Heated Valve Localized Heating for Aircraft De-icing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pneumatic de-icing systems in aircraft are prone to freezing due to insufficient moisture removal in bleed air, causing pneumatic valves to malfunction in cold temperatures, as they are often located in unheated areas and require excessive power to maintain functionality.
Innovation Solution
A pneumatic valve with electrically resistive heating elements located near critical areas within the valve, such as the valve poppet chamber and fluid passages, to prevent freezing by applying heat directly to the areas needed, reducing power consumption and maintaining system functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pneumatic valves are located in unheated areas to drain accumulated moisture, then the de-icing system can effectively remove moisture, but the valves become susceptible to freezing in cold temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local heating to specific critical areas of the pneumatic valve (valve poppet chamber and fluid passages) rather than heating the entire valve body. This localized approach prevents freezing in the most vulnerable areas while minimizing energy consumption, resolving the contradiction between moisture drainage reliability and freezing susceptibility.
2Reliability
If the entire valve body is heated to prevent freezing, then the valve remains functional in cold temperatures, but excessive power is consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The heating elements are strategically positioned to heat only the valve poppet chamber and fluid passages, which are the critical areas prone to freezing. This localized heating approach maintains valve functionality while significantly reducing power consumption compared to heating the entire valve body.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating system is divided into separate heating elements positioned at different critical locations within the valve. This segmentation allows independent heating of specific areas, optimizing power usage by heating only where necessary to maintain valve operation.
3Temperature
If heating elements are positioned away from critical areas, then the valve body can be heated uniformly, but the critical areas may still freeze
Solution Approach 1:
Heating elements are positioned in direct contact with or adjacent to the valve poppet chamber and fluid passages, ensuring that heat is applied directly to the critical areas most susceptible to freezing. This localized heating approach ensures reliable freeze prevention in critical areas while minimizing overall energy consumption.
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 effectively prevents valve freezing and ensures system functionality by focusing heat where needed, reducing power requirements and maintaining efficient operation of the de-icing system, even in freezing conditions.
Implementation Method 1
an electrically resistive heating element positioned within the valve poppet chamber and in proximity to the fluid passages
Data Source
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AI summary
A valve (10; 36) includes a body (12) with an inlet (14; 48) at a first end of the body (12), and an outlet (16; 50) at a second end of the body (12). A first electrically resistive heating element (28; 52) is located in the inlet (14; 48) and heats a first fluid source (24) to a temperature above 0 degrees C. A second electrically resistive heating element (30; 54) is located in the outlet (16; 50) and heats a second fluid source (26) to a temperature above 0 degrees C.