Aircraft Fuel Cell Air Intake Deflector for Contamination Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Fuel cells in aircraft are vulnerable to contamination from rain, hail, and debris, which can cause damage and uncontrolled power loss, and existing protection systems like air intakes with curves and filters lead to inefficiencies due to pressure losses and increased size and drag.

Innovation Solution

A contamination detection system with a deployable deflector and controller that disrupts airflow to deflect contaminants away from the air intake, combined with a compressor speed adjustment to maintain power output and airspeed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If air intakes with curves or large settling space are used to deflect contaminants, then contamination protection is improved, but pressure losses increase and efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontamination protectionVSAvoidpressure losses

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a deployable contaminant deflector that can dynamically adjust its position between a retracted state (during normal operation) and a deployed state (when contamination is detected). This dynamic mechanism allows the system to provide contamination protection only when needed, avoiding continuous pressure losses and maintaining efficiency during clean air conditions while still offering reliable protection when contaminants are present.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the operational parameters of the air intake by transitioning the deflector between retracted and deployed positions based on contamination levels. This parameter change allows the air intake characteristics to be optimized for different environmental conditions, reducing pressure losses during normal operation while providing protection when required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If air intakes with curves or large settling space are used to deflect contaminants, then contamination protection is improved, but device size increases and drag increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontamination protectionVSAvoiddevice size

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The deployable deflector mechanism allows the air intake system to maintain a compact form factor during normal operation (retracted state) while providing contamination protection when needed (deployed state). This eliminates the need for permanently large settling spaces or complex curved intake paths, reducing overall device volume and aircraft drag.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Power

If compressor speed is increased to compensate for deflector deployment, then power output is maintained, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower outputVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The contaminant deflector operates periodically rather than continuously, deploying only when contamination is detected and retracting when air quality is good. This periodic action means that compressor speed adjustments and associated energy consumption occur only intermittently, rather than continuously, reducing overall energy usage while maintaining power output when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses contamination sensors to provide feedback about air quality, which triggers the controller to deploy or retract the deflector and adjust compressor speed accordingly. This feedback-based control ensures that energy-consuming operations (deflector deployment and compressor speed increase) occur only when necessary, optimizing the balance between power output and energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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

Effectively protects fuel cells from contamination while minimizing drag and size, ensuring continuous power and efficient airflow by deploying a contaminant deflector and adjusting compressor speed in response to detected contaminants.

Implementation Method 1

a contaminant deflector deployable from a retracted position to a deployed position in which it disrupts the airflow to thereby deflect contaminants away from or out of the air intake channel

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAirflow disruption and deflection:

Implementation Method 2

a sensor configured to detect contaminants in the air flow

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectContaminant detection:

Implementation Method 3

the air intake channel is for delivering air from the airflow to a compressor of a fuel cell of the aircraft

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Data Source

PatentUS20230417183A1Aircraft fuel cell air supply anti contanimation system

Publication Date: 2023.12.28 ZERO EMISSIONS AEROSPACE LTD

AI summary

The invention defines a combined system of sensor(s), control logic, air intake and contaminant deflector for a fuel cell system mounted on an aircraft, which will detect contamination in the free air flow surrounding the aircraft and if excessive contamination is detected will activate the contaminant deflector to protect the fuel cell system from contamination, damage and power loss. The system ensures constant speed of the aircraft by adjusting the power of the fuel cells to compensate any change in aircraft drag and adjusts the speed of any connected compressors to maintain and achieve necessary changes in power and compensation for any air pressure losses the system creates.