Aircraft Porous Skin Performance Evaluation System

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Solution Overview

Problem

Aircraft systems with micro-perforations on aerodynamic surfaces face inefficiencies due to contamination such as dust, insects, or ice formation, which existing monitoring methods cannot accurately determine the need for cleaning to maintain effective boundary layer control.

Innovation Solution

A performance evaluation system for porous aircraft skin, incorporating a boundary layer control system with a purging system, sensors, and a processing unit to measure fluid properties and activate a cleaning device when performance criteria are met, ensuring optimal operation by continuously monitoring and maintaining the porous skin's efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If micro-perforations are used on aerodynamic surfaces to manipulate boundary layer airflow, then drag reduction is achieved, but contamination deposition on the micro-perforations renders the system less effective

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovedragVSAvoidboundary layer control effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary cleaning actions by detecting contamination trends and activating the purging system before contamination reaches critical levels that would compromise boundary layer control effectiveness. This proactive approach maintains drag reduction performance while preventing system failure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The performance evaluation system continuously monitors boundary layer control effectiveness and provides feedback to the purging system activation logic. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures the purging system operates only when contamination actually impacts performance, balancing drag reduction maintenance with energy consumption minimization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If existing monitoring methods are used to detect contamination in individual apertures, then contamination presence is detected, but the capability to determine if cleaning is critical is lacking

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontamination detectionVSAvoidcleaning necessity determination

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces a performance evaluation intermediary that translates individual aperture contamination detection data into overall boundary layer control performance assessment. This intermediary layer processes raw sensor data and determines whether contamination levels actually impact system effectiveness, enabling informed cleaning decisions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the measurement parameter from binary contamination presence/absence to continuous performance degradation assessment. By evaluating the actual impact on boundary layer control effectiveness rather than merely detecting contamination, the system determines cleaning necessity based on performance thresholds rather than arbitrary contamination levels.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Loss of energy

If the purging system continuously operates to maintain porous skin performance, then drag reduction is maintained, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovedragVSAvoidpurging system energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The purging system operates periodically based on contamination accumulation rates and performance degradation trends rather than continuously. The system activates purging operations at optimized intervals determined by sensor data analysis, maintaining drag reduction effectiveness while minimizing energy consumption through intermittent rather than continuous operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies partial purging action by targeting only those porous skin regions where contamination has reached performance-impacting levels, rather than uniformly purging the entire surface. This selective approach maintains effectiveness in critical areas while reducing overall energy consumption compared to full-system continuous purging.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

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 reduces drag by maintaining the porous skin's performance, allowing for efficient boundary layer control and extending the time before reaching minimum acceptable performance, thus enhancing aircraft efficiency and operational reliability.

Implementation Method 1

The porous skin includes at least a plurality of pores fluidly connecting the internal cavity to an external atmosphere

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPermeation: Permeation

Implementation Method 2

the diffuser is fluidly connecting the purging system to the internal cavity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVenturi effect: Venturi Effect

Data Source

PatentUS11845538B2Performance evaluation system of an aircraft component

Publication Date: 2023.12.19 AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH

AI summary

A system and a method for evaluating performance of a porous skin of an aircraft including the porous skin, and a boundary layer control system. The performance evaluation system includes a first sensor providing data related to the performance of the porous skin. The performance evaluation system is further configured to clean the porous skin based on the performance of the porous skin determined using the data received from the first sensor in order to ensure that the porous skin operates at its maximum capability.