Autonomous Self-Sealing Fuel Tank Using Segmented Reagent Cells
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current self-sealing fuel tank technologies rely on fuel contact to activate sealing mechanisms, which is inefficient and not effective with changing fuel compositions, and struggle to balance weight reduction with ballistic and crashworthy performance.
Innovation Solution
A polymeric structure with separated reagent cells that chemically react upon penetration to form a sealant, independent of fuel contact, using a frangible polymeric sheet and elastomeric layers with fibrous materials to minimize hole size and facilitate reagent mixing and expansion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fuel contact is used to activate sealing mechanisms, then the sealing process is initiated, but the system becomes inefficient and ineffective with changing fuel compositions
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel tank wall is segmented into multiple layers including an inner liner, nylon fuel barrier, sealant layer, and retainer layer. The sealant is further segmented into separate first and second reagent cells that remain isolated until penetration occurs, at which point the reagents mix to activate sealing
Solution Approach 2:
The first and second reagents are pre-positioned in separate cells within the sealant layer during manufacturing. The frangible polymeric sheet is pre-installed between the reagent cells. Upon penetration, these pre-positioned elements automatically mix and react without requiring fuel contact to initiate the sealing process
2Weight of moving object
If weight reduction is pursued in fuel tank design, then system weight decreases, but ballistic and crashworthy performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel tank utilizes thin elastomeric layers and flexible polymeric structures that provide adequate protection while minimizing weight. The multi-layer construction with elastomeric materials provides flexibility and damage tolerance without requiring heavy rigid structures
Solution Approach 2:
The fuel tank employs composite construction combining elastomeric layers, polymeric materials, and fibrous reinforcement. This composite approach provides enhanced strength and ballistic performance relative to the weight, achieving the desired balance between weight reduction and protection levels
3Reliability
If sealant material swelling is used for self-sealing, then the hole is sealed, but the process requires fuel contact and prolonged swelling time
Solution Approach 1:
The sealant system uses chemical parameter changes rather than physical swelling. When the frangible sheet breaks and reagents mix, they undergo a rapid chemical reaction that forms a sealant material, providing immediate sealing action without the time-consuming swelling process
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical swelling mechanism with a chemical reaction mechanism. Instead of relying on fuel-absorbing swelling of rubber materials, the system uses a chemical reaction between first and second reagents to directly form a sealant that plugs the penetration hole
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 provides a versatile, autonomous self-sealing solution that effectively seals perforations without fuel contact, maintaining protection levels while allowing for weight reduction and compatibility with various fuel formulations.
Implementation Method 1
When the first reagent and the second reagent mix due to a perforation through some of the first cells and some of the second cells allowing the first reagent and the second reagent to mix, the first reagent and the second reagent chemically react forming a sealant
Implementation Method 2
The first reagent may have a foaming agent that causes expansion of the combined first reagent and the second reagent whenever the first reagent and the second reagent are mixed
Implementation Method 3
After perforation by the penetrator, the elastic materials in the fuel tank wall spring back to yield a small entrance and exit hole
Data Source
AI summary
A seal-healing material that is used to form fuel tanks and other fuel containing items uses a pair of reagents disposed within multiple individual cells on either side of a polymer film with other polymer films forming the outer boundaries of each set of cells. The reagents, when mixed, chemically react to form a sealant. An elastomeric sheet is bound to each polymer film such that a fibrous material is disposed between each polymeric film and elastomeric film.