FUEL TANK WITH WATER BLADDER
FIG4 is a schematic illustration of a fuel tank assembly at an intermediate operational state in accordance with embodiments
As shown in FIG4, while the aircraft 10 idles on the ground, taxis or is flying at low altitude, the engine 11 is run and the fuel is beginning to be slowly spent so that volume within the housing volume starts to become available. Meanwhile, humidity at or near the ground results in water (e.g., condensed water) being collected in the water separation component 12 and, instead of this water being used immediately as in conventional systems, the water is stored in the bladder 14. This is accomplished by the controller 20 controlling the first flow control element 30 to allow a flow of water into the bladder 14 while controlling the second flow control element 31 to prevent a flow of the water from the bladder 14. This results in the bladder inflating by a volume that is equal to or less than the volume of the spent fuel which has been drawn out of the housing volume.
schematic
171
heat exchanger
17
ACM
12
water separation component
151
second portion
20
controller
31
second flow control element second flow control elements
16
coolant flow system
162
outlet pipe outlet pipes
3
US
150
first portion
170
compressor
161
inlet pipe
['5. The tank assembly according to any preceding claim, further comprising a controller (20) configured to sense the volume of the first fluid and to control the flow system accordingly, wherein the controller is further configured to control the flow system to draw at least a portion of the volume of the second fluid from the bladder and the housing based on an external requirement.', '7. The tank assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the flow system comprises: inlet (161) and outlet (162) pipes which are respectively fluidly communicative with the bladder; and flow control elements (30, 31) respectively disposed along the inlet and outlet pipes and respectively controllable to control a flow of the second fluid through the inlet and outlet pipes.']