A system for power and data communications within a fuel tank and across a wall of the fuel tank includes a fuel height sensor and a sealed connector extending through a wall of a fuel tank. The system also includes an electric power connection between the fuel height sensor and the sealed connector. The system additionally includes an internal data communications connection between the fuel height sensor and the sealed connector, wherein the electric power connection comprises a resistive non-metallic wire.

Aspects relate to blended wing body tankers and methods of use. An exemplary blended wing body tanker includes a blended wing body, a first fuel store located within the blended wing body and configured to store a first fuel, a fuel offloading system operatively connected to the first fuel store and configured to offload the first fuel to another aircraft in flight, a second fuel store located within the blended wing body and configured to store a second fuel different from the first fuel, and a propulsion system powered by the second fuel and configured to propel the blended wing body.

A fuel gauging system for a fuel tank containing fuel and an ullage gas in an ullage of the tank. The fuel gauging system pressurizes/depressurizes the ullage gas and measures changes in conditions of the ullage gas to determine ullage gas volume and thus volume of the fuel. The system may infer one or more values in the volume calculation to reduce the number of measurements involved. The inferred values may come from known operating characteristics of an inerting system integrated with the fuel gauging system. The system may use a control valve that operates within the limits of a climb-dive valve to generate the system response. The control valve may control delivering or receiving ullage gas from another tank to preserve the ullage gas. An inerting system may be integrated into such a paired-tank fuel gauging system.

A fuel gauging system for a fuel tank containing fuel and an ullage gas in an ullage of the tank. The fuel gauging system pressurizes/depressurizes the ullage gas and measures changes in conditions of the ullage gas to determine ullage gas volume and thus volume of the fuel. The system may infer one or more values in the volume calculation to reduce the number of measurements involved. The inferred values may come from known operating characteristics of an inerting system integrated with the fuel gauging system. The system may use a control valve that operates within the limits of a climb-dive valve to generate the system response. The control valve may control delivering or receiving ullage gas from another tank to preserve the ullage gas. An inerting system may be integrated into such a paired-tank fuel gauging system.

An ergonomic method for working in confined work spaces is disclosed. The method, in some cases, includes the steps of: a) providing a support structure that is generally in the configuration of a rectangular prism having six faces, a length, width, and a height in which the length, width, and height differ from one another so that the structure provides three different height positions when the support structure is placed on the floor of the workspace; b) placing the support structure with one of its faces in contact with a contoured floor surface in a confined work space; and c) sitting or standing on the support structure.

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.

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.

Liquid fuel tank comprising a plurality of liquid level detection capacitive sensors, each arranged along an edge of the fuel tank such that the capacitance of said sensors varies with the volume of fuel present in the fuel tank, wherein an independent liquid level detection capacitive sensor is arranged along each edge of the fuel tank bottom and of the side walls; wherein the tank is electrically conductive and each level sensor comprises an electrically insulating plate arranged thickness-wise between sensor and tank, such that tank and sensors are capacitively uncoupled. Method for obtaining the fuel volume comprising: obtaining the reading of the liquid level detection capacitive sensors arranged on the edges of the tank; calculating the volume, corresponding to the fuel, of the geometric solid defined by the fuel tank and by the upper surface of the fuel as defined by the liquid level readings from the sensors.

A thermal energy system for use with an aircraft includes a cooling loop and a cooler. The cooling loop includes a fluid conduit and a pump configured to move fluid through the fluid conduit to transfer heat from a heat source to the fluid in the fluid conduit to cool the heat source. The cooler includes an air-stream heat exchanger located in a duct and is in thermal communication with the fluid conduit to transfer heat between the fluid in the cooling loop and the air passing through the duct.

A thermal energy system for use with an aircraft includes a cooling loop and a cooler. The cooling loop includes a fluid conduit and a pump configured to move fluid through the fluid conduit to transfer heat from a heat source to the fluid in the fluid conduit to cool the heat source. The cooler includes an air-stream heat exchanger located in a duct and is in thermal communication with the fluid conduit to transfer heat between the fluid in the cooling loop and the air passing through the duct.