Aircraft Vent Tank Flame Barrier Design
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft fuel tank systems face issues with high-pressure surges of liquid fuel during filling, which can damage the system, especially when fuel is cold and viscous, and vent tanks are often space-inefficiently located, requiring effective pressure equalization and venting solutions.
Innovation Solution
The system incorporates a vent tank with a minimal ullage design, a vent pipe for direct fluid flow, and flame barrier means within the vent pipe to prevent flame ingress and facilitate liquid fuel egress, along with ice screen means to prevent ice buildup, ensuring efficient venting and space optimization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If vent tanks are designed with larger liquid fuel capacity to handle surges, then fuel surge capacity is improved, but space efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the vent tank in the wing tip area, utilizing the lateral/directional space rather than increasing vertical depth. This dimensional approach allows the vent tank to handle fuel surges without compromising the space efficiency of the main fuel storage areas, resolving the contradiction between surge capacity and space efficiency.
2Volume of moving object
If vent tank is positioned in space-restricted areas like wing tips, then space efficiency is improved, but pressure equalization capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The venting system is segmented into multiple components: the vent tank positioned in the wing tip, vent pipes with flame barrier means, and ice screen means. This segmentation allows the vent tank to occupy restricted space while the specialized venting components handle pressure equalization functions, resolving the contradiction between space efficiency and pressure equalization capability.
3Device complexity
If conventional venting systems are used, then simplicity is maintained, but protection against flame ingress and ice buildup deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The flame barrier means and ice screen means act as intermediary protective elements within the vent pipe system. These intermediaries block harmful factors (flames and ice) without requiring complete system redesign, thus providing enhanced protection while maintaining relatively simple system architecture.
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 configuration effectively manages pressure surges, prevents damage from high-pressure fuel, and optimizes space usage by ensuring efficient venting and flame protection, even in restricted areas like wing tips, while maintaining flow efficiency and safety.
Implementation Method 1
flame barrier means arranged within the vent pipe so as to provide a barrier to ingress to the vent tank of a flame front external to the vent tank
Implementation Method 2
a vent pipe having a first open end in fluid communication with the ullage vent means and a second open end positioned within the minimal ullage of the vent tank, the vent pipe being arranged to provide a substantially direct nominally vertical fluid flow path
Implementation Method 3
Vent tanks are arranged to allow air to flow from atmosphere into the fuel tanks as they are drained and to allow air, fuel vapour or inerting gasses or a mixture of these to flow out of the tanks to atmosphere as the tanks are filled
Data Source
AI summary
An aircraft fuel tank system is disclosed in which a vent tank is provided with a compact vent pipe comprising one or more built-in flame barrier elements providing high liquid fuel outflow rate.