Aircraft Fuel Tank Pressure-Receiving Component for Dimensional Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft and spacecraft fuel tanks face challenges in managing pressure forces due to fuel quantity changes, leading to expansion and contraction issues that affect the structural integrity and dimensions of the carrier elements, necessitating a solution to maintain stability and minimize mass while ensuring efficient fuel storage and conversion.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a pressure-receiving component, such as fiber material wound at specific angles, into the tank side walls to convert expansion forces into contraction forces, balancing the pressure effects and maintaining structural stability, along with a sealing element for enhanced tightness and potential dual functionality as an electrical conductor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the tank is made with conventional side walls to store fuel under pressure, then the fuel can be stored, but the expansion forces from pressure cause the carrier element dimensions to change
Solution Approach 1:
The side wall incorporates a pressure-receiving component that changes its mechanical properties in response to pressure parameters. When fuel pressure increases, the component converts expansion forces into contraction forces along the longitudinal axis, dynamically adjusting to maintain dimensional stability while containing the pressurized fuel
Solution Approach 2:
The side wall is constructed as a composite structure combining conventional materials with a pressure-receiving component made of fiber material or mesh. This composite design allows the side wall to simultaneously contain pressurized fuel and convert expansion forces into useful contraction forces, resolving the contradiction between storage capacity and dimensional stability
2Strength
If the tank walls are strengthened to resist pressure forces, then structural integrity is improved, but the mass of the carrier element increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of simply resisting pressure forces with stronger materials, the pressure-receiving component converts the harmful expansion forces generated by pressurized fuel into beneficial contraction forces along the longitudinal axis. This transforms the pressure problem into a structural advantage, maintaining strength without proportionally increasing mass
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure-receiving component uses flexible fiber material or mesh that can deform under pressure to convert expansion forces into contraction forces. This flexible approach provides the necessary strength to contain pressurized fuel while maintaining lower mass compared to rigid conventional tank walls
3Length of stationary object
If the side wall structure is modified to convert expansion forces into contraction forces, then dimensional stability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure-receiving component is integrated directly into the side wall structure, merging the fuel containment function with the force conversion function. This unified design achieves dimensional stability without requiring separate complex mechanisms, as the side wall itself performs both containment and force conversion
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 solution provides a rotationally rigid carrier element with constant flight-mechanical properties, reduced mass, and improved sealing, while minimizing changes in carrier element dimensions and conduction paths, ensuring efficient fuel storage and conversion without altering the structural dimensions.
Implementation Method 1
the pressure-receiving component converts a pressure from the chamber on the side wall into a contraction force acting on the side wall along the longitudinal axis, wherein the contraction force compensates for an expansion force resulting from the pressure from the chamber
Implementation Method 2
Incorporating a pressure-receiving component, such as fiber material wound at specific angles, into the tank side walls to convert expansion forces into contraction forces
Data Source
AI summary
A device for carrying fuel in aircraft and spacecraft includes a carrier element having a longitudinal axis, and a fuel tank with a side wall and a chamber at least partially delimited by the side wall. The tank is arranged in the carrier element. The chamber and the side wall extend in a direction along the longitudinal axis. The side wall has a pressure-receiving component that converts a pressure from the chamber on the side wall into a contraction force acting on the side wall along the longitudinal axis. The contraction force compensates for an expansion force, resulting from the pressure from the chamber and acting on the side wall along the longitudinal axis. This provides an improved device for carrying fuel in aircraft and spacecraft, wherein the aircraft and spacecraft has constant flight mechanical properties because of the device.