Airplane oxygen generation and distribution system
By separating ram air on the aircraft to generate oxygen-enriched gas and storing it in oxygen cylinders, the problem of traditional aircraft oxygen systems being unable to supply oxygen for extended periods is solved, enabling continuous oxygen supply, reducing ground maintenance, and lowering maintenance costs.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT CORP OF CHINA LTD
- Filing Date
- 2025-05-13
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-12
AI Technical Summary
Traditional aircraft oxygen systems rely on ground-based oxygen supply, which cannot provide oxygen for extended periods and requires frequent ground maintenance, increasing operating costs.
An air separator is used to separate oxygen and nitrogen from ram air, generating oxygen-enriched gas which is stored in oxygen cylinders. Ram air is used to continuously supply oxygen during flight, and sensors monitor and control the pressure and temperature to ensure a stable oxygen supply.
This reduced ground maintenance work, enabled continuous oxygen supply during flight, and lowered maintenance costs.
Smart Images

Figure CN224349130U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model relates to an aircraft oxygen preparation and distribution system. Background Technology
[0002] Traditional aircraft oxygen systems mainly include crew oxygen, passenger oxygen, and portable oxygen, which can provide breathing oxygen to the flight crew, passengers, and cabin crew when the cabin depressurizes. Traditional oxygen systems rely on ground-based oxygen supply, do not have oxygen generation capabilities, and cannot provide oxygen for extended periods.
[0003] Therefore, the total amount of oxygen stored in an aircraft is limited, and it can only provide oxygen for a limited time (e.g., 12-20 minutes) in the event of cabin depressurization. In addition, the aircraft oxygen system requires regular maintenance and refilling by ground crew, which increases operating costs. Utility Model Content
[0004] In view of the above problems, the purpose of this utility model is to provide an aircraft oxygen preparation and distribution system that can reduce ground maintenance work and continuously supply oxygen to the cabin occupants during flight.
[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the aircraft oxygen preparation and distribution system of this utility model includes: an air separator that separates oxygen and nitrogen in ram air to form oxygen-enriched gas with an oxygen concentration higher than that in the ram air and nitrogen-enriched gas with a nitrogen concentration higher than that in the ram air; and an oxygen cylinder connected to the air separator, wherein the oxygen-enriched gas formed in the air separator is supplied to the oxygen cylinder for storage, and when the aircraft has an oxygen demand, the oxygen-enriched gas in the oxygen cylinder is distributed to the cockpit and passenger cabin of the aircraft.
[0006] According to the aircraft oxygen preparation and distribution system of this utility model, since ram air is used to generate oxygen-enriched gas in the air separator and supplied to oxygen cylinders for storage, when the aircraft has oxygen demand, the oxygen-enriched gas in the oxygen cylinders is distributed to the cockpit and cabin of the aircraft. Therefore, it can reduce ground maintenance work and can continuously replenish oxygen and continuously provide oxygen to the cabin crew during the flight phase.
[0007] Preferably, the ram air is compressed by the compressor to increase its pressure, then cooled by a heat exchanger, and then filtered to remove impurities before being sent to the air separator. A temperature sensor is installed in the flow path between the heat exchanger and the filter, and a pressure sensor is installed in the flow path between the compressor and the heat exchanger. Based on the data from the pressure sensor, the speed of the motor driving the compressor is adjusted so that the compressor outputs a specified compression ratio, thereby maintaining the ram air entering the air separator at a specified pressure. Based on the data from the temperature sensor, the flow rate of the ram air in the bypass flow path that bypasses the compressor and the pressure sensor is adjusted so that the ram air entering the air separator is maintained at a specified temperature.
[0008] According to the present invention, the aircraft oxygen preparation and distribution system can maintain the ram air entering the air separator at a suitable pressure and temperature.
[0009] Preferably, the oxygen-enriched gas is pressurized by a compressor and then delivered to the oxygen cylinder through an oxygen filling valve.
[0010] According to the present invention, an aircraft oxygen preparation and distribution system can deliver oxygen-enriched gas to an oxygen cylinder after being pressurized by a compressor, and can open or close the oxygen filling valve to fill the oxygen cylinder with oxygen.
