Driven by a turbine compressor with an optimized cooling air conditioning system.

Abstract

The present invention relates to a drive turbo compressor for an air conditioning system, comprising: a compressor (12) connected to an air intake duct (14) and an inlet (112) of a vehicle cabin, and the compressor (12) being configured to receive air from the air intake duct (14) to compress the air and supply it to the cabin; an electric motor (16) configured to drive the compressor (12) and surrounded by a housing (18); and a recovery turbine (26) configured to expand cabin air (24) from an outlet (114) of the cabin. The drive turbo compressor is characterized by including a cooling duct (32) configured to receive at least a portion of the expanded air (28) to cool the housing (18) of the electric motor and the electric motor (16).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a drive turbine compressor that is part of an air conditioning system. The invention particularly relates to a drive turbine compressor with optimized cooling, for example, that can be used in vehicles including air conditioning systems, such as aviation, rail, or marine vehicles. Background Technology

[0002] Turbine compressors are used in a variety of scenarios, especially in vehicles, such as in air conditioning systems.

[0003] These turbo compressors typically consist of a compressor driven by an electric motor that allows for the compression of incoming air. An important issue addressed in these turbo compressors is the cooling of the electric motor that drives the compressor.

[0004] On the one hand, in air conditioning systems, the main issue is ensuring that this cooling does not excessively impact the performance and cost of the air conditioning system, especially by limiting the use of external cold air removal and / or by not creating additional demand for pressurized air, which would lead to a greater demand for heating, which is counterproductive.

[0005] In particular, the cooling of the motor must be effective enough to allow the power density to be compatible in terms of mass and size with that integrated into airborne systems, especially vehicles such as aircraft.

[0006] In addition, the temperature levels experienced by the components driving the turbo compressor, and especially the motor, must be controlled to prevent any malfunctions, and these temperature levels must be compatible with the level of reliability required in the airborne system, especially with the very high level of reliability required in aviation applications.

[0007] The energy consumed by cooling the motor must be kept low so as not to negatively impact the overall efficiency of the system incorporating the motor. These considerations regarding efficiency and energy performance make it possible, in particular, to control the overall performance of the air conditioning system.

[0008] Finally, efficiency must also be studied at the overall level, especially in terms of quality and complexity, where efficiency must be kept reasonable so as not to affect the overall performance of the vehicle.

[0009] Solutions proposed in the prior art involve cooling the motor through heat exchange with a liquid loop that serves as a radiator. Specifically, in some systems, particularly in the field of motor vehicles, liquid loops have been used to cool other components and are directed towards the motor for cooling. However, implementing such a solution is complex in the absence of a pre-existing liquid loop, and the additional components to be cooled increase the complexity of existing liquid loops and cause a performance degradation.

[0010] Another compressor motor cooling solution involves using air collected from outside the vehicle for ventilation.

[0011] In this scenario, when a vehicle is stationary (especially an aircraft stopped on the ground), the ventilation velocity is typically zero. Fans are used to compensate for this insufficient ventilation, which increases system complexity and reduces energy performance. More generally, the collection of ventilated air leads to a decline in vehicle performance.

[0012] The inventors seek to propose a novel air conditioning system that drives a turbine compressor, thereby allowing for proper cooling of the motor. Summary of the Invention

[0013] Purpose of the invention

[0014] The present invention aims to provide a drive turbine compressor for an air conditioning system, which enables the overcoming of at least one of the disadvantages of prior art drive turbine compressors.

[0015] The present invention is particularly intended to provide, in at least one embodiment, a high-efficiency drive turbine compressor for an air conditioning system.

[0016] The present invention is particularly intended to provide, in at least one embodiment, a drive turbo compressor that is usable regardless of the state of the vehicle and external conditions.

[0017] The present invention is particularly intended to provide a small-volume, low-mass drive turbine compressor in at least one embodiment.

[0018] Therefore, the present invention relates to a drive turbine compressor for an air conditioning system for supplying air conditioning to the cabin of a vehicle, comprising:

[0019] - An air intake duct is configured to collect ambient air at ambient pressure.

