Water Detector Probe Segmentation for Fuel Contamination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water detector probes in fuel/separator systems can produce false signals due to contamination or corrosion, leading to potential hazards when trying to detect small water quantities, as they are not effectively wetted on the fuel side, which can result in incorrect operation and safety risks.
Innovation Solution
A water detector probe design featuring a conductive main body, an elongate electrically conductive means with a shroud and water metering system, allowing for controlled water injection to create a fluid-tight reservoir and ensure electrical continuity when water is present, thus preventing false signals and ensuring safe operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If water is injected into the sump of a fuel/separator for periodic testing, then the electrical sensing system can be tested, but too much water could result in contaminated fuel being pumped into an aircraft
Solution Approach 1:
The probe is divided into separate functional zones: a testing cavity for water injection and a fuel sampling port for actual water detection. This segmentation allows water to be introduced for testing purposes without contaminating the fuel stream, as the testing cavity is isolated from the fuel flow path.
Solution Approach 2:
The probe body acts as an intermediary structure that separates the water injection function from the fuel sampling function. The testing cavity serves as an intermediate chamber where water can be introduced to test electrical continuity without directly mixing with the fuel in the sump.
2Reliability
If water is injected into the internal cavity of the probe for periodic testing, then electrical continuity can be established, but false signals can occur during the test if the fuel side of the probe has been contaminated or corroded
Solution Approach 1:
The probe features different surface properties in different regions: the internal cavity surface is designed to be wettable by injected water for electrical continuity testing, while the external fuel-side surface maintains its original properties for actual water detection. This local differentiation ensures that testing does not interfere with measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The testing cavity is prepared in advance with a clean, wettable surface that is isolated from the fuel-side contamination. This preliminary preparation ensures that water injected for testing will establish electrical continuity reliably, without being affected by prior contamination on the fuel-side surface.
3Reliability
If the conducting surface of the probe is prevented from being wetted by water in the sump due to contamination or corrosion, then false signals can occur, but the probe cannot detect very small quantities of water
Solution Approach 1:
The probe separates the testing function from the detection function into distinct zones. The internal cavity provides a controlled environment for testing electrical continuity, while the external surface maintains its sensitivity for detecting trace water quantities in the fuel sump.
Solution Approach 2:
The testing cavity creates a simplified copy of the detection environment within the probe body. By introducing water into this controlled cavity, the system can test electrical continuity without requiring the actual fuel-side surface to be wetted, thus avoiding false signals while maintaining detection sensitivity.
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 probe effectively detects small water quantities without causing hazards, ensuring accurate operation and preventing contaminated fuel from being pumped into aircraft engines by ensuring the conductive surfaces are properly wetted, reducing the risk of false signals and maintaining safety.
Implementation Method 1
an elongate electrically conductive means disposed within the body having an internal passageway... means for coupling the body and the conductive means to a source of electrical potential to cause an electrical signal to be generated when water is sensed in the reservoir of the shroud
Implementation Method 2
water metering means communicating with the inlet of the internal passageway of the electrically conductive means... actuator means for moving the conductive means within the body to and from a position where the cavity of the shroud forms a fluid-tight reservoir
Data Source
AI summary
A water detector probe is disclosed which can be wetted with a small quantity of water and including a manually operated screw-type pump to force the water into an electrically conductive central passageway and thence into contact with the fuel side and, as well as, the grounded main body of the probe to complete an electrical circuit which, in turn, controls fuel flow to an aircraft, for example.