Air-Conditioning Fluid Injection for Emergency Heat Engine Power
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power plant systems in vehicles, particularly rotorcraft, face challenges in increasing power output due to thermal limitations and weight constraints of traditional fluid injection systems, which can limit aircraft performance and require complex installations.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle system utilizing the existing air-conditioning system's fluid circulation to inject fluid, such as water or water-glycol mixtures, into heat engines, controlled by a distribution device and controller to provide additional power during emergencies or high-demand situations, without the need for additional pumps or hot gas handling, thus reducing weight and installation complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a dedicated tank and pressurization system is added to inject fluid into heat engines, then power output is improved, but device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The air-conditioning system's fluid circulation system is made multi-functional by enabling it to serve both its original air-conditioning purpose and the new function of providing backup fluid injection into heat engines. The existing pump, fluid circuit, and distribution device are utilized for dual purposes, eliminating the need for a separate dedicated tank and pressurization system.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own existing resources (air-conditioning fluid, pump, and circulation system) to provide the backup power injection function. The air-conditioning system serves itself by diverting its own fluid to the injection members through the back-up circuit, without requiring external or dedicated systems.
2Power
If hot gases from turboshaft engines are used to pressurize the injection system, then fluid injection capability is improved, but installation constraints and difficulty increase due to high temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The solution extracts and eliminates the problematic hot gas pressurization mechanism from the system. Instead of using hot gases from the turboshaft engines, the invention uses the existing air-conditioning system's pump and cooled fluid to provide pressurization, thereby removing the installation constraints associated with handling high-temperature gases.
3Power
If additional dedicated systems are added for fluid injection, then emergency power capability is improved, but weight of the vehicle increases
Solution Approach 1:
The air-conditioning system is designed to perform multiple functions: normal air-conditioning operation and emergency fluid injection into heat engines. By making the fluid circulation system universal, the patent eliminates the need for separate dedicated tanks and pressurization systems that would add weight to the vehicle.
4Reliability
If a back-up system with dedicated components is installed, then reliability during emergencies is improved, but device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The back-up circuit is merged with the existing air-conditioning system rather than being installed as a separate independent system. The back-up circuit integrates with the fluid circulation system, sharing common components such as the pump, fluid storage, and control mechanisms, thereby providing emergency reliability without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution allows for increased power output in vehicles while minimizing weight and installation challenges, enhancing reliability and reducing the risk of dormant failures, as the air-conditioning system's pumps are always operational except in failure scenarios, and avoids the issues associated with hot gas usage.
Implementation Method 1
an air-conditioning system for controlling the air temperature in a section of the vehicle, said air-conditioning system comprising a fluid circulating in a fluid circulation system
Implementation Method 2
an injection member per heat engine of said at least one heat engine, said injection member being configured to inject said fluid into the associated heat engine
Implementation Method 3
a power plant comprising at least one heat engine
Implementation Method 4
the term 'heat engine' refers throughout the text to an engine burning a fuel
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle provided with a power plant having at least one heat engine, the vehicle having an air-conditioning system comprising a fluid circulating in a fluid circulation system, the fluid circulation system comprising at least one pump configured to cause the fluid to circulate in a fluid circuit. The vehicle comprises one injection member per heat engine configured to inject the fluid into the associated heat engine, the vehicle comprising a back-up circuit fluidly connecting the fluid circulation system to each injection member, the back-up circuit comprising a distribution device controlled by a controller to authorize, on command, circulation of the fluid towards an injection member.