[0020] - A compressor, connected to the air intake duct and the compartment inlet, is configured to receive air from the air intake duct, compress the air from the air intake duct, and supply pressurized air at a pressure corresponding to the pressure required by the supply compartment.

[0021] - An electric motor, connected to the compressor via a drive shaft, is configured to drive the compressor and is enclosed in a housing.

[0022] - An energy recovery turbine is connected to the compartment outlet, and the energy recovery turbine is configured to expand compartment air originating from the compartment outlet to supply air expanded by the turbine via the turbine outlet.

[0023] The characteristic feature is that the drive turbine compressor includes a cooling duct connecting the turbine outlet and the motor housing, the cooling duct being configured to receive at least some of the expanded air to cool the motor housing and the motor.

[0024] Therefore, the drive turbine compressor according to the present invention makes full use of the air leaving the cabin, making it possible to provide efficient and energy-saving cooling for the motor. The term "cabin" is understood to refer to a part of a vehicle that receives elements transported by the vehicle, particularly the passengers of the vehicle. A cabin is also referred to as a passenger compartment.

[0025] In scenarios where a turbo compressor is used in an air conditioning system, the main function of the compressor driving the turbo compressor is to allow air from the air intake duct to reach or approach the pressure required in the cabin.

[0026] Air handling equipment in an air conditioning system can be arranged between the drive turbine compressor and the cabin to perform additional treatment upstream or downstream of the cabin. Specifically, the air handling equipment includes any element complementary to the drive turbine compressor for treating air circulating in the air conditioning system between the compressor of the drive turbine compressor and the energy recovery turbine, such as one or more additional compressors to achieve a higher compression ratio, one or more heat exchangers, a water extraction loop enabling water extraction, one or more expansion turbines, etc.

[0027] The air leaving the cabin initially expands in the energy recovery turbine until it approaches the pressure outside the vehicle, making it possible to recover energy (expansion enthalpy) that can be used in the system, thereby improving overall energy efficiency. Furthermore, the expansion in the turbine lowers the temperature of the cabin air and causes water present in the cabin air to condense into suspended droplets.

[0028] Therefore, expanded air is particularly effective for cooling the motor housing and motor. For example, expanded air is injected into the cooling circuit on the outer surface of the housing. This expanded air, which is colder than the motor, cools the motor housing and motor through heat conduction, and water suspended in the expanded air will absorb this heat and evaporate in the presence of heat released from the motor and motor housing, thus improving the cooling of the motor housing and motor.

[0029] Therefore, the use of expanded air makes it possible to cool devices more effectively than existing technologies, or to cool them in the same way using lower airflow rates, which improves the overall energy efficiency of drive turbo compressors, air conditioning systems that integrate drive turbo compressors, and vehicles with embedded air conditioning systems.

[0030] If the air conditioning system includes a water extraction loop, the cooling duct may include means for injecting water extracted by the water extraction loop, the means being configured to re-inject the extracted water into the cooling duct to improve cooling.

[0031] The turbine compressor does not rely on an external system to cool the compressor motor.

[0032] Advantageously, and according to the invention, the energy recovery turbine is arranged on the drive shaft.

[0033] According to this aspect of the invention, the compressor, turbine, and motor are connected by a drive shaft, thus forming a drive turbine compressor made of a single component. Therefore, the energy recovered by the turbine is used to reduce the energy consumption of the motor necessary to drive the compressor, which reduces the heat generated by the motor.

[0034] Advantageously, and according to the invention, the drive turbo compressor includes a branch arranged between the turbine outlet and a cooling duct, the branch including an inlet configured to receive expanded air, and the branch including at least two outlets, a first outlet configured to direct a portion of the flow of expanded air to the cooling duct, and a second outlet configured to direct another portion of the flow of expanded air to an exhaust outlet.

[0035] According to this aspect of the invention, the bifurcation makes it possible to balance the pressure at the turbine outlet; if all the expanded air is sent into the cooling duct to cool the motor housing and the motor, the resulting pressure drop may reduce the overall performance of the system, especially the turbine performance.

