Fuel Cell Inerting System for Aircraft Fuel Tanks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fuel tank inerting systems for aircraft require significant energy input to reduce fuel vapor content in the ullage portion, and there is a need for more efficient solutions that minimize energy consumption and system size.
Innovation Solution
A fuel tank inerting system that utilizes air output from a fuel cell as an inerting gas, with the fuel cell controlled to maintain low oxygen content, allowing for the generation of inerting gas with little to no additional energy input, and potentially reducing the size of existing inerting systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional inerting technologies (in-flight purging, condensing, or generation of inerting gas) are used to reduce fuel vapor content in the ullage portion, then the oxygen content in the fuel tank is reduced, but significant energy input is required
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel cell assembly uses the aircraft's own fuel and air to generate inerting gas internally, without requiring external energy input. The system serves itself by converting the aircraft's fuel consumption into a useful inerting function, eliminating the need for separate energy-consuming inerting equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The fuel cell assembly performs multiple functions: it generates electrical power for the aircraft and simultaneously produces inerting gas for the fuel tank. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate inerting systems, reducing overall energy consumption and system complexity.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If existing inerting systems are designed to provide sufficient inerting capacity, then the oxygen content in the fuel tank is effectively reduced, but the system size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the power generation function and inerting function into a single fuel cell assembly. By combining these two functions, the system eliminates the need for separate inerting equipment, thereby reducing overall system size and complexity while maintaining effective inerting capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The fuel cell assembly serves dual purposes: providing electrical power to the aircraft and generating inerting gas for the fuel tank. This multi-functionality allows the system to achieve effective inerting without adding separate dedicated inerting hardware, thus reducing system complexity.
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
This approach enables efficient reduction of oxygen content in fuel tank ullage with minimal energy input, leading to a more efficient and compact aircraft fuel tank inerting system.
Implementation Method 1
A fuel cell assembly is configured to receive an inlet airflow from a gas turbine engine of the aircraft, and more specifically from a working gas flowpath of the gas turbine engine
Implementation Method 2
providing the fuel cell exhaust as an inerting airflow to an interior of the fuel tank to reduce an oxygen content of the interior of the fuel tank
Data Source
AI summary
A system for an aircraft including: a fuel tank defining an interior; and a fuel cell assembly having a fuel cell defining an air outlet, wherein the air outlet of the fuel cell is in airflow communication with the interior of the fuel tank for providing an inerting airflow from the fuel cell to the interior of the fuel tank to reduce an oxygen content of the interior of the fuel tank.