Fuel Stabilization Chamber for Aircraft Oxygen Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fuel tank systems in aircraft face challenges in removing dissolved oxygen from fuel, which can lead to the formation of solid deposits and increase the risk of explosion or fire, and require large equipment for complete stabilization.
Innovation Solution
A system that includes a fuel stabilization chamber and an inert gas device, such as a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) or electrochemical device, to generate inert gas, which is used to remove dissolved oxygen from a limited portion of the fuel, reducing the need for extensive equipment and improving safety by displacing oxygen with nitrogen.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a large equipment system is used to completely stabilize fuel by removing dissolved oxygen, then fuel safety is improved, but device complexity and system size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts only the critical function of oxygen removal from the fuel stabilization process, using a compact inert gas generating system that produces nitrogen-rich gas to displace dissolved oxygen. This selective extraction of the essential safety function eliminates the need for large, complex complete stabilization systems while maintaining adequate fuel safety through targeted oxygen displacement in the fuel tank ullage space.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates an inert atmosphere within the fuel tank by generating nitrogen-rich gas through a compact inert gas generating system. This inert gas environment displaces oxygen from the fuel and maintains a non-combustible atmosphere, achieving fuel safety through atmospheric modification rather than complete oxygen removal, thereby reducing system complexity and size.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If dissolved oxygen is completely removed from fuel, then deposit formation is prevented, but energy consumption and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies partial action by removing only sufficient oxygen to prevent deposit formation and maintain safety, rather than completely eliminating all dissolved oxygen. The inert gas generating system introduces nitrogen-rich gas that displaces oxygen to a level adequate for preventing solid deposit formation and fouling heat exchange surfaces, reducing energy consumption compared to complete oxygen removal while still achieving the protective effect.
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 effectively reduces the oxygen content in fuel, preventing deposit formation and enhancing safety by using a compact inert gas generation system, allowing for efficient fuel stabilization without the need for separate inerting systems, while also addressing issues of water removal, bacterial growth, and fuel degradation.
Implementation Method 1
A system that includes a fuel stabilization chamber and an inert gas device, such as a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) or electrochemical device, to generate inert gas
Implementation Method 2
A system that includes a fuel stabilization chamber and an inert gas device, such as a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) or electrochemical device, to generate inert gas
Implementation Method 3
Inert gas can be used to remove dissolved oxygen from fuel
Implementation Method 4
The inert gas displaces potentially dangerous fuel and air mixtures, thereby reducing the risk of explosion or fire
Data Source
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AI summary
A system for generating inert gas comprising includes a fuel tank (20) including an inner storage volume (24) containing a fuel. A fuel stabilization chamber (30) has an inner volume (32). The inner volume of said fuel stabilization chamber is arranged in fluid communication with the inner storage volume such that said fuel is movable from the inner storage volume to the inner volume. An inert gas device (62) is operably coupled to the inner volume of the fuel stabilization chamber. Inert gas output from the inert gas device interacts with a fuel in the inner volume to remove dissolved oxygen from the fuel in said inner volume.