Ozone and / or volatile organic compound converter comprising a conical-flap control valve, air conditioning system and vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a converter comprising a fluid inlet (4) and a fluid outlet (6), a main duct (32) comprising a device (40) for treating ozone and / or volatile organic compounds, and an inner channel, characterised in that it further comprises: - an outer duct (11) forming an intermediate channel; - a control valve comprising: * a stationary conical support (30) rigidly connected to the main duct (32) and to the outer duct (11) and having an apex oriented towards the fluid inlet (4); * a movable conical flap (20) that is coupled to be rotatable relative to the stationary support (30) and rigidly connected to the outer duct (11); * at least one aperture (33) arranged in the stationary support (30) and at least one aperture (21) arranged in the movable conical flap (20) allowing fluid to circulate in the inner channel when the apertures (21, 33) are facing each other.

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] TITLE OF THE INVENTION: OZONE AND / OR VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUND CONVERTER INCLUDING A CONICAL FLAP CONTROL VALVE, AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM AND VEHICLE

[0003] Technical field of the invention

[0004] The invention relates to an ozone and / or volatile organic compound (VOC) converter, particularly for an aircraft, comprising a conical flap control valve. The invention also relates to an air conditioning system and an aircraft comprising such an ozone converter.

[0005] Technological background

[0006] In an aircraft, the air conditioning system treats the air intended to supply the aircraft cabin. Air treatment involves adjusting the temperature, pressure, humidity, etc., of air coming from an aircraft air source, for example, air drawn from the engines, commonly known as air bleed.

[0007] Throughout this text, the term "cabin" refers to any interior space of an aircraft where air pressure and temperature must be controlled. This can include a passenger cabin, the cockpit, or any pressurized area (cargo, avionics bays).

[0008] In an aircraft, the dynamic air used for cooling can come from outside air, the temperature of which, upon contact with the aircraft fuselage (called skin temperature), is low (maximum 0°C), thus facilitating air conditioning. An aircraft cabin air conditioning system generally includes a compressed air intake device from at least one compressor of the aircraft's propulsion engine (or an air intake device connected to an aircraft scoop, more commonly known as RAM air) and an air-cycle turbomachine comprising at least one compressor and one turbine. The compressor is supplied with air by the compressed air intake device, and the turbine includes an air outlet that supplies the cabin with controlled temperature and flow. The air conditioning system also includes various heat exchangers, control valves, and a water extraction loop.

[0009] During cruise phases, an aircraft flies at an altitude above 6,000 meters, where the outside air contains too high a concentration of ozone to be brought into the cabin. Ozone removal devices are therefore necessary.

[0010] It can also be useful to eliminate volatile organic compounds that may be present in the outside air, on the ground or in flight.

[0011] Such devices may include noble metal-based catalysts, porous materials such as MOFs (for "Metal Organic Framework") or zeolites, and more particularly structures formed of a material or whose surface is coated with a catalyst material capable of destroying ozone and / or volatile organic compounds present in an airflow circulating in contact with it.

[0012] For example, WO 2015 / 055672 is known to be an aircraft air treatment system comprising a compressor and a cooling heat exchanger whose surface is covered with a catalytic coating capable of reacting with ozone from the air taken in.

[0013] However, such ozone decomposition catalysts can be sensitive to certain pollutants that may be present in the airflow at low altitudes (or at ground level), such as sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, or lubricating oil residues, which can lead to a premature loss of effectiveness of the catalytic coating. For example, US 2013 / 0094999 discloses an ozone converter comprising a housing with an inlet and an outlet, within which are arranged an annular catalytic bed and a bypass cylinder passing through the center of the annular catalytic bed and equipped with a butterfly valve. The catalytic bed enables the decomposition of ozone into oxygen.

[0014] US 2018 / 0118352 also describes an ozone converter comprising such an annular-shaped catalytic bed.

[0015] However, such an annular catalytic bed has a large footprint, making its design and integration complex and challenging.

[0016] On the other hand, document DE 10 2012 020420 describes a bypass element for gaseous fluids of an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine, the bypass element comprising two conically shaped rotating discs forming a rotary valve intended to distribute an exhaust gas flow between two different pipes via two coaxial portions of circular cross-section.

[0017] Objectives of the invention

[0018] The invention aims to provide an ozone and / or volatile organic compound converter to overcome these drawbacks.

[0019] The invention also aims to provide an ozone and / or volatile organic compound converter with an extended lifespan.

[0020] The invention also aims to provide an ozone converter free from the problems of deactivation by unnecessary catalytic poisoning.

