Buffer chamber device

Abstract

A kind of buffer cavity device, including the double-shell structure formed by inner shell and outer shell, the outer shell is arranged in the manner of surrounding the inner shell, also include inlet pipeline, one end of the inlet pipeline is connected with air supply duct, the top plate of the air flow upstream side of the outer shell is provided with the first opening connected with the other end of the inlet pipeline, the inner shell is open towards air flow downstream side, the bottom plate of the air flow downstream side of the outer shell is connected with the edge of the air flow downstream side of the inner shell, air interlayer is formed between the inner shell and the outer shell, the air interlayer is constructed as outer flow channel, the internal space of the inner shell is constructed as inner flow channel.Can better adapt to various harsh external environmental conditions while realizing the functions such as heat preservation and noise reduction etc.In addition, the generation of self aerodynamic noise can be inhibited, and the outlet flow rate is uniform.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a buffer chamber device, and more particularly to a noise-reducing buffer chamber for an aircraft environmental control system. Background Technology

[0002] With economic development and rising living standards, more and more people are choosing large passenger aircraft as their primary mode of transportation. At the same time, people are placing increasingly higher demands on the comfort and health aspects of large passenger aircraft.

[0003] The cabin ventilation system is primarily used to provide air with suitable temperature, pressure, and humidity to ensure a comfortable temperature and pressure environment and sufficient fresh air in the cabin. A certain flow rate of air enters the cabin after being rectified by the air supply device, ensuring a reasonable airflow field, appropriate wind speed, and uniform temperature within the cabin. However, if the air supply device is poorly designed, it can lead to turbulent airflow within the cabin, and concentrated airflow can generate significant aerodynamic noise, severely impacting passenger comfort.

[0004] To address the impact of aerodynamic noise on cabin comfort, a previous technique involved installing silencers in the ventilation ducts to eliminate noise from upstream of the environmental control system. However, to save weight and reduce costs, silencers were primarily installed on the main ventilation pipes of each temperature-controlled zone, resulting in aerodynamically regenerated noise being generated as the airflow travels down the downstream branch pipes. Another technique involves incorporating buffer chambers at the end of the environmental control system. However, improper design of these buffer chambers can also generate aerodynamically regenerated noise, which, along with upstream noise, enters the cabin and directly impacts the cabin noise level.

[0005] Furthermore, the noise generated by high-speed rotating components in the environmental control system can also affect the outside of the cabin through the cold-side exhaust. Due to regulations governing apron noise, the cold-side exhaust system typically requires noise reduction treatment. Previously, traditional porous materials were used for insulation and noise reduction. However, these materials are prone to damage, and in high-humidity environments, they absorb water, leading to increased weight and reduced insulation performance. Moreover, the adaptability of porous materials to extreme climates, salt spray, and corrosive liquids requires further verification.

[0006] Existing technical documents

[0007] Patent documents

[0008] Patent Document 1: CN115898963A

[0009] Patent Document 2: CN213109804U

[0010] Patent Document 3: DE10243710B3 Summary of the Invention

[0011] The present invention addresses the aforementioned technical problems and aims to provide a buffer cavity device for aircraft environmental control systems, which can better adapt to various harsh external environmental conditions while achieving functions such as heat preservation and noise reduction.

[0012] This invention relates to a buffer chamber device, comprising a double-shell structure formed by an inner shell 30 and an outer shell 20, wherein the outer shell is arranged to surround the inner shell, and further comprising an inlet pipe 10, one end of which is connected to an air supply pipe. A first opening is provided on the top plate on the upstream side of the airflow of the outer shell, which is connected to the other end of the inlet pipe. The inner shell is open to the downstream side of the airflow, and the bottom plate on the downstream side of the airflow of the outer shell is connected to the edge on the downstream side of the airflow of the inner shell. An air interlayer 40 is formed between the inner shell and the outer shell, the air interlayer constituting an external flow channel, and the internal space of the inner shell constituting an internal flow channel.

[0013] According to the buffer cavity device of this structure, an air gap 40 is formed between the inner shell and the outer shell. The air gap is configured as an external flow channel, and the internal space of the inner shell is configured as an internal flow channel. The interior of the air gap 40 can be considered as purely thermally conductive, and the low thermal conductivity of air can be used to keep the cabin air supply warm.

