External Aircraft Hydrogen Tanks With Streamlined Fairing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional aircraft designs are inadequate for hydrogen fuel due to the increased volume required for hydrogen storage, reducing usable interior space and payload capacity.
Innovation Solution
The aircraft incorporates multiple elongate cylindrical hydrogen storage tanks mounted externally and vertically above the wing tips, enclosed by an aerodynamic fairing, allowing for efficient use of space while maintaining range and payload.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If hydrogen storage tanks are mounted externally on the fuselage, then the usable interior space is maximized, but the aircraft structure complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The aerodynamic fairing encloses the externally mounted hydrogen storage tanks, creating a nested configuration where the fairing acts as an outer shell containing the tanks. This integration reduces the visual and structural impact of external tanks while maintaining their external positioning for interior space benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The hydrogen storage tanks are positioned vertically above the horizontal plane containing the wing tips, utilizing the vertical dimension rather than occupying fuselage interior volume or horizontal space. This dimensional relocation allows external storage without compromising interior usable space.
2Quantity of substance
If multiple hydrogen storage tanks are arranged externally, then the hydrogen storage capacity is increased, but the aerodynamic drag increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple hydrogen storage tanks are grouped and enclosed within a single aerodynamic fairing structure, merging their aerodynamic impact into one streamlined envelope. This configuration reduces the individual drag of each tank while maintaining the total hydrogen storage capacity through multiple tanks positioned within the fairing.
Solution Approach 2:
The aerodynamic fairing employs curved and streamlined surfaces to enclose the hydrogen storage tanks, creating a smooth aerodynamic profile that reduces turbulence and drag. The curved geometry of the fairing allows multiple tanks to be housed while maintaining efficient airflow over the aircraft structure.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the hydrogen storage tanks are positioned vertically above the wing tips, then the center of gravity stability is improved, but the structural load on the fuselage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hydrogen storage tanks are positioned asymmetrically at the extreme lateral positions above the wing tips, with the first tank at top dead-centre and subsequent tanks arranged laterally. This asymmetric distribution optimizes the center of gravity positioning for stability while the aerodynamic fairing helps distribute and manage the structural loads on the fuselage.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
A hydrogen-fuelled aircraft 200 comprises a fuselage 218, wings 216A, 216B and a plurality of cylindrical elongate hydrogen storage tanks 212A-I mounted on the exterior of the fuselage and disposed vertically above a plane 210 containing the wing-tips of the aircraft. An aerodynamic fairing 214 forms a continuous air-washed surface of the aircraft together with a lower portion of the fuselage 218. The hydrogen storage tanks extend generally parallel to the fuselage and are contained between the fairing and the fuselage. The aircraft 200 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.