[0036] By allowing a passive balance of flow rates between the cooling duct and the outlet at the bifurcation, the turbine operates at its maximum performance (the ratio between the pressures at the turbine inlet and outlet is optimized) because the pressure drop downstream from the turbine outlet is optimized and the cooling of the cabin air is effective, which improves the cooling of the motor and the motor housing.

[0037] Advantageously, and according to the invention, the branch is configured such that most of the water suspended in the conditioned air is directed to the cooling duct.

[0038] According to this aspect of the invention, the bifurcation optimizes the water distribution in the cabin air supplied to the cooling ducts and the cabin air directly discharged. The presence of suspended water in the cabin air does not affect the pressure drop performance but rather benefits cooling. Therefore, the bifurcation is configured such that most of the water is transported to the cooling ducts. This configuration can be done actively (controlled) or preferably passively (without intervention, which particularly limits energy consumption and system complexity). For example, the bifurcation has a geometry in which a first outlet connected to the cooling channel in the bifurcation is substantially collinear with the direction of the regulated airflow so as to primarily guide the water present in the flow toward that outlet, while a second outlet is oriented at a different angle such that water is preferably guided toward the first outlet.

[0039] Advantageously, and according to the invention, the motor housing includes cooling fins.

[0040] According to this aspect of the invention, the fins enable maximum cooling of the motor and housing. The fins are made of a thermally conductive material to maximize heat exchange.

[0041] According to other variations of the invention, any other device that improves heat exchange can be added to the motor housing.

[0042] The present invention also relates to a method for supplying a compartment in a vehicle, characterized in that the method comprises the following steps:

[0043] - Air sourced from the air intake duct is compressed by an electric motor-driven compressor, and the pressurized air is directed to the cabin inlet at a pressure corresponding to the pressure required by the supply compartment.

[0044] - The cabin air originating from the cabin outlet is expanded via an energy recovery turbine.

[0045] - At least some of the air expanded by the turbine is directed to the housing of the compressor motor to cool the motor housing and the motor.

[0046] Advantageously, the supply method according to the invention is implemented by a drive turbine compressor according to the invention.

[0047] Advantageously, the drive turbine compressor according to the invention implements the supply method according to the invention.

[0048] The present invention also relates to an air conditioning system configured to supply conditioned air to the cabin of a vehicle, characterized in that the air conditioning system includes a drive turbine compressor according to the invention, the drive turbine compressor being configured to supply pressurized air to the cabin of the vehicle.

[0049] Advantageously, and according to the invention, the air conditioning system includes an air handling device configured to receive pressurized air downstream of the cabin inlet and / or configured to receive cabin air downstream of the energy recovery turbine, and the air handling device includes equipment designed to treat the pressurized air before the cabin inlet and / or treat the air from the cabin outlet.

[0050] Advantageously, and according to the invention, the air handling apparatus includes one or more devices from the following list:

[0051] -One or more additional compressors,

[0052] -One or more heat exchangers,

[0053] - Water extraction loop, used for water extraction.

[0054] - One or more expansion turbines.

[0055] Therefore, the air handling unit combines all the equipment necessary for an air conditioning system, except for the one that drives the turbine compressor, in order to obtain conditioned air supplied to the cabin and / or process the air at the cabin outlet.

[0056] The present invention also relates to a means of transport comprising an air conditioning system and a cabin, characterized in that the means of transport includes a drive turbine compressor according to the invention, the drive turbine compressor being configured to supply pressurized air to the cabin.

[0057] Means of transport include, for example, automobiles, aircraft, sea or rail vehicles.

[0058] The present invention also relates to drive turbine compressors, supply methods, air conditioning systems and vehicles, characterized by being composed of all or some of the features mentioned above or below. Attached Figure Description

[0059] Further objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, which is provided by way of non-limiting example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0060] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a drive turbine compressor for an air conditioning system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0061] For the sake of illustration and clarity, the dimensions and proportions in the accompanying drawings are not strictly adhered to.

