Protective Plate for Hydrogen Supply Line in Aircraft Propulsion

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Solution Overview

Problem

The dihydrogen pipe in aircraft propulsion units is at risk of being damaged by detached turbine or compressor blades, which can pass through the casing and potentially cut the pipe due to their high speed.

Innovation Solution

A protective plate is fixed to the chassis between the dihydrogen pipe and the turbine, with a front fixing system and two lateral fixing systems that provide a barrier to divert or stop detached blades from reaching the pipe.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the hydrogen pipe passes through the frame to reach the combustion chamber, then the pipe can supply hydrogen to the engine system, but the pipe is exposed to risk of being cut by detached turbine or compressor blades

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehydrogen supply reliabilityVSAvoidblade damage risk to hydrogen pipe

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A protective plate is introduced as an intermediary element between the hydrogen pipe and the turbine/compressor blades. This plate serves as a barrier that intercepts detached blades before they can reach and damage the hydrogen pipe, while allowing the hydrogen pipe to maintain its routing through the frame for reliable fuel supply.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a protective plate is added between the turbine and hydrogen pipe, then the hydrogen pipe is protected from blade damage, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehydrogen pipe protectionVSAvoidpropulsion unit structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The protective plate is designed as a simple, relatively inexpensive component that can be easily replaced if damaged. This approach accepts the added complexity as a trade-off for protection, but minimizes the impact by using a straightforward plate structure rather than a complex active protection system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Strength

If the protective plate is fixed rigidly to the chassis, then the plate provides stable protection, but the plate may be damaged by high-speed blade impact

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotective plate stabilityVSAvoidimpact resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The protective plate is mounted with articulation or flexibility rather than rigid fixation, allowing it to move or deform upon impact with detached blades. This dynamic mounting approach enables the plate to absorb impact energy through controlled movement while maintaining its protective function and preventing damage to both the plate and the hydrogen pipe.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4331993B1Propulsion assembly for aircraft

Publication Date: 2025.06.11 AIRBUS OPERATIONS (SAS)

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AI summary

The invention relates to a propulsion assembly (151) for an aircraft comprising a frame (180), a propulsion system (150) including a core (152) enclosed in a casing (154) and comprising a combustion chamber (158) and a turbine (160), a supply line (170) for conveying hydrogen to the combustion chamber (158) and which winds outside the casing (154) opposite the turbine (160) before entering the combustion chamber (158) through the casing (154), and a protective plate (182) fixed to the frame (180) and disposed between the casing (154) and the supply line (170). With such an arrangement, a turbine blade that detaches will encounter the protective plate, which blocks its path to the hydrogen line, and will then be deflected or stopped.