Hydrogen fuel storage and distribution systems for aircraft
AssigneeAirbus Operations GmbH
InventorsChristopher PAPADOPOULOS, Martin Viktor JOHANSSON, Thomas HOOGERDIJK
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Abstract
A system for servicing a vacuum space in a hydrogen storage and distribution system of an aircraft. The vacuum space is an interspace between a vessel and an insulated jacket. A vacuum valve communicates with the vacuum space. The system controls a vacuum pump arrangement using a sensor such as a microphone for sensing the pressure in the interspace to equalise the pressure on the pump side of the valve with the vacuum space before opening the valve.
Claims16
A system for servicing a vacuum space in a hydrogen fuel storage and distribution system of an aircraft, the vacuum space having a vacuum valve, comprising:
- a vacuum pump arrangement having a conduit arranged for fluid connection to the vacuum valve of the vacuum space;
- at least one sensor for sensing a parameter indicative of pressure in the vacuum space;
- and
- a controller arranged to:
- receive a signal from the sensor;
- operate the vacuum pump arrangement to lower a pressure in the conduit to a predetermined pressure condition based on the signal;
- and
- operate the vacuum valve to open the vacuum valve when the predetermined pressure condition has been reached.
A method of servicing a vacuum space in a hydrogen fuel storage and distribution system of an aircraft, the vacuum space having a vacuum valve, comprising:
- connecting a conduit of a vacuum pump arrangement to be in fluid communication with the valve of the vacuum space;
- using a sensor to sense a parameter indicative of a pressure in the vacuum space;
- and
- controlling the pump arrangement to lower a pressure in the conduit based on the sensed parameter to a predetermined condition.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.