[0014] Ideally, a plurality of partitions 50 are provided in the air gap between the inner shell and the outer shell, the partitions dividing the air gap into cavities of different volumes that are interconnected.

[0015] The buffer cavity device based on this structure can divide the air jacket into parallel cavities of different volumes that are interconnected, and can adjust the noise reduction frequency of the resonant cavity to adapt to the sound source characteristics of different systems.

[0016] Furthermore, the partition is provided in at least one layer in the air gap, and when it is provided in at least two layers, the partition is configured not to overlap in the vertical and circumferential directions.

[0017] In addition, a plurality of perforations 31 are formed on at least one plate surface of the inner housing.

[0018] According to the buffer cavity device of this structure, noise reduction can be achieved through the synergistic effect of the cavity and the perforation 31.

[0019] Furthermore, the thickness of the air interlayer and the size of the perforation on the inner shell are configured such that cavities of different volumes can be configured as resonant cavities with different frequencies.

[0020] According to the buffer cavity device with this structure, noise reduction can be achieved by setting cavities of different volumes as resonant cavities with different frequencies.

[0021] Ideally, at least one flow equalization plate 60 is provided inside the inner shell, and multiple through holes 61 running vertically through the flow equalization plate are provided.

[0022] By setting up a flow equalization plate, noise reduction performance can be further improved while equalizing the flow velocity at the outlet.

[0023] Furthermore, the flow equalization plate includes a first region S1 and a second region S2. The first region corresponds to the aperture of the first opening, and the second region is the region outside the first region. The density of the through holes in the first region is less than the density of the through holes in the second region.

[0024] The buffer cavity device with this structure can ensure uniform downstream airflow while avoiding acoustic short circuits.

[0025] In addition, the flow equalization plate is installed at the center of the vertical direction inside the inner shell.

[0026] Ideally, it also includes an air outlet grille 70, which is installed in the lower opening formed by the downstream edge of the airflow in the inner housing.

[0027] By setting an air outlet grille, the airflow that has passed through the buffer chamber device can be guided and sent out. Attached Figure Description

[0028] Figure 1 This is a simplified structural diagram of the interior of the cabin equipped with the buffer cavity device according to the embodiments of the present invention.

[0029] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram showing the buffer cavity device of the present invention installed at the cold side outlet end of the air conditioning unit.

[0030] Figure 3 This is a perspective view showing the structure of the buffer cavity device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of the buffer cavity device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] Figure 5 This is an exploded view showing the structure of the buffer cavity device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] Figure 6 This is a top view showing the structure of the flow equalization plate.

[0034] Figure 7 This is a cross-sectional perspective view showing the structure of the buffer cavity device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0035] (Symbol Explanation)

[0036] 1. Buffer chamber device

[0037] 10 Inlet Pipeline

[0038] 20 outer shell

[0039] 30 Inner Shell

[0040] 31 perforations

[0041] 40 air gap

[0042] 50 partitions

[0043] 60 flow equalizer

[0044] 61 through holes

[0045] 70 air vent grille

[0046] S1 First Area

[0047] S2 Second Area

[0048] Q1 First Airflow

[0049] Q2 Second Airflow Detailed Implementation

[0050] Unless otherwise defined, the technical terms used in this invention should have the ordinary meaning understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. Unless explicitly stated in this invention that there is a sequential order of steps, the terms "first," "second," and similar terms used herein do not indicate any order, quantity, or importance, but are merely used to distinguish different components. Furthermore, the terms "upper," "lower," "left," "right," etc., are used only to indicate relative positional relationships; when the absolute position of the described object changes, the relative positional relationship may also change accordingly.

[0051] Hereinafter, a buffer cavity device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0052] As an example of the installation scenario for the buffer chamber device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, it can be installed at a location where airflow buffering is required, such as at the end of the cabin air supply system or at the end of the cold side outlet of the air conditioning unit. In the following description, the buffer chamber device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described using the case of installation at the end of the cabin air supply system as an example.

