Thermal Transport Bus Fire Extinguishing System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current aircraft fire extinguishing systems are inefficient in deploying fire extinguishing agents uniformly and effectively across the aircraft, particularly in areas with abnormal heat detection, and require separate systems for fire suppression, leading to increased weight and complexity.
Innovation Solution
The integration of a thermal transport bus (TTB) system that uses supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2) as a fire extinguishing agent, where fire extinguishing valves and nozzles are incorporated into the TTB architecture to release sCO2 in designated locations based on heat detection, allowing for sequential discharge from multiple sources to ensure complete fire extinguishment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate fire suppression systems are used, then fire extinguishing capability is ensured, but system weight and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal transport bus is designed to serve dual purposes: as a plumbing network for thermal management and as an agent reservoir for fire suppression. The same bus carries both thermal management fluid and stores fire extinguishing agent, eliminating the need for separate fire suppression system components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the thermal transport bus and fire extinguishing agent reservoir into a single integrated system. The bus structure serves both thermal management and fire suppression functions, reducing overall system complexity and weight while maintaining both capabilities.
2Reliability
If separate fire suppression systems are used, then fire extinguishing capability is ensured, but system weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal transport bus performs multiple functions including thermal management fluid transport and fire extinguishing agent storage. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated fire suppression system components, thereby reducing overall system weight.
Solution Approach 2:
By merging the thermal transport bus and fire extinguishing agent reservoir into one integrated structure, the patent eliminates redundant components and reduces the total weight of the aircraft system while maintaining fire suppression capability.
3Area of stationary object
If fire extinguishing agent is deployed uniformly, then coverage is improved, but effectiveness in abnormal heat areas is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs multiple nozzles distributed at different locations along the thermal transport bus, with each nozzle positioned to target specific areas of the aircraft. This localized deployment strategy ensures that fire extinguishing agent is delivered precisely where heat abnormalities are detected, rather than uniform distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The fire suppression system is segmented into multiple discrete nozzle units distributed along the thermal transport bus. This segmentation allows independent operation of individual nozzles based on detected fire locations, enabling targeted deployment in abnormal heat areas while maintaining overall coverage capability.
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
This approach reduces the weight and volume of fire extinguishing systems by dual-purposing the TTB as both a plumbing network and agent reservoir, providing effective and efficient fire suppression across the aircraft by deploying sCO2 as a natural extinguishing agent, meeting FAA requirements for sequential discharges.
Implementation Method 1
a thermal transport bus to transfer heat between fluids on an aircraft using a working fluid
Implementation Method 2
CO2-based fire extinguishers... CO2 is easily liquified by compressed and cooling, remaining in a closed container as both a liquid and a gas, the liquid expanding to a gas during discharging into the atmosphere. Absorption of heat by CO2 gas during vaporization cools the remaining liquid, resulting in solid dry ice particles that act as a blanketing agent.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus for dual-purposing of thermal transport bus (TTB) working fluid as a fire extinguishing agent are disclosed herein. An example fire extinguishing system includes a thermal transport bus to transfer heat between fluids on an aircraft using a working fluid, and a fire extinguishing nozzle connected to the thermal transport bus, the fire extinguishing nozzle positioned to deploy the working fluid as a fire extinguishing agent to a location of the aircraft.