[0011] Preferably, the aircraft oxygen preparation and distribution system further includes a pressure-temperature sensor for monitoring the temperature and pressure inside the oxygen cylinder, calculating the oxygen capacity percentage inside the oxygen cylinder based on the temperature and pressure data monitored by the pressure-temperature sensor, and using the ram air to fill the cylinder when the oxygen capacity percentage inside the oxygen cylinder is lower than a preset value.
[0012] According to the aircraft oxygen preparation and distribution system of this utility model, the oxygen filling of the oxygen cylinder can be controlled according to the oxygen capacity percentage in the oxygen cylinder.
[0013] Preferably, when the aircraft has an oxygen demand, the oxygen-enriched gas in the oxygen cylinder is distributed to the cockpit and passenger cabin through a pressure regulating valve and a shut-off valve.
[0014] According to the present invention, the oxygen preparation and distribution system for aircraft can regulate the pressure of the oxygen-enriched gas supplied to the aircraft cabin (the general term for the cockpit and passenger cabin) using a pressure regulating valve, and can open or close the oxygen supply to the aircraft cabin through a shut-off valve.
[0015] Preferably, the pressure-temperature sensor is disposed in the flow path between the oxygen cylinder and the pressure regulating valve.
[0016] According to the aircraft oxygen preparation and distribution system of this invention, the temperature and pressure inside the oxygen cylinder can be conveniently monitored using a pressure-temperature sensor. Attached Figure Description
[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the structure of an aircraft oxygen preparation and distribution system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0018] (Symbol Explanation)
[0019] 1: Air compressor;
[0020] 2: Motor;
[0021] 3: Pressure sensor;
[0022] 4: Heat exchanger;
[0023] 5: Temperature sensor;
[0024] 6: Filter;
[0025] 7: Air separator;
[0026] 8: Compressor;
[0027] 9: Oxygen-filling valve;
[0028] 10: Oxygen cylinders;
[0029] 11: Pressure-temperature sensor;
[0030] 12: Pressure regulating valve;
[0031] 13: Shut-off valve;
[0032] 14: Bypass path;
[0033] 100: Aircraft oxygen preparation and distribution system. Detailed Implementation
[0034] Various embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail, examples of which are shown in the accompanying drawings and described below. Although the present invention will be described in conjunction with exemplary embodiments, it should be understood that this specification is not intended to limit the present invention to those exemplary embodiments. Rather, the present invention is intended to cover not only these exemplary embodiments, but also various alternatives, modifications, equivalents, and other embodiments that may be included within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.
[0035] (Structure of the aircraft oxygen preparation and distribution system 100)
[0036] The following reference Figure 1The structure of the aircraft oxygen preparation and distribution system 100 according to the present invention will be described.
[0037] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram showing the structure of an aircraft oxygen preparation and distribution system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0038] like Figure 1 As shown, the aircraft oxygen preparation and distribution system 100 of this utility model includes a compressor 1, a motor 2, a pressure sensor 3, a heat exchanger 4, a temperature sensor 5, a filter 6, an air separator 7, a compressor 8, an oxygen filling valve 9, an oxygen cylinder 10, a pressure-temperature sensor 11, a pressure regulating valve 12, a shut-off valve 13, and a bypass flow path 14.
[0039] Among them, the bypass flow path 14 is a flow path that bypasses the compressor 1 and the pressure sensor 3.
[0040] (Operating mode of the aircraft oxygen preparation and distribution system 100)
[0041] like Figure 1 As shown, the ram air is compressed by the compressor 1 to increase its pressure, cooled after passing through the heat exchanger 4, and then filtered out by the filter 6. After passing through the air separator 7, the oxygen and nitrogen in the ram air are separated to form oxygen-enriched gas with a higher oxygen concentration than the oxygen concentration in the ram air and nitrogen-enriched gas with a higher nitrogen concentration than the nitrogen concentration in the ram air. The nitrogen-enriched gas is sent to the aircraft's fuel tank inerting system (not shown), and the oxygen-enriched gas is pressurized by the compressor 8 and then delivered to the oxygen cylinder 10 through the oxygen filling valve 9.