[0053] Figure 1 This is a simplified structural diagram of the interior of the cabin equipped with the buffer cavity device according to the embodiments of the present invention. Figure 3 This is a perspective view showing the structure of the buffer cavity device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of the buffer cavity device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5This is an exploded view showing the structure of the buffer cavity device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 7 This is a cross-sectional perspective view showing the structure of the buffer cavity device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0054] like Figure 1 As shown, the buffer chamber device 1 of the present invention is installed at the end of the cabin air supply system to buffer and rectify the airflow supplied through the air supply duct before supplying it to the interior of the cabin, so as to achieve air conditioning inside the cabin.

[0055] Figure 3 The structure of the buffer cavity device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown in the figure. Figure 3 As shown, the buffer chamber device 1 of the present invention mainly includes an inlet pipe 10, an outer shell 20, an inner shell 30, and a partition 50.

[0056] One end of the inlet pipe 10 is connected to the air supply duct, and the other end is connected to a first opening on the top plate of the outer casing 20 located upstream of the airflow. The outer casing 20 is illustrated here as a cuboid. A first opening for connecting the other end of the inlet pipe 10 is provided at approximately the center of the top plate of the outer casing 20. A second opening for the air outlet grille 70, which will be described later, is formed on the bottom plate of the outer casing 20. The bottom plate of the outer casing 20 is formed in the shape of a rectangular frame.

[0057] The inner shell 30 is formed as a bottomed rectangular tube that is open at the bottom. Figure 3 To show the diagram more clearly, only the perforation 31 on the top plate of the inner housing 30 is shown; in reality, perforations 31 are provided on all surfaces of the inner housing 30, namely the top plate and side plates. A flow equalization plate 60 is installed approximately at the center of the interior of the inner housing 30 in the vertical direction. An air outlet grille 70 is installed at the lower opening formed by the lower edge of the inner housing 30. The lower edge of the inner housing 30 is connected to the bottom plate of the outer housing 20.

[0058] By arranging the outer shell 20 and inner shell 30 in this way, an air gap 40 is formed between the outer shell 20 and the inner shell 30. Since the lower edge of the inner shell 30 is airtightly connected to the bottom plate of the outer shell 20, the air gap 40 is formed on the side and top of the inner shell 30. The air gap 40 constitutes an external flow channel, and the internal space of the inner shell 30 constitutes an internal flow channel. By providing the air gap 40, heat preservation of the gas flowing in from the inlet pipe 10 can be achieved.

[0059] Furthermore, multiple partitions 50 are disposed in the air jacket 40. Some partitions 50 connect the top plate of the outer shell 20 to the top plate of the inner shell 30, and some partitions 50 connect the side plates of the outer shell 20 to the side plates of the inner shell 30. Ideally, the partitions connecting the side plates of the outer shell 20 and the side plates of the inner shell 30 are arranged in at least two layers, upper and lower. These partitions 50 are configured to not overlap in either the vertical or circumferential directions. By providing multiple partitions 50, the air jacket 40 can be divided into multiple parallel cavities.

[0060] As described above, the flow equalization plate 60 is installed approximately at the center of the vertical direction inside the inner housing 30. Figure 6 This is a top view showing the structure of the flow equalization plate 60. (Example) Figure 6 As shown, a plurality of through holes 61 extending vertically are provided on the flow equalization plate 60. The flow equalization plate 60 includes a first region S1 and a second region S2, wherein the first region S1 corresponds to the aperture of the lower opening of the inlet pipe 10, and the second region S2 is the region other than the first region S1. The arrangement density of the through holes 61 in the first region S1 is less than the arrangement density of the through holes 61 in the second region S2.

[0061] An air outlet grille 70 is installed in the lower opening formed by the lower edge of the inner housing 30, and is used to guide and deliver the airflow that has passed through the buffer chamber device 1 into the cabin. Since a known grille can be used for the air outlet grille 70, a detailed description of it is omitted here.

[0062] According to the buffer chamber device 1 with the above structure, after the airflow supplied through the air supply duct (not shown) enters from the inlet pipe 10, a part of the airflow, namely the first airflow Q1, diffuses in the air jacket 40, namely the outer flow channel, and the remaining airflow, namely the second airflow Q2, enters the interior of the inner shell 30, namely the inner flow channel, through the perforation 31 provided in the inner shell 30.

