Patent ID: 9718556
Date: 2017-08-01
CPC Classifications: B64D

Claim:
1. A system for cooling a fuel tank of an aircraft, wherein the fuel tank defines a surface, the system comprising: a temperature sensor for detecting a fuel temperature within the fuel tank, wherein the cooling system maintains the fuel temperature below a control temperature; a cooling system including a heat exchanger, wherein the heat exchanger is in thermal communication with a surface of the fuel tank and comprises a cooling loop configured to contact the surface of the fuel tank, wherein a cooling fluid flows through the cooling loop and draws heat from the surface of the fuel tank to provide cooling to fuel within the fuel tank, and wherein the cooling loop is not in contact with the fuel within the fuel tank; and a control module in signal communication with the temperature sensor and the cooling system, the control module including control logic for: generating an activation signal to activate the cooling system in response to determining the fuel temperature is above the control temperature.