Wireless Fuel Tank Sensor Power via Energy Harvesting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft fuel tank sensors face power limitations due to high-resistance wires, which restrict electrical energy entry to prevent sparks, but these wires cannot provide continuous power to sensors, necessitating an alternative power delivery method.
Innovation Solution
A system that wirelessly transmits electric power to sensors within the fuel tank, utilizing energy harvesting from aircraft vibrations, fluid movement, or piezoelectric elements, and provides trickle power via high-resistance communication lines to enable periodic status message transmission when primary power is lost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If high-resistance wire is used to couple sensor to interrogator, then electrical energy entering fuel tank is limited to prevent sparks, but power supplied to sensor becomes insufficient for continuous operation
Solution Approach 1:
A wireless power transmission device acts as an intermediary between the interrogator and the sensor. The device includes a power transmission antenna that wirelessly transmits power to the sensor, and a power harvesting antenna that harvests energy from the high-resistance communication line. This intermediary system allows the sensor to receive sufficient power for continuous operation while the high-resistance wire continues to limit electrical energy entry to prevent sparks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/electrical power delivery system (wired power connection) with a wireless power transmission system. Instead of using a low-resistance wire to deliver power, the system uses electromagnetic fields to transmit power wirelessly to the sensor, eliminating the need for high-current electrical connections into the fuel tank while still providing sufficient power to the sensor.
2Power
If wireless power transmission is implemented, then continuous sensor operation is enabled, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless power transmission device performs multiple functions: it transmits power wirelessly to the sensor, harvests energy from the communication line, and enables continuous sensor operation. By combining power transmission and energy harvesting capabilities in a single device, the patent reduces overall system complexity compared to having separate systems for each function.
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
Enables continuous operation of sensors within fuel tanks while ensuring safety by providing sufficient power through wireless transmission and energy harvesting, allowing for reliable data communication and fault detection.
Implementation Method 1
at least one power transmission device arranged relative to the fuel tank, wherein the at least one power transmission device is configured to wirelessly transmit electric power to the at least one electrically-operated sensor
Implementation Method 2
the energy harvesting device comprises a piezoelectric element
Data Source
AI summary
An aircraft fuel system includes a fuel tank and at least one electrically-operated sensor arranged within the fuel tank. The at least one electrically-operated sensor is configured to measure a property of fuel in the fuel tank. At least one wireless power transmission device is arranged relative to the fuel tank, the at least one power transmission device is configured to wirelessly transmit electric power to the at least one electrically-operated sensor.