[0062] Furthermore, the same reference numerals are used throughout the accompanying drawings to denote the same, similar, or analogous elements.

[0063] Figure 1A drive turbine compressor 10 is schematically shown. The drive turbine compressor 10 forms part of the air conditioning system 100. The drive turbine compressor 10 is specifically configured to compress the air at the inlet of the air conditioning system to the pressure necessary to supply the cabin of the vehicle, and to expand the air leaving the cabin in order to recover the energy of the air leaving the cabin in the form of enthalpy and improve the energy efficiency of the system.

[0064] The air conditioning system is configured to supply conditioned air, for example, to supply conditioned air to a vehicle in which the air conditioning system is embedded, particularly to supply conditioned air to the cabin or passenger compartment of such vehicle (cabin of an aircraft or ship, carriage or freight car of a railway vehicle, passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, etc.). Generally speaking, depending on the type of vehicle in which the invention is implemented, the term "cabin" will be used in the remainder of the description to refer to the cabin or passenger compartment of the vehicle.

[0065] Cabin 110 includes a cabin inlet 112 and a cabin outlet 114. Air that has passed through the cabin—referred to as cabin air 24—is discharged from the cabin outlet 114.

[0066] Cabin 110 is supplied with pressurized air, specifically by compressor 12, which is supplied with air via air intake duct 14. The air sourced from air intake duct 14 is, for example, external air, or air from another system on the vehicle that includes an air conditioning system. For example, in an aircraft, air may be obtained from the propulsion engine.

[0067] The compressor 12 is rotated by a motor 16 enclosed by a housing 18. The motor rotates a drive shaft 19 connected to the compressor 12.

[0068] Air conditioning systems typically include additional air handling units, which are incorporated herein by reference into air handling unit 120. Therefore, air handling unit 120 refers to all other components of the air conditioning system besides the drive turbine compressor 10, such as one or more compressors, one or more turbines, one or more heat exchangers, water extraction loops, etc.

[0069] Pressurized air, which may be processed by air handling unit 120, enters through cabin inlet 112 and then passes through cabin 110.

[0070] Cabin air 24 is optionally treated by an air handling unit at the cabin outlet. The cabin air 24 is then expanded by an energy recovery turbine 26 driving the turbo compressor 10. The energy recovery turbine 26 enables energy recovery from the cabin air 24 by expanding and cooling it. In this embodiment, the energy recovery turbine 26 is connected to a drive shaft 19 to reduce the energy consumption of the motor 16 when driving the compressor 12. The turbine 26, motor 16, and compressor 12 together form the drive turbo compressor 10.

[0071] In existing technology, the air leaving the energy recovery turbine is sent outside after energy recovery.

[0072] In the drive turbine compressor of the present invention, the air leaving the turbine—referred to as expanded air—is also used as a cooling source.

[0073] Specifically, as shown in this embodiment, the expanded air 28 exiting the turbine 26 reaches a branch 30. This branch includes an inlet connected to the outlet of the turbine 26 and enables: some of the expanded air 28 to be directed toward the first outlet to the cooling duct 32, and the remainder of the expanded air 28 to be directed toward the atmospheric environment or toward a system or area of ​​a vehicle with pressure close to atmospheric pressure to the first exhaust outlet 34a.

[0074] A portion of the expanded air 28 circulating in the cooling conduit 32 is directed to the motor housing 18 to cool both the motor housing 18 and the motor 16. For cooling purposes, the motor housing 18 may include fins (not shown) or any other means to improve heat exchange. Cooling is improved by evaporating any water droplets suspended in the expanded air 28 directed to the motor housing 18, under the influence of heat generated by the motor 16 driving the compressor 12. To maximize cooling, water extracted by a water extraction loop from a water treatment device may be injected. After cooling the motor 16 and the motor housing 18, the air can be discharged through a separate second exhaust outlet 34b or redirected to the first exhaust outlet 34a.

