Patent classifications
B64D37/30
Aircraft pylon comprising a tubular primary structure including at least one twin-walled pipe, and aircraft comprising at least one such pylon
An aircraft pylon comprising a primary structure and a pipe segment having an internal duct positioned inside at least one structural tube primary structure. This solution makes it possible to reduce the crowding outside the structural tubes of the primary structure, makes it easier to integrate other equipment inside the pylon, and may help to improve the aerodynamic performance of the pylon by reducing its cross section.
OPTICAL LEVEL GAUGE APPARATUS AND METHOD, LIQUID TANK ASSEMBLY AND VEHICLE EMPLOYING THE SAME
To improve liquid level gauging inside liquid tanks, especially cryogenic liquid tanks, an apparatus and method for determining the liquid level are provided. A light source emits outgoing light rays that are back reflected or scattered by the tank wall of the liquid tank. The back reflected or scattered incoming light rays are received by a light conducting device, which conducts the incoming light rays towards a sensor device. The sensor device has optical sensors coupled to the light conducting device such that there is a one-two-one relationship between each optical sensor and a specific tank wall portion. Due to the change in the amount of light that is received by the optical sensor after the outgoing light rays were refracted by the liquid surface, the liquid level determining device is capable of determining the liquid level.
OPTICAL LEVEL GAUGE APPARATUS AND METHOD, LIQUID TANK ASSEMBLY AND VEHICLE EMPLOYING THE SAME
To improve liquid level gauging inside liquid tanks, especially cryogenic liquid tanks, an apparatus and method for determining the liquid level are provided. A light source emits outgoing light rays that are back reflected or scattered by the tank wall of the liquid tank. The back reflected or scattered incoming light rays are received by a light conducting device, which conducts the incoming light rays towards a sensor device. The sensor device has optical sensors coupled to the light conducting device such that there is a one-two-one relationship between each optical sensor and a specific tank wall portion. Due to the change in the amount of light that is received by the optical sensor after the outgoing light rays were refracted by the liquid surface, the liquid level determining device is capable of determining the liquid level.
SUB-COOLERS FOR REFUELING ONBOARD CRYOGENIC FUEL TANKS AND METHODS FOR OPERATING THE SAME
A sub-cooler for a sub-cooling cryogenic refueling system is disclosed herein. The sub-cooler includes a first valve to separate flowing cryogenic fuel into a primary flowline and an auxiliary flowline, a second valve to reduce the saturated pressure and temperature of the cryogenic fuel in the auxiliary flowline, a cryogenic heat exchanger to transfer heat from the primary flowline to the auxiliary flowline, a temperature sensor to measure the temperature of the sub-cooled cryogenic fuel in the primary flowline, and a sub-cooler controller to control the effective areas of the primary flowline inlet and the auxiliary flowline inlet at the first valve.
ONBOARD LIQUID HYDROGEN STORAGE FOR A HYDROGEN AIRCRAFT
An aircraft including a fuselage, a power generator configured to provide power to the aircraft, and at least one fuel tank for holding fuel for the power generator, and a fuel delivery assembly. The fuel tank is positioned in the fuselage and is configured to hold hydrogen fuel in a liquid phase. The fuel tank has a chamber for holding the hydrogen fuel and a fuel extraction line fluidly coupled to the chamber. The fuel extraction line extends from the fuel tank in a forward direction of the fuselage and at a downward angle relative to a centerline of the fuselage. The fuel delivery assembly is fluidly coupled to the fuel extraction line and fluidly connects the fuel tank to the power generator. The fuel delivery assembly is configured to provide the hydrogen fuel from the fuel tank to the power generator.
ONBOARD LIQUID HYDROGEN STORAGE FOR A HYDROGEN AIRCRAFT
An aircraft including a fuselage, a power generator configured to provide power to the aircraft, and at least one fuel tank for holding fuel for the power generator, and a fuel delivery assembly. The fuel tank is positioned in the fuselage and is configured to hold hydrogen fuel in a liquid phase. The fuel tank has a chamber for holding the hydrogen fuel and a fuel extraction line fluidly coupled to the chamber. The fuel extraction line extends from the fuel tank in a forward direction of the fuselage and at a downward angle relative to a centerline of the fuselage. The fuel delivery assembly is fluidly coupled to the fuel extraction line and fluidly connects the fuel tank to the power generator. The fuel delivery assembly is configured to provide the hydrogen fuel from the fuel tank to the power generator.
AIRCRAFT PROPULSION SYSTEM
An aircraft propulsion system includes a hydrocarbon fuel store, a hydrogen fuel store, an engine system capable of producing thrust by combusting hydrocarbon fuel and/or combusting or oxidising hydrogen fuel, a conveying system to convey hydrocarbon and hydrogen fuel from the fuel stores to the engine system and a control system to control the respective flow rates of the fuel within the conveying system. The control system adapts the fractions of the total fuel energy flow rate to the engine system represented by the hydrocarbon and hydrogen fuel energy flow rates in order to reduce climate warming impact caused by at least one of carbon dioxide, water vapour and condensation trails and/or increase climate cooling impact caused by condensation trails produced by the aircraft propulsion system compared to a dual-fuel propulsion system in which a reserve of hydrocarbon fuel is entirely combusted before any of a reserve of hydrogen fuel.
AIRCRAFT PROPULSION SYSTEM
An aircraft propulsion system includes a hydrocarbon fuel store, a hydrogen fuel store, an engine system capable of producing thrust by combusting hydrocarbon fuel and/or combusting or oxidising hydrogen fuel, a conveying system to convey hydrocarbon and hydrogen fuel from the fuel stores to the engine system and a control system to control the respective flow rates of the fuel within the conveying system. The control system adapts the fractions of the total fuel energy flow rate to the engine system represented by the hydrocarbon and hydrogen fuel energy flow rates in order to reduce climate warming impact caused by at least one of carbon dioxide, water vapour and condensation trails and/or increase climate cooling impact caused by condensation trails produced by the aircraft propulsion system compared to a dual-fuel propulsion system in which a reserve of hydrocarbon fuel is entirely combusted before any of a reserve of hydrogen fuel.
CRYOGENIC TANK
A cryogenic tank for storing cryogenic fluids is disclosed. The cryogenic tank is typically configured to be mounted on a vehicle for supplying cryogenic fuel to a propulsion system of the vehicle. The cryogenic tank comprises an inner vessel for containing cryogenic fluids and an outer vessel surrounding the inner vessel to define a vacuum insulating volume therebetween. The outer vessel is configured to transmit static and/or dynamic loads, while the inner vessel is partially or completely isolated from such loads.
CRYOGENIC TANK
A cryogenic tank for storing cryogenic fluids is disclosed. The cryogenic tank is typically configured to be mounted on a vehicle for supplying cryogenic fuel to a propulsion system of the vehicle. The cryogenic tank comprises an inner vessel for containing cryogenic fluids and an outer vessel surrounding the inner vessel to define a vacuum insulating volume therebetween. The outer vessel is configured to transmit static and/or dynamic loads, while the inner vessel is partially or completely isolated from such loads.