Leakage detection for pressurized fuel tanks
AssigneeAirbus Operations GmbH
InventorsPeter Linde, Awista Nasiri
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Leakage detection for pressurized fuel tanks. To provide facilitated leakage detection, a leakage detection device for pressurized fuel tanks for storing a pressurized fuel includes a fuel-sensing tracer and a light-wave conducting component. The fuel sensing tracer is configured to alter its optical properties in the presence of a predetermined fuel. The light-wave conducting component is in optical contact with the fuel sensing tracer. Light travelling within the light-wave conducting component is modifiable by altered optical properties of the fuel sensing tracer such that modified light is indicative of the presence of fuel at the location of the fuel sensing tracer.
Claims18
A fuel tank for storing a pressurized fuel, the fuel tank comprising:
- a tank enclosure defining a tank volume, wherein the tank enclosure comprises:
- an inner pressure vessel that comprises at least one reinforced layer made from multiple plies of a carbon fiber reinforced polymer structure;
- an insulation sheathing that covers an outer side of the inner pressure vessel and comprises at least two reflective layers and at least one spacer layer between the at least two reflective layers;
- an outer shell that comprises a layer made from multiple plies of a carbon fiber reinforced polymer structure;
- and
- at least one leakage detection device comprising:
- a fuel-sensing tracer configured to alter optical properties thereof in a presence of a predetermined fuel;
- and
- a light-wave conducting component that is in optical contact with the fuel sensing tracer;
- wherein light travelling within the light-wave conducting component is modifiable by altered optical properties of the fuel sensing tracer to produce modified light that is indicative of a presence of fuel at a location of the fuel sensing tracer;
- wherein the at least one leakage detection device is arranged within at least one of the inner pressure vessel, the insulation sheathing, and the outer shell.
A method for detecting leakage of a pressurized fuel tank, the method comprising:
- providing the pressurized fuel tank, which comprises a tank enclosure that defines a tank volume, which comprises:
- an inner pressure vessel that comprises at least one reinforced layer made from multiple plies of a carbon fiber reinforced polymer structure;
- an insulation sheathing that covers an outer side of the inner pressure vessel and comprises at least two reflective layers and at least one spacer layer between the at least two reflective layers;
- an outer shell that comprises a layer made from multiple plies of a carbon fiber reinforced polymer structure;
- and
- at least one leakage detection device comprising a fuel-sensing tracer and a light-wave conducting component;
- generating light by a light source;
- transmitting the light into the light-wave conducting component;
- altering optical properties of the fuel-sensing tracer in a presence of a predetermined fuel, which modifies the light transmitted into and travelling within the light-wave conducting component to produce a modified light;
- transmitting the modified light through the light-wave conducting component towards a light detector;
- and
- detecting the modified light to determine the presence of the predetermined fuel to indicate leakage of the predetermined fuel from the pressurized fuel tank.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.