PRE-HEATING OF A LIQUID IN AN AIRCRAFT RESERVOIR AND ASSOCIATED APPARATUS

摘要

A method of pre-heating a liquid in an aircraft reservoir (30) to facilitate pumping of the liquid during a cold start, the method comprising providing an electric motor (34), a pump (32) and a controller (42), the electric motor being connected to the pump for pumping the liquid in the reservoir and being thermally associated with the reservoir, and selectively setting the electric motor in a pre-heatmg mode or pumping mode, the pre-heatmg mode preventing pumping by using a mechanical locking device (40), a clutch or a bypass valve or by non- mechanical methods such as providing uncommutated current to the electric motor.