Fused Opening Venting for Cryogenic Fuel Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing safety systems for aircraft fuel systems are inadequate in preventing fire, explosion, and liquefaction risks, especially with cryogenic fuels, as they require complex and costly pressure vessels and active inerting systems that can compromise operational reliability and maintenance efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A protected space within the vehicle is created using an enclosure with a fused opening that reconfigures from a sealed to an open configuration in response to excessive pressure, filled with non-flammable spacer elements and microbeads or microcapsules to limit explosive potential, and equipped with a venting mechanism to release over-pressure and dangerous mixtures to the exterior.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If inerting systems are used to protect against fire and explosion, then safety is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the inerting function from complex active systems and implements it through a passive fused opening mechanism. The fused opening automatically opens under over-pressure conditions to vent flammable mixtures, eliminating the need for complex active inerting systems while maintaining safety protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The fused opening acts as a disposable safety element that is replaced after use. Once the fused opening has opened and vented the dangerous mixture, it is replaced with a fresh sealed element, eliminating the need for expensive complex active inerting systems while providing continuous protection.
2Reliability
If pressure containment vessels are used to maintain inerting pressure, then safety is improved, but weight and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the heavy pressure containment vessels from the system by using a fused opening that passesively vents over-pressure conditions. This eliminates the need for massive pressure vessels while maintaining safety through automatic venting of flammable mixtures.
Solution Approach 2:
The fused opening serves as a lightweight, disposable safety element that replaces expensive and heavy pressure containment vessels. The fused opening provides the necessary safety function without requiring massive structural support, significantly reducing weight.
3Reliability
If active inerting systems are used, then safety is improved, but maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The fused opening is designed as a disposable element that is replaced rather than repaired. After the fused opening has opened to vent dangerous mixtures, it is simply replaced with a new sealed element, eliminating complex maintenance requirements associated with active inerting systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the maintenance-intensive active inerting system and replaces it with a passive fused opening system that requires minimal maintenance. The fused opening automatically functions without requiring operational monitoring or complex maintenance procedures.
4Reliability
If sealed enclosed spaces are used to contain fuel systems, then safety is improved, but ventilation requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the need for complex active ventilation systems by using a fused opening that passively vents over-pressure conditions. The fused opening automatically opens to vent flammable mixtures when pressure builds up, eliminating the need for complex active ventilation infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The fused opening serves as a simple, disposable venting element that replaces complex active ventilation systems. The fused opening provides the necessary ventilation function under emergency conditions without requiring complex mechanical ventilation infrastructure.
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 solution effectively contains and vents potential leaks, reduces the volume available for explosive mixtures, and prevents liquefaction, enhancing safety while minimizing drag and maintenance burdens by only activating ventilation after a failure, thus maintaining vehicle integrity and operational reliability.
Implementation Method 1
a fused opening in fluid communication with the closed volume and an external atmosphere, the fused opening having a closed configuration in which the closed volume is sealed and an open configuration in which the closed volume is open to the external atmosphere, the fused opening being reconfigurable from the closed configuration to the open configuration in response to a pressure in the closed volume equalling or exceeding a threshold pressure
Implementation Method 2
filled with non-flammable spacer elements and microbeads or microcapsules to limit explosive potential
Implementation Method 3
equipped with a venting mechanism to release over-pressure and dangerous mixtures to the exterior
Data Source
AI summary
Creation of a protected space in the interior of a vehicle surrounding elements of the vehicle’s fuel system stops subsequent unsafe leakage of fuel and flammable gas into other interior spaces of the vehicle. It limits both the potential for the build-up of flammable gas in the interior of the vehicle and the potential of detonation. The protected space, if used to protect a cryogenic fuel system, also protects against liquefaction occurring. In the event that the protected fuel system has a failure the design will cause forced ventilation to occur to safely vent the protected space and protect the vehicle from the failure.