[0063] As the first airflow Q1 flows in the air jacket 40, it is further diverted to parallel cavities by the baffle 50 located within the air jacket 40. After the first airflow Q1 completely fills each cavity, a stable state is reached. In the stable state, the gas in the air jacket 40 hardly flows, remaining in a purely thermally conductive state, thus achieving heat preservation.

[0064] Furthermore, once a stable state is reached, all airflow supplied via the air duct flows within the inner channel. Through the synergistic effect of the cavity and the perforation 31, noise reduction can be achieved.

[0065] The airflow passing through the inner channel further passes through the flow equalization plate 60, and then flows out from the air outlet grille 70 located at the bottom of the outer casing 20, entering the interior of the cabin. The flow equalization plate 60 can achieve uniform downstream flow velocity, adjust flow resistance, and prevent acoustic short circuits. As mentioned above, in the flow equalization plate 60, the density of through holes 61 in the first region S1 is less than that in the second region S2. However, the through holes 61 only need to be set to ensure uniform downstream airflow while preventing acoustic short circuits. The hole size and arrangement can be adjusted according to noise reduction requirements, and structures such as internal insertion tubes can be combined as needed to improve the noise reduction effect.

[0066] The effects of the buffer cavity device 1 according to the embodiments of the present invention will be described next.

[0067] The buffer chamber device 1, as the main body, includes an inner shell 30 and an outer shell 20 arranged to surround the inner shell 30. A double-shell structure is formed by the inner shell 30 and the outer shell 20, and an air gap 40 is formed between the inner shell 30 and the outer shell 20. The interior of the air gap 40 can be considered as purely thermally conductive, and the low thermal conductivity of air is used to keep the air supplied to the cabin warm.

[0068] Furthermore, the present invention also includes a partition 50, which divides the air gap 40 between the inner shell 30 and the outer shell 20 into cavities of different volumes that are interconnected. Additionally, at least one plate surface of the inner shell 30 is provided with multiple perforations 31, which effectively transform the cavities of different volumes into resonant cavities with different frequencies to achieve noise reduction.

[0069] By controlling the thickness of the air jacket 40 and the size of the perforations 31 on the inner shell 30, the interior of the air jacket 40 is guaranteed to be purely conductive or only has insignificant convective heat transfer, thereby ensuring the insulation effect of the air jacket.

[0070] By adjusting the arrangement of the partition 50 between the inner shell 30 and the outer shell 20, the noise reduction frequency of the resonant cavity can be adjusted to adapt to the sound source characteristics of different systems.

[0071] In addition, by setting a flow equalization plate 60 inside the inner shell 30, the noise reduction performance can be further improved while equalizing the flow rate at the outlet.

[0072] In summary, the buffer chamber device 1 of the present invention can be directly installed at the end of the cabin air supply system to achieve heat preservation of the air supply airflow and elimination of upstream aerodynamic regeneration noise, while suppressing the generation of its own aerodynamic noise and uniform outlet flow rate.

[0073] The foregoing description has already given many features and advantages, as well as details of the structure and function of the device. The description in this specification is exemplary and is not exhaustive or limiting.

[0074] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made within the full scope indicated by the broad superordinate meaning of the terms expressed in the appended claims, particularly in terms of structure, materials, elements, components, shapes, dimensions, and arrangements of components, including combinations of these aspects within the scope of the principles described herein. Such various modifications are intended to be included herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

[0075] For example, in the above embodiment, it is illustrated that the perforations 31 are provided on all surfaces of the inner housing 30, namely the top plate and the side plates. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the perforations 31 may be provided only on any one or any two surfaces of the inner housing 30. Furthermore, the perforations 31 in the inner housing 30 may be uniformly distributed or non-uniformly distributed. In addition, the perforations 31 may be provided only in a portion of certain surfaces of the inner housing 30.