[0021] The invention also aims to provide, in at least one embodiment, an ozone and / or volatile organic compound converter for an aircraft which is easy to integrate while being robust and reliable.

[0022] Description of the invention

[0023] To this end, the invention relates to an ozone and / or volatile organic compound converter comprising: - a fluid inlet,

[0024] - a fluid outlet,

[0025] - a main conduit disposed between said fluid inlet and said fluid outlet and comprising at least one ozone and / or volatile organic compound treatment device disposed within said main conduit, said main conduit delimiting a main circulation channel, said internal channel, of said fluid, characterized in that said ozone and / or volatile organic compound converter further comprises:

[0026] - an external conduit disposed between said fluid inlet and said fluid outlet and delimiting a circulation channel, said intermediate channel, of said fluid, said main conduit being disposed inside said external conduit,

[0027] - a flow control valve for said fluid comprising:

[0028] • a fixed conical support integral with the main duct and the external duct, and having one apex oriented towards said fluid inlet,

[0029] • a movable conical flap, rotating relative to the fixed support and integral with the external conduit, said movable conical flap having an apex oriented towards said fluid inlet,

[0030] • at least one light, called the main light, for the passage of fluid arranged in said fixed support and at least one conjugate light for the passage of fluid arranged in said movable conical flap so as to allow the circulation of fluid within the internal channel of said main conduit when said main light and the fluid passage light arranged in said conical flap are opposite each other,

[0031] - an actuator for said regulating valve adapted to be able to control the position of said movable conical flap.

[0032] Such an ozone and / or volatile organic compound (VOC) converter protects the ozone and / or VOC treatment system from potential (partial or total) deactivation by pollutants such as hydrocarbons that may be present on the ground or at low altitudes in the air drawn from the engines or via an aircraft air intake. By allowing the ozone treatment system to be bypassed at low altitudes, an ozone converter according to the invention thus ensures greater efficiency at high altitudes while preserving its ozone removal functions from the airflow during phases where this is essential, i.e., from 27,000 feet, for example.

[0033] Such a converter also makes it possible to protect the ozone and / or VOC treatment device at high altitude depending on external parameters, by allowing the ozone and / or VOC treatment device to be bypassed depending on these parameters such as altitude or environmental pollution (dust, sand, chemical pollutants...).

[0034] Advantageously and according to the invention, said control valve further comprises at least one peripheral fluid passage light arranged in said fixed support so as to permit fluid circulation within the intermediate channel of the external conduit in at least one position of said movable conical flap.

[0035] According to this variant, each peripheral fluid passage opening arranged in the fixed support is angularly offset relative to each main opening of the fixed support. In particular, the main and peripheral openings of the fixed support are configured so that, in at least one position of the movable conical damper, when the fluid flow passes through the main openings of the fixed support, no fluid flow can pass through the peripheral openings. This ensures that all ozone and / or volatile organic compounds that must be removed from the fluid flow entering the converter are effectively removed. Thus, the movable conical damper is configured to be able to at least partially block each peripheral fluid passage opening arranged in the fixed support when the openings are facing each other.

[0036] Advantageously and according to the invention, said main conduit defining a main circulation channel extends in a direction, called axial direction, between said fluid inlet and said fluid outlet.

[0037] An ozone and / or volatile organic compound treatment device is defined as any device configured to be able to adsorb and / or remove at least part of the ozone (or trioxygen, chemical formula O3) and / or volatile organic compounds (VOCs) (including alkanes, alkenes, aldehydes, aromatic hydrocarbons and / or halogenated hydrocarbons) from a fluid stream.

[0038] The term "organic compound" means any compound containing at least the element carbon and one or more of the following elements: hydrogen, halogens, oxygen, sulfur, phosphorus, silicon or nitrogen, with the exception of carbon oxides and inorganic carbonates and bicarbonates.

[0039] For example, it could be a cellular material such as a solid foam or a honeycomb structure whose surface is at least partially coated (or impregnated) with a suitable coating to remove ozone and / or volatile organic compounds (VOCs), such as a coating containing zeolites, noble metal-based materials (silver, gold, palladium, platinum, etc.), or porous materials such as MOFs (Metal Organic Frameworks). This ozone and / or VOC treatment device could also take the form of a catalytic bed.

[0040] The treatment device can therefore be an ozone treatment device, a volatile organic compound (VOC) treatment device, or an ozone and VOC treatment device. If the device treats both ozone and VOCs, it can be a single unit with a dual function or two separate units, for example, one section with a coating configured to remove or adsorb VOCs upstream of a catalytic converter configured to remove ozone.

