Predictive Fuel Tank Maintenance Scheduling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for maintaining aircraft fuel tanks, such as draining fuel every 28 days and adding biocide, are wasteful, environmentally harmful, and inefficient, as they do not account for varying levels of microbial contamination over time.
Innovation Solution
A computer-based method that predicts microbial contamination levels in aircraft fuel tanks using environmental data and operational plans, allowing for optimized maintenance schedules that minimize waste and environmental impact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fuel tank is drained completely every 28 days and biocide is added, then microbial contamination is controlled, but fuel waste increases and environmental harm worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of maintenance frequency from fixed (every 28 days) to variable based on predicted microbial contamination levels. The system uses environmental data and machine learning models to dynamically adjust maintenance timing, allowing extensions beyond 28 days when contamination risk is low, thereby reducing fuel waste while maintaining effective contamination control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by predicting future microbial contamination levels before actual contamination occurs. The machine learning model forecasts contamination risks based on environmental conditions and operational data, enabling proactive scheduling of maintenance tasks only when necessary, thus avoiding unnecessary fuel drainage and biocide application.
2Reliability
If biocide is added to fuel tank, then microbial growth is prevented, but environmental harm increases and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring environmental data (temperature, humidity, location) and actual microbial contamination levels. This feedback loop allows the system to adjust biocide application timing and dosage based on real conditions rather than fixed schedules, applying biocide only when prediction models indicate necessary contamination risk, thereby reducing environmental harm while maintaining prevention effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the static, fixed-schedule biocide application into a dynamic system that adapts to changing environmental conditions and operational patterns. The machine learning model continuously updates maintenance recommendations based on new data, making biocide application frequency and timing flexible rather than rigid, thus minimizing environmental impact while ensuring microbial growth prevention when needed.
3Device complexity
If fixed 28-day maintenance schedule is used, then maintenance planning is simple, but maintenance efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the simple but inefficient mechanical scheduling system (fixed calendar-based 28-day intervals) with an intelligent system using machine learning models and environmental sensing. This substitution increases initial system complexity but dramatically improves maintenance efficiency by optimizing task timing based on actual contamination risks, reducing unnecessary maintenance operations while ensuring timely intervention when needed.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method of determining a maintenance schedule or maintenance plan for a fuel tank of an aircraft. In a training phase, a predictive model is trained with training data. The training data is associated with fuel tanks of plural aircraft. The training data comprises environmental data indicative of an environmental parameter at locations of the plural aircraft, and test data which is indicative of a level of microbial contamination of fuel in fuel tanks of the plural aircraft. In a prediction phase, input data is received and the predictive model is operated, along with an optimisation algorithm, to determine a maintenance schedule or maintenance plan. One or more microbial contamination maintenance tasks are performed on the fuel tank based on the maintenance schedule or maintenance plan.