Porous Transpirational Cooling Panel for Heat and Surface Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

High-temperature components in aerospace and other vehicles face challenges with weight, deformation, and thermal stress due to the use of heavy heat-resistant materials like INCONEL, which also reflect radar and have low emissivity, making it difficult to manage heat effectively while maintaining structural integrity.

Innovation Solution

A transpirational cooling panel comprising a porous ceramic matrix composite layer, a porous high-temperature fabric layer, and machined ceramic fiber batting with ceramic stitching, allowing for efficient heat absorption and dissipation without distorting the surface structure, reducing weight, and minimizing turbulence in laminar flows.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If heavy heat-resistant materials like INCONEL are used, then structural integrity at high temperatures is improved, but weight increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidweight
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a composite structure consisting of a porous ceramic matrix composite layer combined with a porous high-temperature fabric layer and machined ceramic fiber batting. This composite material system provides the necessary structural integrity at high temperatures while significantly reducing weight compared to solid metal alloys like INCONEL.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes porous ceramic matrix composite and porous high-temperature fabric layers with controlled porosity. The porous structure reduces material density and weight while maintaining sufficient mechanical strength and thermal resistance through the remaining solid framework, directly addressing the weight-strength contradiction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

2Temperature

If traditional heat-resistant materials are used, then high temperature resistance is improved, but heat management becomes difficult due to low emissivity and radar reflection

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehigh temperature resistanceVSAvoidheat management difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies a porous ceramic matrix composite coating on the exterior surface that possesses high emissivity properties. This coating layer modifies the thermal radiation characteristics of the underlying structure, enabling efficient heat dissipation through radiation while the porous structure also reduces radar reflection, thus improving heat management without sacrificing high-temperature resistance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

3Temperature

If cooling structures are added to manage heat, then heat management is improved, but surface uniformity deteriorates causing turbulence in laminar flows

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat managementVSAvoidsurface uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates machined ceramic fiber batting with precisely controlled local properties. The batting is machined to specific densities and thermal conductivities in different regions, allowing optimized heat management in high-heat zones while maintaining smooth, uniform surfaces in flow-critical areas. This localized property variation enables simultaneous achievement of effective cooling and surface uniformity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 provides effective heat management at high temperatures, reduces weight, and prevents deformation, ensuring structural integrity and efficient cooling while maintaining a uniform surface, thus addressing the limitations of traditional heat-resistant materials.

Implementation Method 1

Transpirational cooling panel

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTranspirational cooling: Transpiration

Implementation Method 2

solvent is evaporated from the ceramic fiber batting

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Implementation Method 3

saturating one or more layers of a ceramic fiber batting with a polymer solution

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Implementation Method 4

The pre-panel structure is heated to remove the polymer from within the ceramic batting

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal decomposition: Pyrolysis

Implementation Method 5

forming a ceramic matrix composite skin that incorporates the ceramic fabric layer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSintering: Sintering

Data Source

PatentEP4299302A1Transpirational cooling panel
Publication Date: 2024.01.03 THE BOEING CO
  • EP4299302A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4299302A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4299302A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A transpirational cooling panel comprises a porous ceramic matrix composite layer and a porous high-temperature fabric layer. A machined ceramic fiber batting is located between the porous ceramic matrix composite layer and the porous high-temperature fabric layer. A ceramic stitching joins the porous ceramic matrix composite layer and the porous high-temperature fabric layer through the machined ceramic fiber batting.