[0041] Advantageously, according to the invention, the conical flap and the fixed support each comprise an odd number of regularly spaced fluid passage ports. An odd number of fluid passage ports limits the opposing forces exerted by the fluid flow on the movable conical flap and the fixed support. For example, the conical flap and the fixed support of the control valve each comprise three or five regularly spaced fluid passage ports. Thus, according to an embodiment in which the number of ports is three, the angular range of the ports is 60°.

[0042] Advantageously and according to the invention, said control valve further has at least one axis of symmetry which extends along the axial direction from said apex of the fixed conical support and an angle a defining an inclination of said lights of the conical flap and of the fixed support with respect to said axis of symmetry of the valve, said angle a being less than or equal to 30°.

[0043] Advantageously, and according to the invention, said actuator of the control valve includes non-contact actuation means for said movable conical flap. These means allow the movement of the movable conical flap and thus the regulation of the fluid between the inner channel and the intermediate channel of the ozone and / or volatile organic compound converter, depending on whether it is necessary to direct the fluid flow through the ozone and / or volatile organic compound treatment device or whether it can be directed to the intermediate channel located between the two conduits (main and external) so as to bypass said ozone and / or volatile organic compound treatment device, the concentration of ozone and / or volatile organic compounds in the incoming fluid flow, and / or depending on the flight altitude of the aircraft equipped with such a converter according to the invention.

[0044] Advantageously, and according to the invention, the non-contact actuation means for the control valve comprise electromagnetic means housed outside the intermediate fluid circulation channel. Positioning the actuator outside the external conduit prevents leakage of fluid circulating in the intermediate channel and thus improves the sealing of the control valve.

[0045] Advantageously and according to the invention, said electromagnetic means comprise at least a wound stator and permanent magnets, said permanent magnets being arranged on said movable conical flap.

[0046] According to this variant, the said electromagnetic means allow, by means of a wound stator arranged on the said valve body, to control the rotation of the conical flap equipped with permanent magnets by controlling the current supplying this wound stator.

[0047] According to this variant, the symmetrical configuration of the magnetic drive also allows the movable conical flap to act as a magnetic bearing, thus dampening the vibrations of said flap when the valve is subjected to vibratory excitation, which is the case, for example, for aeronautical applications.

[0048] Advantageously and according to the invention, said valve further comprises at least one non-contact Hall effect sensor enabling measurement of a variation in magnetic field in order to achieve position copying.

[0049] Nothing prevents the control valve from being actuated differently, either by solid contact or by fluid. Thus, according to one embodiment of the invention, the control valve actuator is configured to be mechanically driven. In this embodiment, the movable conical flap has teeth on its periphery to allow actuation by a worm gear driven by an electric motor via a gear train. Similarly, in another embodiment of the invention, the control valve actuator is configured to be pneumatically driven. In this embodiment, a piston controlled by air pressure is configured to open and close the movable conical flap via a control rod connected by a pivot to a right-angle drive linked to the movable conical flap.

[0050] The invention also relates to an air conditioning system comprising an ozone and / or volatile organic compound converter according to the invention.

[0051] The invention also relates to an air transport vehicle comprising at least one propulsion engine, a cabin and at least one such air conditioning system for said cabin.

[0052] The invention also relates to an ozone converter, a method for manufacturing such an ozone converter and / or volatile organic compounds, an air conditioning system and an air transport vehicle characterized in combination by all or part of the characteristics mentioned above or below.

[0053] List of figures

[0054] Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, given by way of non-limiting example only, and which refers to the accompanying figures in which:

[0055] [Fig. 1] is a schematic perspective view of an ozone and / or volatile organic compound converter according to the invention with the conical flap in a first position,

[0056] [Fig. 2] is a schematic perspective view of an ozone and / or volatile organic compound converter according to the invention with the conical flap in a second position,

[0057] [Fig. 3] is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of an ozone and / or volatile organic compound converter according to the invention with the conical flap in the first position,

[0058] [Fig. 4] a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of an ozone and / or volatile organic compound converter according to the invention with the conical flap in the second position,

[0059] [Fig. 5] is a schematic perspective view of an ozone and / or volatile organic compound converter according to the invention.

[0060] Detailed description of an embodiment of the invention

[0061] In the figures, scales and proportions are not strictly to scale for illustrative and clarity purposes. Identical, similar, or analogous elements are designated by the same reference numerals in all figures.

[0062] Figures 1 to 5 illustrate an embodiment of a converter 10 of ozone and / or volatile organic compounds according to the invention.