[0042] The aircraft oxygen preparation and distribution system 100 collects data from the pressure sensor 3 located between the compressor 1 and the heat exchanger 4, adjusts the speed of the motor 2 that drives the compressor 1, and makes the compressor 1 output a suitable compression ratio, thereby maintaining the air entering the air separator 7 at a suitable pressure.
[0043] In addition, the aircraft oxygen preparation and distribution system 100 adjusts the flow rate of ram air in the bypass flow path 14 that bypasses the compressor 1 and pressure sensor 3 by collecting data from the temperature sensor 5 located between the heat exchanger 4 and the filter 6, so that the air entering the air separator 7 is kept at a suitable temperature.
[0044] The pressure-temperature sensor 11 monitors the temperature and pressure inside the oxygen cylinder 10. The aircraft oxygen preparation and distribution system 100 calculates the oxygen capacity percentage inside the oxygen cylinder 10 based on the temperature and pressure data monitored by the pressure-temperature sensor 11. When the oxygen capacity percentage inside the oxygen cylinder 10 is lower than a preset value, the aircraft's ram air damper (not shown) is opened to replenish oxygen using ram air as described above. When the aircraft has an oxygen demand, the oxygen in the oxygen cylinder 10 is delivered to the cockpit and passenger cabin as crew oxygen and passenger oxygen respectively through the pressure regulating valve 12 and the shut-off valve 13.
[0045] (Features and technical effects of this utility model)
[0046] As described above, the aircraft oxygen preparation and distribution system 100 of this utility model includes: an air separator 7, which separates oxygen and nitrogen in ram air to form oxygen-enriched gas with an oxygen concentration higher than that in ram air and nitrogen-enriched gas with a nitrogen concentration higher than that in ram air; and an oxygen cylinder 10, which is connected to the air separator 7. The oxygen-enriched gas formed in the air separator 7 is supplied to the oxygen cylinder 10 for storage. When the aircraft has an oxygen demand, the oxygen-enriched gas in the oxygen cylinder 10 is distributed to the cockpit and passenger cabin of the aircraft.
[0047] According to the aircraft oxygen preparation and distribution system 100 of this utility model, since the oxygen-enriched gas is generated by ram air in the air separator 7 and supplied to the oxygen cylinder 10 for storage, when the aircraft has oxygen demand, the oxygen-enriched gas in the oxygen cylinder 10 is distributed to the cockpit and passenger cabin of the aircraft. Therefore, it can reduce the ground maintenance work and can continuously replenish oxygen and continuously provide oxygen to the cabin crew during the flight phase.
[0048] In addition, after the ram air is compressed by the compressor 1, its pressure is increased. Then it is cooled by the heat exchanger 4, and after impurities are filtered out by the filter 6, it is sent to the air separator 7. A temperature sensor 5 is installed in the flow path between the heat exchanger 4 and the filter 6, and a pressure sensor 3 is installed in the flow path between the compressor 1 and the heat exchanger 4. Based on the data from the pressure sensor 3, the speed of the motor 2 that drives the compressor 1 is adjusted so that the compressor 1 outputs a specified compression ratio, thereby maintaining the ram air entering the air separator 7 at a specified pressure. Based on the data from the temperature sensor 5, the flow rate of the ram air in the bypass flow path 14 that bypasses the compressor 1 and the pressure sensor 3 is adjusted so that the ram air entering the air separator 7 is maintained at a specified temperature.
[0049] According to the present invention, the aircraft oxygen preparation and distribution system 100 can maintain the ram air entering the air separator 7 at a suitable pressure and temperature.
[0050] In addition, the oxygen-enriched gas is pressurized by the compressor 8 and then delivered to the oxygen cylinder 10 through the oxygen filling valve 9.
[0051] According to the aircraft oxygen preparation and distribution system 100 of this utility model, oxygen-enriched gas can be pressurized by the compressor 8 and delivered to the oxygen cylinder 10, and the oxygen filling valve 9 can be opened or closed to fill the oxygen cylinder 10 with oxygen.
