Aircraft Cabin Pressurization Energy Harvesting

Abstract

An energy harvesting system is provided and a corresponding method for harvesting energy from an aircraft cabin pressurization system utilizing the same. According to one aspect, an energy harvesting system includes an aircraft cabin enclosing a high-pressure environment of pressurized air. An air input receives incoming air from a low-pressure environment and an air output expels outgoing air from the high-pressure environment. A turbine receives the pressurized air expelled from the aircraft cabin and utilizes the pressurized air to produce rotational motion on a turbine shaft. An energy harvesting mechanism is coupled to the turbine shaft and utilizes the rotational motion from the turbine shaft to compress the incoming air or to create electrical energy.

Description

Background technique [0001] As the aircraft ascends, the pressure and temperature of the ambient atmosphere decrease. To maintain passenger comfort and provide oxygen to the aircraft cabin, conventional aircraft utilize air compressors to compress cold, low-pressure atmospheric air and inject the atmospheric air into the aircraft cabin. The desired air pressure in the aircraft cabin is maintained while providing a fresh oxygen supply by exhausting warm pressurized air in the cabin to the outside ambient atmosphere at an appropriate rate. [0002] The continuous renewal of the pressurized air inside the aircraft cabin ultimately has a fuel cost associated with the process. For many aircraft, the electrical power associated with the operation of the air compressor is derived from a generator mechanically coupled to the gearbox of one or more aircraft engines. The engines use extra fuel to overcome the extra rotational resistance of the generator, which reduces the fuel efficie...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

the engine uses extra fuel to overcome the extra rotational drag of the generator, which reduces the vehicle's fuel efficiency

Images