[0063] As can be seen in Figures 1 to 4, in the embodiment shown, the ozone and / or volatile organic compound converter comprises a fluid inlet 4 and a fluid outlet 6, and a main conduit 32 disposed between the fluid inlet 4 and the fluid outlet 6. The main conduit 32 includes an ozone treatment device 40 in the form of a disc formed by a catalytic bed. The main conduit 32 defines a main circulation channel, referred to as the inner channel, for said fluid.

[0064] In particular, the illustrated embodiment describes a variant in which the treatment device 40 is an ozone treatment device 40.

[0065] Figures 1 and 2 show the ozone converter 10 in perspective from the fluid inlet 4. Figures 3 and 4 show the ozone converter 10 in longitudinal section, with Figure 3 being a side view and Figure 4 a slightly perspective view.

[0066] The ozone converter includes an external conduit 11 inside which is arranged the main conduit 32 and extending between the fluid inlet 4 and the fluid outlet 6. The external conduit 11 delimits a circulation channel, called the intermediate channel, for the fluid.

[0067] The ozone and / or volatile organic compound converter further includes a fluid flow control valve comprising:

[0068] • a fixed conical support 30 integral with the main conduit 32 and the external conduit 11 and having an apex oriented towards said fluid inlet 4,

[0069] • a movable conical flap 20, rotating relative to the fixed support 30 attached to the external conduit 11, the movable conical flap 20 having an apex 24 oriented towards the fluid inlet 4,

[0070] • three main fluid passage lights 33 arranged in said fixed support 30 and three conjugate fluid passage lights 21 arranged in the movable conical flap 20 so as to permit fluid circulation within the inner channel of the main conduit 32 when the lights 21, 33 are opposite each other, as illustrated in figures 1 and 3.

[0071] As can be seen in Figure 2, the control valve also includes three peripheral fluid passage ports 35 arranged in the fixed support 30, each peripheral port 35 being radially further from the apex 24 than each fluid passage port 33 arranged in the fixed support 30. The peripheral ports 35 are arranged to allow fluid circulation within the intermediate channel of the external conduit 11 in at least one position of the movable conical flap 20, referred to as the ozone converter bypass position, illustrated in Figures 2 and 4.

[0072] The main circulation channel extends along an axial direction extending between the fluid inlet 4 and the fluid outlet 6.

[0073] In figures 3 and 4, arrows 14, 16, 15 and 17 illustrate the passage of the fluid flow, either in the inner channel of the main conduit 32 (figure 3, incoming flow 14 and outgoing fluid flow 16) corresponding to a position, called the ozone treatment position, or in the intermediate channel of the external conduit 11 (figure 4, incoming fluid flow 15 and outgoing fluid flow 17) corresponding to the bypass position of the ozone converter (the fluid flow not passing through the ozone treatment device).

[0074] The ozone and / or volatile organic compound converter further includes an actuator 50 adapted to be able to control the position of the movable conical flap 20.

[0075] In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 5, the conical flap and the fixed support of the control valve each comprise three evenly spaced fluid passage ports. Thus, the angular range of the ports is 60°. However, a different number of fluid passage ports is also possible, with the angular range of the ports then varying accordingly.

[0076] The actuator 50 includes non-contact actuation means for the movable conical flap 20, comprising two wound stators 54 and permanent magnets 56 housed outside the intermediate fluid circulation channel. The permanent magnets 56 are carried by the movable conical flap 20.

[0077] In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 5, the main conduit 32 has a first cylindrical portion 31 connected to the distal part of the fixed conical support 30 on the inlet side 4 and to a second frustoconical portion 34 on the opposite side. The second portion 34 flares out towards the outlet side 6, leading to a third cylindrical portion 36 of the main conduit 32 containing the ozone treatment device 40. The third portion 36 of the main conduit 32 is then extended by a fourth frustoconical portion 38, the narrowest cross-section of which is located on the outlet side 6, leading to a fifth cylindrical terminal portion 39 of the main conduit 32. The fluid flow from this fifth portion is directed towards the outlet 6 of the ozone converter, forming the outlet of the main conduit 32.

[0078] Similarly, the external conduit 11 comprises a first cylindrical portion 12 connected to the movable conical flap 20 and arranged radially around the regulating valve, i.e. the fixed conical support 30 and the movable conical flap 20, and opposite the first portion 31 of the main conduit 32. The first portion 12 is extended on the side facing the outlet 6, by a second frustoconical portion 14 flaring outwards, towards the side facing the outlet 6, to a third cylindrical portion 16 of the external conduit 11 arranged exactly around the third portion 36 of the main conduit 32. The third cylindrical portion 16 of the external conduit 11 is then adjoined to a fourth frustoconical portion 18 whose narrowest straight section is arranged on the side of the outlet 6 to a fifth terminal cylindrical portion 19 of the conduit.

