Satcom Antenna Desiccant Enclosure for Moisture Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Airborne RF antenna devices face moisture accumulation due to pressure changes, leading to corrosion and performance degradation, as they cannot be environmentally sealed without risking seal failure and moisture ingress.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a desiccant enclosure with desiccant material between outside and inside air pipes to absorb moisture during pressure equalization, ensuring reduced moisture levels within the antenna system's internal air volumes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the antenna system enclosure is vented to ambient air for pressure equalization, then air pressure changes are accommodated, but moisture is pumped into internal air volumes causing corrosion and performance degradation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepressure equalizationVSAvoidmoisture accumulation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A desiccant enclosure with desiccant material is positioned between the outside air pipe and inside air pipe to act as an intermediary. The desiccant material absorbs moisture from ambient air during pressure equalization, allowing the venting function to continue while preventing moisture ingress into internal air volumes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The air piping system is segmented into separate outside air pipe and inside air pipe pathways, with the desiccant enclosure inserted between them. This segmentation allows independent treatment of the air streams - ambient air passes through the desiccant for drying while internal air volume remains isolated from direct moisture exposure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the interior air volume is sealed to prevent moisture ingress, then moisture protection is improved, but seal bursting occurs due to ambient air pressure changes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemoisture protectionVSAvoidseal integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The desiccant enclosure serves as a mediator that allows the interior air volume to remain sealed while still managing moisture. By placing the desiccant in the air pipe pathway, moisture is removed from ambient air before it could reach the seal, eliminating the need for the seal to withstand full pressure differential stress.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The desiccant material performs preliminary moisture removal on ambient air before the air reaches the sealed interior volume. This preliminary action prevents moisture from ever reaching the seal interface, allowing the seal to focus solely on pressure containment without moisture exposure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Object-affected harmful factors

If desiccant material is placed between air pipes to absorb moisture, then moisture removal is achieved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemoisture removalVSAvoidsystem structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The desiccant enclosure is merged with the existing air pipe structure, utilizing the available space within the antenna system enclosure. The desiccant material is contained within an enclosure that integrates with the pressure equalization system, combining moisture removal functionality with the existing venting infrastructure rather than adding completely separate systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

Effectively removes moisture from internal air volumes, preventing corrosion and maintaining performance by ensuring dry conditions within the RF antenna device components.

Implementation Method 1

the desiccant material is configured to absorb moisture in the ambient air flowing from the outside air pipe to the inside air pipe through the desiccant enclosure

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS11594802B2Apparatuses for reducing air condensation in components of satcom antenna subsystem

Publication Date: 2023.02.28 THALES AVIONICS INC

AI summary

Some embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to an antenna system for an airplane. The antenna system including an antenna system enclosure and a desiccant enclosure within the antenna system enclosure and having desiccant material positioned between an outside air pipe and an inside air pipe, the inside air pipe extending from the desiccant enclosure to open to an interior air volume of at least one component of the antenna system within the antenna system enclosure, the outside air pipe extending from the desiccant enclosure to ambient air outside the antenna system enclosure, and the desiccant material is configured to absorb moisture in the ambient air flowing from the outside air pipe to the inside air pipe through the desiccant enclosure while air pressure is being equalized from outside to inside the antenna system enclosure.