Russian inventor Georgy Brezgin has proposed a new design for an aircraft wing, where the fuel tank becomes part of the power circuit. This solution can reduce weight, reduce fuel consumption and reduce operating costs.
The development was published in the FIPS patent database. Instead of a classic tank inside the wing, there is a closed sealed system of connected rigid pipes.
The main idea is load redistribution. The tubular system takes over part of the internal forces, reducing pressure on the spars and skin. This makes it possible to lighten the wing without losing strength.
The design retains the traditional scheme with spars, ribs and skin, but the internal layout changes. The space between the elements is partially filled with foam inserts, and the tubular tank begins to function as a power element.
According to Brezgin, this scheme increases the efficiency of the aircraft by reducing weight and more efficiently using the internal volume of the wing.
The proposed approach shows how it is possible to reconsider the very principle of fuel placement in aviation and combine it with the tasks of structural strength.