[0079] Nothing prevents us of course from designing different shapes for the main conduit 32 and the external conduit 11, for example each conduit having a cylindrical shape (of constant diameter).

[0080] Such a configuration in which the main duct includes the treatment device (or the removal or adsorption of ozone and / or volatile organic compounds), for example a catalytic bed, and an external duct forms a double wall bypassing the ozone and / or volatile organic compound treatment device has undeniable advantages in terms of industrialization, compactness and simplicity of integration (in particular without requiring an additional external pipe).

[0081] Figure 5 illustrates a control valve operated by contactless electromagnetic means of the movable conical flap 20 comprising two wound stators 54 (or coils) and permanent magnets 56. The movable conical flap 20 includes on its distal part permanent magnets 56 which may be tile-shaped and have alternating polarity over an angular arc sufficient to achieve movement between an ozone treatment position, allowing fluid circulation within the inner channel of the main conduit 32 when the ports 21 and 33 are opposite each other, and a bypass position, allowing fluid circulation through each peripheral port 35 towards the intermediate channel of the outer conduit 11. A collar 51 forms a peripheral housing enclosing the permanent magnets 56.The two wound stators 54 perform the phase A and phase B functions of a bipolar stepper motor and the flap 20 is used as the flap of the stepper motor.

[0082] When a current flows through the wound stators 54, the magnets 56 align themselves according to the magnetic field generated by the wound stators 54 and cause the damper 20 to rotate, thus opening or closing the inner or intermediate channel. It is also possible to actuate the control valve using a solid contact or fluid transmission.

Claims

DEMANDS 1. Ozone and / or volatile organic compound converter (10) comprising - a fluid inlet (4), - a fluid outlet (6), - a main conduit (32) disposed between said fluid inlet (4) and said fluid outlet (6) and comprising at least one ozone and / or volatile organic compound treatment device (40) disposed within said main conduit, said main conduit (32) delimiting a main circulation channel, said internal channel, of said fluid, characterized in that said ozone and / or volatile organic compound converter further comprises: - an external conduit (11) disposed between said fluid inlet and said fluid outlet and delimiting a circulation channel, said intermediate channel, of said fluid, said main conduit (32) being disposed inside said external conduit (11), - a flow control valve for said fluid comprising: • a fixed conical support (30) integral with the main conduit (32) and the external conduit (11) and having an apex oriented towards said fluid inlet (4), • a movable conical flap (20) movable in rotation relative to the fixed support (30) attached to the external conduit (11), said movable conical flap (20) having an apex (24) oriented towards said fluid inlet (4), • at least one light, referred to as the main light (33), for the passage of fluid arranged in said fixed support (30) and at least one conjugate light (21) for the passage of fluid arranged in said movable conical flap (20) so as to permit the circulation of fluid within the internal channel of said main conduit (32) when said lights (21, 33) are opposite each other, - an actuator (50) of said control valve adapted to be able to control the position of said movable conical flap (20).

2. Ozone and / or volatile organic compound converter (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that said control valve further comprises at least one peripheral fluid passage light (35) arranged in said fixed support (30) so as to permit fluid circulation within the intermediate channel of the external conduit (11) in at least one position of said movable conical flap (20).

3. Ozone and / or volatile organic compound converter (10) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that said movable conical flap (20) is configured to be able to at least partially close each peripheral fluid passage light (35) arranged in said fixed support (30) when said lights (21, 33) are opposite each other.

4. Ozone and / or volatile organic compound converter (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said main conduit defining a main circulation channel extends in a direction, said axial direction, between said fluid inlet (4) and said fluid outlet (6).

5. Ozone and / or volatile organic compound converter (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said conical flap (20) and said fixed support (30) each respectively comprise an odd number of regularly distributed fluid passage lights (21, 33, 35).

6. Ozone and / or volatile organic compound converter (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said actuator (50) of the control valve comprises contactless actuation means for said movable conical flap (20).

7. Ozone and / or volatile organic compound converter (10) according to claim 6, characterized in that said contactless actuation means for said control valve comprise electromagnetic means housed outside the intermediate fluid circulation channel.

8. Ozone and / or volatile organic compound converter (10) according to claim 7, characterized in that said electromagnetic means comprise at least one wound stator (54) and permanent magnets (56), said permanent magnets (56) being arranged on said movable conical flap (20).

9. Air conditioning system comprising an ozone and / or volatile organic compound converter according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. Air transport vehicle comprising at least one propulsion engine, one cabin and at least one air conditioning system for said cabin according to claim 9.

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