Hydrogen Fuel Purge Venting for Leak-Safe Aircraft Delivery Lines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hydrogen fuel poses challenges due to its low boiling point, low power density, tendency to seep through materials, and high reactivity, making it difficult to handle and store safely in aircraft fuel systems.
Innovation Solution
A hydrogen fuel purge system that actively purges fuel lines, fittings, and components using an inert purge gas to remove hydrogen in case of leaks, with a system that includes vaporizers to maintain hydrogen in the liquid phase and a purge gas delivery system to vent hydrogen externally.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If hydrogen fuel is used to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, then environmental performance is improved, but safety and handling difficulty worsen due to hydrogen's low boiling point, high reactivity, and tendency to seep through materials
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a purge gas system that fills the fuel tank and fuel delivery assembly with inert nitrogen gas to create an inert atmosphere. This prevents hydrogen from contacting oxygen, eliminating the risk of combustion or explosion while maintaining the safety of hydrogen fuel usage for reducing carbon dioxide emissions
2Ease of operation
If hydrogen fuel is stored and delivered in the system, then fuel supply function is achieved, but hydrogen leakage through fuel lines and components worsens due to hydrogen's tendency to seep through materials
Solution Approach 1:
The purge gas system continuously maintains an inert nitrogen atmosphere throughout the fuel delivery assembly, preventing hydrogen from penetrating through fuel lines and components by displacing hydrogen with inert gas in areas where leakage could occur
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses nitrogen purge gas as an intermediary substance between the hydrogen fuel and the external environment. The purge gas acts as a barrier that prevents hydrogen from seeping through materials while allowing the fuel system to operate normally
3Reliability
If a purge gas system is added to manage hydrogen leaks, then safety is improved, but system complexity worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The purge gas system is designed to automatically maintain inert atmosphere conditions without requiring complex external control systems. The system uses the existing engine operation to drive the purge gas flow, making the safety function self-sustaining and reducing overall system complexity
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 manages hydrogen fuel leaks by purging and venting hydrogen externally, ensuring safety and stability in aircraft fuel systems, reducing the risk of ignition and improving handling of hydrogen fuel.
Implementation Method 1
at least one vaporizer in communication with the fuel delivery assembly and configured to heat the liquid hydrogen to a gaseous phase or a supercritical phase
Implementation Method 2
The purge gas delivery assembly is fluidly coupled to the fuel delivery assembly and configured to direct the purge gas flow through the fuel delivery assembly
Data Source
AI summary
A hydrogen fuel system including a fuel delivery assembly, a purge gas source, and a vent. The fuel delivery assembly is configured to receive hydrogen fuel from a hydrogen fuel source and to provide the hydrogen fuel from the hydrogen fuel source to a power generator. The purge gas source is fluidly coupled to the fuel delivery assembly and configured to provide a purge gas to the fuel delivery assembly. The vent is fluidly coupled to the fuel delivery assembly and configured to vent hydrogen fuel from the fuel delivery assembly when the purge gas is provided to the fuel delivery assembly.