach 2:
The elongate hydrogen storage tanks are positioned within the aerodynamic fairing structure, nesting the storage system within the aircraft's aerodynamic envelope to integrate multiple functions in a compact arrangement
2Volume of stationary object
If conventional aircraft designs are used with hydrogen storage, then interior usable volume is reduced, but manufacturing simplicity is maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The hydrogen storage tanks are extracted from the aircraft interior and mounted externally on the fuselage, removing the volume occupation from the passenger/cargo space while maintaining conventional aircraft manufacturing methods
Solution Approach 2:
The storage system transitions from internal three-dimensional space occupation to external surface mounting around the fuselage, utilizing the aircraft's external surface area rather than internal volume
3Quantity of substance
If elongate tanks extend completely azimuthally around the fuselage, then storage capacity is maximized, but aerodynamic drag increases
Solution Approach 1:
An aerodynamic fairing envelops the externally mounted hydrogen storage tanks, creating a streamlined shell that reduces aerodynamic drag while accommodating the extended tank configuration around the fuselage
Data Source
Figure 1~3
AI summary
A hydrogen-fuelled aircraft 100 comprises a fuselage 118, wings 116A, 116B and a plurality of cylindrical elongate hydrogen storage tanks 112 mounted on the exterior of the fuselage and extending generally parallel thereto. The tanks extend azimuthally and contiguously around the fuselage. An aerodynamic fairing 114 forms a continuous air-washed surface of the aircraft. The hydrogen storage tanks are contained between the fairing and the fuselage. The aircraft provides for storage of a large volume of compressed hydrogen without compromising the volume of usable space within the fuselage. The aircraft is able to carry out flight missions comparable in range and payload to those of an equivalent conventionally-fuelled aircraft.