[0075] The bifurcation 30 allows for passive control of the pressure drop at the cooling duct 32 and the motor housing 18; the pressure at the first discharge outlet 34a or the second discharge outlet 34b is ambient pressure, and the pressure at the bifurcation 30 is the same for both the portion of the expanded air 28 circulating in the branch of the cooling duct 32 and the portion of the expanded air 28 circulating in the branch leading to the first discharge outlet 34a, which makes it possible to balance the flow rate between the two branches.

[0076] Air conditioning systems that incorporate a drive turbine compressor can be integrated into automotive, rail, marine, or air transportation.

Claims

1. A drive turbine compressor for an air conditioning system, the air conditioning system being used to supply conditioned air to the cabin of a vehicle, the drive turbine compressor comprising: -Air intake duct (14) is configured to collect ambient air at ambient pressure. - A compressor (12), connected to the air intake duct (14) and the inlet (112) of the compartment (110), is configured to: receive air from the air intake duct (14), compress the air from the air intake duct (14), and supply pressurized air at a pressure corresponding to the pressure required to supply the compartment (110). - A motor (16), connected to the compressor (12) via a drive shaft (19), the motor (16) being configured to drive the compressor (12) and enclosed by a housing (18), - An energy recovery turbine (26) is connected to the outlet (114) of the cabin (110) and is configured to: expand cabin air (24) originating from the outlet (114) of the cabin (110) to supply expanded air (28) via the outlet of the turbine (26), and condense water present in the cabin air to form suspended water droplets. The characteristic feature is that the drive turbine compressor includes a cooling duct (32) connecting the outlet of the turbine (26) and the housing (18) of the motor, the cooling duct (32) being configured to receive at least some of the expanded air (28) containing suspended water droplets to cool the housing (18) and the motor (16).

2. The drive turbine compressor according to claim 1, characterized in that, The energy recovery turbine (26) is mounted on the drive shaft (19).

3. The drive turbine compressor according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The drive turbo compressor includes a branch (30) disposed between the outlet of the turbine (26) and the cooling duct (32), the branch including an inlet configured to receive the expanded air (28), and the branch including at least two outlets, a first outlet configured to direct some of the expanded air flow to the cooling duct (32), and a second outlet configured to direct another portion of the expanded air flow to an exhaust outlet (34a).

4. The drive turbine compressor according to claim 3, characterized in that, The branch (30) is configured such that most of the water in the expanded air (28) is directed to the cooling pipe (32).

5. The drive turbine compressor according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The housing (18) of the motor includes cooling fins.

6. A method for supplying pressurized air to the cabin of a vehicle, characterized in that, The method includes the following steps: - Air originating from the air intake duct (14) is compressed by a compressor (12) driven by an electric motor (16), and pressurized air (20) is directed to the inlet (112) of the cabin (110) at a pressure corresponding to the pressure required to supply the cabin. - The cabin air (24) originating from the cabin outlet (114) is expanded via the energy recovery turbine (26), and the water present in the cabin air is condensed to form suspended water droplets. - At least some of the air containing suspended water droplets expanded by the turbine is directed to the housing (18) of the motor to cool the housing (18) and the motor (16).

7. An air conditioning system configured to supply conditioned air to the cabin of a vehicle, characterized in that, The air conditioning system includes a drive turbine compressor (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

8. The air conditioning system according to claim 7, characterized in that, The air conditioning system includes an air handling unit configured to receive the pressurized air downstream of the inlet of the cabin, and / or configured to receive the cabin air downstream of the energy recovery turbine, and the air handling unit includes means for treating the pressurized air before the inlet of the cabin, and / or means for treating the air from the outlet of the cabin.

9. The air conditioning system according to claim 8, characterized in that, The air handling unit includes one or more devices from the following list: -One or more additional compressors, -One or more heat exchangers, - A water extraction loop for extracting water. - One or more expansion turbines.

10. A means of transport, comprising: An air conditioning system and cabin, characterized in that the vehicle includes a drive turbine compressor (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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