[0052] In addition, the aircraft oxygen preparation and distribution system 100 also includes a pressure-temperature sensor 11 for monitoring the temperature and pressure inside the oxygen cylinder 10. The oxygen capacity percentage inside the oxygen cylinder 10 is calculated based on the temperature and pressure data monitored by the pressure-temperature sensor 11. When the oxygen capacity percentage inside the oxygen cylinder 10 is lower than a preset value, oxygen is replenished using ram air.
[0053] According to the aircraft oxygen preparation and distribution system 100 of this utility model, the oxygen filling of the oxygen cylinder 10 can be controlled according to the oxygen capacity percentage in the oxygen cylinder 10.
[0054] In addition, when the aircraft has an oxygen demand, the oxygen-enriched gas in the oxygen cylinder 10 is distributed to the cockpit and passenger cabin through the pressure regulating valve 12 and the shut-off valve 13.
[0055] According to the present invention, the oxygen preparation and distribution system 100 for aircraft can regulate the pressure of the oxygen-enriched gas supplied to the aircraft cabin (the general term for the cockpit and passenger cabin) using the pressure regulating valve 12, and can open or close the oxygen supply to the aircraft cabin through the shut-off valve 13.
[0056] In addition, the pressure-temperature sensor 11 is installed in the flow path between the oxygen cylinder 10 and the pressure regulating valve 12.
[0057] According to the aircraft oxygen preparation and distribution system 100 of this utility model, the temperature and pressure inside the oxygen cylinder 10 can be conveniently monitored using the pressure-temperature sensor 11.
[0058] (Modified Example)
[0059] The placement of the pressure sensor and temperature sensor in this invention is not particularly limited, as long as they can measure the pressure and temperature of the corresponding parts.
[0060] Although the structure and working principle of this utility model have been described above with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art should recognize that the above examples are merely illustrative and should not be construed as limiting the utility model. Therefore, modifications and variations can be made to this utility model within the spirit and scope of the claims, and all such modifications and variations will fall within the scope claimed by the claims of this utility model.
Claims
1. An aircraft oxygen preparation and distribution system, characterized in that, include: An air separator that separates oxygen and nitrogen in ram air to form an oxygen-enriched gas with an oxygen concentration higher than that in the ram air and a nitrogen-enriched gas with a nitrogen concentration higher than that in the ram air; and An oxygen cylinder is connected to an air separator, and the oxygen-enriched gas formed in the air separator is supplied to the oxygen cylinder for storage. When the aircraft requires oxygen, the oxygen-enriched gas in the oxygen cylinders is distributed to the cockpit and passenger cabin.
2. The aircraft oxygen preparation and distribution system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The ram air is compressed by the compressor to increase its pressure, then cooled by the heat exchanger, and finally filtered to remove impurities before being sent to the air separator. A temperature sensor is installed in the flow path between the heat exchanger and the filter. A pressure sensor is installed in the flow path between the compressor and the heat exchanger. Based on the data from the pressure sensor, the rotational speed of the motor driving the compressor is adjusted to ensure the compressor outputs a predetermined compression ratio, thereby maintaining the ram air entering the air separator at a predetermined pressure. Based on the data from the temperature sensor, the flow rate of the ram air in the bypass path that bypasses the compressor and the pressure sensor is adjusted so that the ram air entering the air separator is maintained at a specified temperature.
3. The aircraft oxygen preparation and distribution system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The oxygen-enriched gas is pressurized by a compressor and then delivered to the oxygen cylinder through an oxygen filling valve.
4. The aircraft oxygen preparation and distribution system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The aircraft oxygen preparation and distribution system also includes a pressure-temperature sensor for monitoring the temperature and pressure inside the oxygen cylinder. The percentage of oxygen capacity in the oxygen cylinder is calculated based on the temperature and pressure data monitored by the pressure-temperature sensor. When the oxygen capacity percentage in the oxygen cylinder is lower than a preset value, the oxygen is replenished using the pressurized air.
5. The aircraft oxygen preparation and distribution system as described in claim 4, characterized in that, When the aircraft requires oxygen, the oxygen-enriched gas in the oxygen cylinder is distributed to the cockpit and passenger cabin through a pressure regulating valve and a shut-off valve.
6. The aircraft oxygen preparation and distribution system as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The pressure-temperature sensor is installed in the flow path between the oxygen cylinder and the pressure regulating valve.