Conduit protection system and method
A conduit protection system, comprising: a conduit for carrying a fluid; a sealed vessel surrounding the conduit along a protected zone of the conduit; and a valve moveable between a first position for obstructing fluid flow through the protected zone of the conduit and a second position for enabling fluid flow through the protected zone of the conduit, wherein the valve is biased to the first position, and wherein the valve is fluidically coupled to the sealed vessel such that a positive pressure within the sealed vessel is operable to move the valve to the second position against the bias. Also, a method for protecting a fluid carrying conduit.
1. A conduit protection system, comprising:
a conduit for carrying a fluid;
a sealed vessel surrounding the conduit along a protected zone of the conduit; and
a valve moveable between a first position for obstructing fluid flow through the protected zone of the conduit and a second position for enabling fluid flow through the protected zone of the conduit,
wherein the valve is biased to the first position, and wherein the valve is fluidically coupled to the sealed vessel such that a positive pressure within the sealed vessel is operable to move the valve to the second position against the bias,
wherein the valve includes a valve body moveable within a valve chamber, wherein a first portion of the valve chamber on one side of the valve body is fluidically coupled to the sealed vessel,
wherein the valve body is biased to the first position by a spring,
wherein the spring is housed within a second portion of the valve chamber on the opposite side of the valve body to the first portion, and
wherein the conduit protection system further comprises a pressure relief channel through the valve body adapted to fluidically couple the second portion of the valve chamber to the conduit when the valve is in the first position and to not fluidically couple the second portion of the valve chamber to the conduit when the valve is in the second position.
2. A system according to claim 1 , wherein the valve includes a seat, and wherein the valve body is biased against the seat when in the first position.
3. A system according to claim 1 , wherein the valve body includes an aperture for enabling fluid flow through the aperture when the valve body is in the second position.
4. A system according to claim 3 , wherein the aperture is aligned with the conduit when the valve body is in the second position.
5. A system according to claim 1 , wherein the valve includes one or more seal members for sealing between the valve body and the valve chamber.
6. A system according to claim 5 , wherein the valve includes at least one seal member on either side of the conduit when the valve is in the first position, and at least one seal member on either side of the conduit when the valve is in the second position.
7. A system according to claim 1 , wherein the valve includes a valve position sensor.
8. A system according to claim 1 , wherein the positive pressure applied within the sealed vessel is greater than ambient pressure.
9. A system according to claim 1 , wherein the positive pressure applied within the sealed vessel is greater than a pressure within the conduit.
10. A system according to claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of the valves.
11. A system according to claim 10 , wherein the sealed vessel is fluidically coupled to at least two of the valves, with at least one of the valves being disposed on either side of the protected zone.
12. A system according to claim 10 , further comprising a plurality of the sealed vessels each associated with a respective different protected zone of the conduit, and each associated with at least one of the valves for selectively obstructing fluid flow through the respective protected zone of the conduit.
13. An aircraft comprising a rotary engine and defining a rotor burst zone, and a conduit protection system according to any preceding claim, wherein the protected zone of the conduit passes through the rotor burst zone.
14. An aircraft according to claim 13 , wherein the conduit is a fuel line.
15. An aircraft according to claim 14 , wherein the conduit is adapted to convey fuel between a fuel tank and a fuel cell.
16. A method for protecting a fluid carrying conduit, comprising:
providing a sealed vessel surrounding the conduit along a protected zone of the conduit;
providing a valve moveable between a first position for obstructing fluid flow through the protected zone of the conduit and a second position for enabling fluid flow through the protected zone of the conduit; wherein the valve includes a valve body moveable within a valve chamber, wherein a first portion of the valve chamber on one side of the valve body is fluidically coupled to the seal vessel;
providing a spring and biasing the valve to the first position by said spring; wherein the spring is housed within a second portion of the valve chamber on the opposite side of the valve body to the first portion,
fluidically coupling the valve to the sealed vessel;
providing a pressure relief channel through the valve body adapted to fluidically couple the second portion of the valve chamber to the conduit when the valve is in the first position and to not fluidically couple the second portion of the valve chamber to the conduit when the valve is in the second position, and
applying a positive pressure within the sealed vessel to move the valve to the second position against the spring bias.
17. A method according to claim 16 , wherein, in the event that the positive pressure intended to be applied to the sealed vessel should fall for any reason, the valve will move under bias to the first position so as to obstruct fluid flow through the protected zone of the conduit.
18. A method according to claim 16 , wherein the step of applying a positive pressure within the sealed vessel includes priming the vessel with an inert gas.