Pressurized Fuel Delivery Layout for Safer Torpedo Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing land-based testing of torpedoes with pressurized Otto fuel poses a risk of uncontrolled reactions due to large quantities of combustible fuel, leading to potential structural damage.
Innovation Solution
A fuel delivery system that separates bulk fuel storage at low pressure from the on-board tank, using sensors, relief valves, and detonation traps to limit and control the amount of pressurized fuel, thereby reducing the risk of uncontrolled reactions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If a large quantity of pressurized Otto fuel is stored on board the test torpedo to enable extended testing, then the duration of action of the moving object is improved, but the object-generated harmful factors worsen due to increased risk of uncontrolled reactions and potential structural damage
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel delivery system is segmented into multiple independent components: a bulk fuel storage tank outside the test cell, a high-pressure pump, pressure regulators, and an on-board fuel tank within the test cell. This segmentation allows the bulk fuel to be stored at low pressure externally while only minimal fuel is pressurized internally, reducing the harmful effects of having large quantities of pressurized combustible fuel in the test cell while still enabling extended testing duration.
2Productivity
If bulk fuel is stored at high pressure to ensure adequate supply for extended testing, then the productivity is improved, but the object-generated harmful factors worsen due to increased susceptibility to inadvertent reactions
Solution Approach 1:
Different pressure conditions are applied to different parts of the fuel storage system. The bulk fuel storage tank located outside the test cell maintains low pressure to ensure fuel stability and minimize reaction risks. Meanwhile, a small portion of fuel in the on-board tank within the test cell is pressurized to the required level for engine operation. This local differentiation of pressure quality allows the system to maintain both fuel stability and adequate delivery rate.
Solution Approach 2:
A high-pressure pump and pressure regulation system act as intermediaries between the low-pressure bulk fuel storage and the high-pressure on-board fuel tank. This intermediary mechanism enables fuel to be transferred and pressurized on-demand, allowing bulk fuel to be stored at safe low pressure while still providing high-pressure fuel to the engine when needed, thus maintaining both productivity and fuel stability.
3Device complexity
If the test cell contains all fuel storage and delivery components to simplify the system, then the device complexity is reduced, but the object-affected harmful factors worsen due to increased exposure of combustible fuel to test conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The bulk fuel storage tank is extracted from the test cell and relocated to an external location. Only the essential high-pressure fuel delivery components needed for engine operation are retained within the test cell. This extraction removes the majority of combustible fuel from the test environment, significantly reducing the object-affected harmful factors while the fuel delivery system maintains adequate fuel supply to the engine throughout the testing process.
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 minimizes the scale of fuel reactions and damage by limiting pressurized fuel quantities and incorporating safety mechanisms to prevent propagation and overheating, ensuring safe and controlled testing conditions.
Implementation Method 1
A positive displacement pump is used to pressurize fuel
Implementation Method 2
A plurality of valves and sensors included proximate to the positive displacement pump control and monitor pressure
Implementation Method 3
A plurality of valves and sensors included proximate to the positive displacement pump control and monitor pressure, temperature, and speed of the pressurized fluid
Implementation Method 4
reaction suppression fitting means (e.g., detonation traps) at outlets of each of the bulk fuel storage tank and on-board fuel tank
Data Source
AI summary
Systems are provided for an engine fuel delivery system for vehicles under test. In one example, a fuel delivery system includes a bulk fuel storage tank to house bulk fuel at low pressure and an on-board fuel tank to house smaller quantities of pressurized fuel to be fed to a vehicle propulsion system. The fuel delivery system further includes a positive displacement pump to pressurize fuel from the bulk fuel storage tank and feed fuel to the on-board fuel tank. A plurality of valves and sensors are further included with an arrangement of fuel lines to monitor and direct fuel flowing in the fuel delivery system.