Fuel Balancing System with Integrated Crossfeed Valve
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mobile platform fuel systems are inefficient due to redundant equipment, increased pilot workload, and high manufacturing and maintenance costs, while failing to balance fuel levels effectively between multiple fuel tanks, which is crucial for safety and compliance with regulations.
Innovation Solution
A fuel balancing system featuring a crossfeed fuel transmission assembly with a single crossfeed valve and a balancing fuel transfer assembly, including boost pumps and valves, controlled by a fuel balancing controller that automatically adjusts fuel levels between tanks, reducing the need for manual intervention and minimizing redundant components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If redundant fuel piping and valve equipment are employed for crossfeed configurations, then safety and compliance with regulations are improved, but device complexity and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the crossfeed function and fuel balancing function into a single integrated system using one crossfeed valve and one balancing valve. The crossfeed valve controls fuel flow between tanks for crossfeeding operations, while the balancing valve automatically regulates fuel levels to maintain balance between tanks. This merging eliminates the need for separate redundant piping and valve equipment while maintaining safety and compliance requirements.
2Reliability
If dedicated transfer pumps and piping are used to transfer fuel from high level tank to low level tank, then fuel balancing effectiveness is improved, but device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel boost pumps are designed to serve multiple functions: they provide fuel to the engines during normal operation and simultaneously function as transfer pumps for fuel balancing operations. The single crossfeed valve and single balancing valve are used for both crossfeeding and fuel balancing operations. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated transfer pumps and reduces overall system complexity while maintaining effective fuel balancing.
3Ease of operation
If fully automated fuel transfer system is implemented, then pilot workload is reduced, but device complexity and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel balancing system operates automatically through the fuel balancing controller that continuously monitors fuel levels in the tanks and autonomously controls the balancing valve to maintain proper fuel balance. The system self-regulates without requiring pilot intervention, reducing workload while the automated control logic keeps device complexity manageable compared to more sophisticated automated systems.
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 system efficiently balances fuel levels between tanks, reducing pilot workload, lowering costs, and ensuring compliance with regulations by automatically controlling fuel transfer and terminating operations in case of errors, thus enhancing safety and operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
at least one first fuel boost pump is fluidly connected to the crossfeed pipe at the first distal end portion for pumping fuel from the first fuel tank. Additionally, at least one second fuel boost pump fluidly connected to the crossfeed pipe at the second distal end portion for pumping fuel from the second fuel tank
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
A fuel system for a mobile platform is provided. The system includes a crossfeed fuel transmission assembly (18) having a single crossfeed valve (46) that controls fuel consumption from a first fuel tank (26) and a second fuel tank (30) . The system additionally includes a balancing fuel transfer assembly (22) fluidly connected to the crossfeed fuel transmission assembly (18) . The balancing fuel transfer assembly (22) includes a plurality of fuel balancing valves (90, 98, 102, 106) for controlling a transfer of fuel to the first (26) and second (30) fuel tanks. The fuel system further includes a fuel balancing controller (126) for automatically controlling the fuel balancing valves (90, 98, 102, 106) to automatically control the transfer of fuel to the first (26) and second (30) fuel tanks.