Aircraft Hydrogen Pipe Connector Jacket for Leak Containment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for transporting gaseous hydrogen in aircrafts face challenges in optimizing adaptability and reducing leakage probability in complex aircraft structures, particularly at pipe connections.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a first and second pipe connected by a connector, surrounded by a protective jacket made of flexible material like nitrile rubber, with an orienting device and a sensor for detecting leaks, to enhance reliability and minimize hydrogen leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If pipe sections are connected one to another using connectors, then adaptability to different aircraft structures is improved, but leakage probability increases at connection zones
Solution Approach 1:
A flexible protective jacket made of elastomeric material (such as nitrile rubber) is disposed around the connecting zone of pipe sections. The jacket acts as a flexible barrier that contains potential hydrogen leaks at connection points while maintaining adaptability to different aircraft structures through modular pipe section design.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective jacket serves as an intermediary element between the pipe connection and the external environment. It mediates by containing any potential hydrogen leakage within the jacket, preventing direct release into the aircraft environment while allowing the connection to function normally.
2Reliability
If a protective jacket is added around the connecting zone, then leakage probability is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The protective jacket is implemented as a simple flexible sleeve rather than a complex mechanical containment system. This single-component approach reduces overall system complexity compared to rigid containment structures while effectively addressing leakage concerns.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective jacket is designed as a simple, replaceable component that can be easily installed and removed. If degradation or damage occurs, the entire jacket can be replaced as a single unit without affecting the pipe connection itself, simplifying maintenance procedures.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the protective jacket is made of flexible material like rubber, then it can accommodate movement and vibration, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The protective jacket is made of flexible elastomeric material that can deform and conform to the pipe connection geometry. This flexibility compensates for manufacturing tolerances and allows the jacket to accommodate thermal expansion, vibration, and movement without requiring extremely tight manufacturing precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastomeric material properties (such as durometer hardness and elasticity) are selected to provide optimal balance between flexibility for movement accommodation and sufficient structural integrity for leak containment. The material parameters are chosen to ensure proper fit without requiring ultra-precise manufacturing.
Data Source
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AI summary
A system (1) for transporting a gaseous fluid, like dihydrogen, comprising a first pipe for transporting said fluid, called first pipe (2), a second pipe for transporting said fluid, called second pipe (3), and a connector (4) arranged to connect an end, called first connecting end (6), of the first pipe (2) to an end, called second connecting end (7), of the second pipe (3), a zone (Z) comprising the first connecting end (6) of the first pipe (2), the second connecting end (7) of the second pipe (3) and the connector (4) being called connecting zone (Z), the system (1) comprising a protective jacket (5) around the connecting zone (Z) against said first and second connecting ends (6, 7) and said connector (4).