System and method for sealing a fluid system in a safety condition

A method of sealing a fluid system in a safety condition comprising:

• sealing an annular gap defined between a periphery of a pipe and a periphery of an opening of a housing with at least one seal when a temperature surrounding the system is below a safety condition threshold temperature;
• thermally expanding the pipe at a first rate;
• thermally expanding the housing at a second rate, the second rate being lesser than the first rate;
• and
• closing the gap by thermal expansion of the pipe into sealing contact with the periphery of the pipe when the temperature surrounding the system reaches the safety condition threshold temperature.

A gas turbine engine comprising:

• a transfer pipe defining a fluid passage, the pipe having a first rate of thermal expansion,
• a housing defining an opening for receiving an end of the pipe for fluid circulation between the fluid passage and an interior of the housing, the housing having a second rate of thermal expansion lesser than the first rate of thermal expansion, at least one annular gap being defined between a periphery of the opening and the end of the pipe when a temperature surrounding the system is below a safety condition threshold temperature, and
• at least one seal in the annular gap,
• wherein the pipe and the housing are configured and the first and second rates of thermal expansion are selected so that, when the system exceeds the safety condition threshold temperature, the end of the pipe contacts the periphery of the opening by thermal expansion to seal the annular gap independent of the at least one seal.