Fuel Tank Protrusions for Hydrodynamic Ram Mitigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-speed projectile impacts on liquid storage tanks generate intense hydrodynamic ram pressure, leading to catastrophic failures due to shock waves and pressure pulses, which existing technologies have not adequately addressed.
Innovation Solution
A fuel storage system with a fuel tank featuring a plurality of polygon-shaped protrusions extending from its internal surface, made from materials like carbon fibre composite, plastic, or metal, which absorb and dissipate the impact energy of projectiles, reducing hydrodynamic ram damage by creating meandering paths and breaking up shock waves.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the fuel tank is equipped with a smooth internal surface, then the manufacturing is simple and easy, but the hydrodynamic ram pressure from projectile impact causes catastrophic failure
Solution Approach 1:
The internal surface is segmented into multiple discrete protrusions distributed across the tank interior. These protrusions divide the liquid storage space into multiple zones, disrupting the propagation path of shock waves and pressure pulses generated by projectile impact, thereby reducing hydrodynamic ram pressure on the tank walls.
Solution Approach 2:
The protrusions create localized regions of different fluid dynamics characteristics within the tank. The areas around protrusions experience altered pressure distributions and flow patterns compared to flat surface regions, which helps dissipate energy from shock waves and prevents uniform pressure loading on the tank structure.
2Reliability
If protrusions are added to reduce hydrodynamic ram pressure, then the tank's ability to sustain impact is improved, but the tank capacity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The protrusions are designed to occupy only a portion of the available internal space, specifically less than 15% of the tank capacity. This partial action approach provides sufficient shock wave disruption and hydrodynamic ram pressure reduction while maintaining the majority of the tank's liquid storage capacity for operational requirements.
3Reliability
If complex protrusion structures are used to break up shock waves, then the protection against catastrophic failure is enhanced, but the manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The protrusions are designed with substantially uniform dimensions, shapes, and spacing throughout the tank interior. This homogeneous arrangement simplifies manufacturing by allowing standardized production and placement of identical components, reducing fabrication complexity and cost while still providing effective shock wave disruption through their collective arrangement.
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 effectively reduces hydrodynamic ram damage and pressure pulses within the tank, minimizing the risk of catastrophic failure while being lightweight, easy to manufacture, and requiring minimal tank capacity, thus enhancing the tank's ability to sustain projectile impacts without structural damage.
Implementation Method 1
A high speed projectile on impact with and penetration into a liquid containing tank generates very high pressure in the liquid. This phenomenon, known as hydrodynamic ram, typically includes the generation of shock waves and subsequent pressure pulses in the liquid.
Implementation Method 2
This phenomenon, known as hydrodynamic ram, typically includes the generation of shock waves and subsequent pressure pulses in the liquid.
Implementation Method 3
The protrusions may be arranged such that spaces between the protrusions define one or more meandering paths across the internal surface of the tank from which the protrusions extend.
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is a liquid storage system comprising a tank (16) for containing a liquid, said tank (16) enclosing a liquid storage space (14), and a plurality of spaced apart protrusions (18b) extending from an internal surface of the tank (16) into the liquid storage space (14). The protrusions (18b) are resistant to deformation and deflection caused by shockwaves (30) within a liquid in the tank (16) resulting from impact of a projectile (24) with the tank (16), for example, the protrusions (18b) may be rigid and be polygonal prisms in shape.