Vane Assembly for Stratified Fluid Distribution in Aircraft
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft systems face inefficiencies due to large temperature stratification in bleed air streams, which can lead to suboptimal performance in wing anti-icing and environmental control systems if not properly managed.
Innovation Solution
A vane assembly within a duct is used to direct stratified fluid streams from a precooler, ensuring that the higher and lower temperature portions are distributed effectively to the wing anti-icing and environmental control systems, respectively, by utilizing a vane with a helicoid configuration that bisects the duct and directs each portion to its appropriate outlet.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single duct is used to distribute bleed air from the precooler, then the device complexity is reduced, but the temperature stratification in the fluid stream increases leading to inefficient system operation
Solution Approach 1:
The single duct is segmented into multiple outlet ducts (first outlet duct and second outlet duct) that are spatially separated. The vane assembly divides the stratified fluid stream into distinct portions, directing each portion to appropriate outlets. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by maintaining simple overall structure while creating functional divisions to manage temperature stratification effectively.
2Ease of operation
If the stratified bleed air stream is distributed without management, then the ease of operation is maintained, but the efficiency of the wing anti-icing and environmental control systems deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Different portions of the stratified fluid stream are directed to different outlets based on their temperature characteristics. The vane assembly creates local quality differentiation by directing cooler portions to one outlet and warmer portions to another, ensuring each system receives appropriately temperature-matched fluid for optimal efficiency while maintaining ease of operation.
3Temperature
If the higher temperature portion of bleed air is directed to the environmental control system, then the temperature demand of ECS is met, but the wing anti-icing system receives insufficient temperature leading to poor performance
Solution Approach 1:
The vane assembly applies local quality by directing specific temperature portions of the stratified stream to specific outlets. Cooler portions are directed to the wing anti-icing system while warmer portions are directed to the environmental control system, ensuring each system receives fluid with appropriate temperature characteristics for reliable operation.
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 solution improves the efficiency of both the wing anti-icing and environmental control systems by ensuring that the stratified fluid is distributed in a manner that optimizes temperature usage, preventing potential adverse effects on system performance.
Implementation Method 1
The bleed air stream leaving the precooler frequently suffers from a large temperature stratification (i.e., large cold/hot temperature variation)
Data Source
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AI summary
A vane assembly for distribution of a stratified fluid in an aircraft is taught herein. The vane assembly includes a housing including a housing inlet and a housing outlet. The housing inlet is configured to receive the stratified fluid with the stratified fluid including a first portion and a second portion. The housing outlet is configured to exhaust the stratified fluid. The housing defines an interior housing volume between the housing inlet and the housing outlet. The vane assembly further includes a vane disposed within the interior housing volume and bisecting the interior housing volume. The vane includes a leading edge adjacent the housing inlet and a trailing edge adjacent the housing outlet. The trailing edge is angularly offset from the leading edge.