Hydrogen Aircraft Fuel-Tank Layout for Smaller Tail Structures
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hydrogen-powered aircraft designs with hydrogen fuel tanks in the rear of the cabin disrupt the gravity center, leading to reduced fuel efficiency and flight range due to the need for a larger tail area to maintain stability.
Innovation Solution
The hydrogen fuel tank is positioned in front of the accommodation chamber in the fuselage, maintaining a balanced weight distribution and increasing the distance from the tail, thus reducing the tail's required size and enhancing fuel efficiency and flight range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the hydrogen fuel tank is arranged in the rear of the cabin, then the gravity center is closer to the rear, but the tail area must be increased to ensure stable operability, leading to increased aircraft weight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional arrangement by placing the hydrogen fuel tank in the front of the accommodation chamber rather than in the rear. This inversion shifts the gravity center forward, increasing the moment arm of the tail and allowing for a smaller tail area while maintaining stable operability, thereby reducing overall aircraft weight
2Stability of the object's composition
If the hydrogen fuel tank is arranged in the rear of the cabin, then the gravity center is closer to the rear, but the tail area must be increased to ensure stable operability, leading to reduced fuel efficiency and flight range
Solution Approach 1:
By inverting the fuel tank arrangement to position it in front of the accommodation chamber, the patent increases the distance between the gravity center and the tail. This longer moment arm reduces the required tail area, thereby reducing the weight penalty that would otherwise limit flight range and fuel efficiency
3Duration of action of moving object
If the hydrogen fuel tank is arranged in the front of the accommodation chamber, then the weight distribution is balanced and flight range is increased, but the fuel tank capacity may be limited by available space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the longitudinal dimension of the fuselage by positioning the fuel tank in the front section, effectively using the front-to-back length of the aircraft body. This dimensional arrangement optimizes both weight distribution and fuel capacity by leveraging the full length of the fuselage rather than concentrating fuel storage in a single rear compartment
Data Source
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AI summary
A hydrogen-powered aircraft (1) includes: a fuselage (11) extending in a front-rear direction; a tail (13) attached to a rear end of the fuselage (11); a wing (12) attached to a portion of the fuselage (11) located in front of the tail (13); an accommodation chamber (4) located in the fuselage (11) to accommodate at least one of passengers or cargos; and a hydrogen fuel tank (3A) located in front of the accommodation chamber (4) in the fuselage (11) and storing a hydrogen fuel.