[0076] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the buffer chamber device 1 of the present invention will be described as an example of being installed at the end of the cabin air supply system. However, the installation position of the buffer chamber device 1 of the present invention is not limited to this; for example, it can be installed at any position where airflow buffering is required, such as the end of the cold edge outlet of the air conditioning unit. When the buffer chamber device is installed at the end of the cold edge outlet of the air conditioning unit, its heat preservation and noise reduction principle is basically the same as when it is installed at the end of the cabin ventilation system. Since the cold edge outlet of the air conditioning unit does not need to ensure the uniformity of airflow, the flow equalization plate does not need to consider the influence of flow velocity; it can be set with perforations or internal tubes only for noise reduction effect. In addition, the air outlet grille needs to be designed based on factors such as strength or aircraft aerodynamics, and is not limited to the form shown in this embodiment.

[0077] When installed at the cold-side outlet end of the air conditioning unit, the structural design can reduce the impact of noise from high-speed rotating components of the environmental control system on the outside of the cabin. In addition, the structure can ensure thermal insulation and noise reduction performance, avoiding the adverse effects of porous materials such as easy breakage, flattening, and water absorption leading to performance degradation. It can also better adapt to the harsh external environmental conditions that may occur in the non-pressurized area during aircraft operation.

[0078] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, an airflow equalization plate 60 is shown installed approximately at the center position in the vertical direction inside the inner housing 30. However, the present invention is not limited to this. First, the number of airflow equalization plates 60 is not limited to one; two or more can be provided. Second, the position of the airflow equalization plate 60 can be appropriately adjusted according to the airflow conditions.

[0079] • Additionally, the air vent grille 70 is not mandatory and can be omitted.

[0080] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, a structure is illustrated in which the air supply duct is connected to the buffer chamber device 1 via the inlet pipe 10. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the inlet pipe 10 may be omitted appropriately, and the air supply duct may be connected to the first opening of the outer shell of the buffer chamber device 1.

[0081] Furthermore, in the above embodiments, the outer shell 20 is exemplified as a cuboid, and the inner shell 300 is exemplified as a bottom-open rectangular tube. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the shapes of the outer shell and the inner shell can be arbitrarily deformed into other shapes, such as cylindrical, prismatic, etc., as long as an air gap can be formed between the outer shell and the inner shell.

Claims

1. A buffer chamber device (1), characterized in that, It includes a double-shell structure formed by an inner shell (30) and an outer shell (20), the outer shell being arranged to surround the inner shell. It also includes an inlet pipe (10), one end of which is connected to an air supply pipe. A first opening is provided on the top plate on the upstream side of the airflow of the outer casing, which connects to the other end of the inlet pipe. The inner shell is open towards the downstream side of the airflow. The bottom plate on the downstream side of the outer shell is connected to the edge on the downstream side of the inner shell, forming an air gap (40) between the inner shell and the outer shell. The air gap forms an external flow channel, and the internal space of the inner shell forms an internal flow channel. A plurality of partitions (50) are provided in the air gap between the inner shell and the outer shell, the partitions dividing the air gap into cavities of different volumes that are interconnected. The partition is provided in the air gap with at least one layer, and when it is provided in the case of at least two layers, the partition is provided so that it does not overlap in the vertical direction and the circumferential direction.

2. The buffer chamber device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, Multiple perforations (31) are formed on at least one plate surface of the inner housing.

3. The buffer chamber device as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The thickness of the air interlayer and the size of the perforation on the inner shell are set so that the cavities of different volumes can be set as resonant cavities with different frequencies.

4. The buffer chamber device as described in claim 1 or 3, characterized in that, At least one flow equalization plate (60) is provided inside the inner shell, and a plurality of through holes (61) are provided on the flow equalization plate running vertically through the top and bottom.

5. The buffer chamber device as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The flow equalization plate includes a first region (S1) and a second region (S2). The first region corresponds to the aperture of the first opening, and the second region is the region outside the first region. The density of through holes in the first region is less than the density of through holes in the second region.

6. The buffer cavity device as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The flow equalization plate is installed at the center of the inner shell in the vertical direction.

7. The buffer chamber device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes an air outlet grille (70), which is installed in the lower opening formed by the edge of the airflow downstream side of the inner housing.

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