Aircraft Air Conditioning Sterilization via Engine Bleed Injection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional aircraft air conditioning systems cannot effectively kill 100% of viruses and bacteria, particularly novel highly infectious ones, in recirculated air, posing a risk to passenger and crew health during epidemics.
Innovation Solution
An Ultra-High-Temperature Sterilization Air Conditioning System (UHTS-ACS) is introduced, which includes an ultra-high-temperature sterilization recirculated airline, a heater, a high-temperature injection mixing chamber, and a primary heat exchanger bypass, using engine bleed air to sterilize recirculated air through mixing and compression, ensuring thorough mixing and uniform temperature for enhanced sterilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional air conditioning system with 50/50 mixed air ratio is used, then system complexity is low and energy consumption is moderate, but virus and bacteria sterilization effectiveness is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The air conditioning system is segmented into two independent air supply channels: a fresh air channel and a recirculated air channel. The recirculated air channel is further divided into a sterilization channel (passing through the high-temperature zone) and a non-sterilization channel. This segmentation allows different air streams to be treated differently, enabling targeted sterilization without requiring complete system redesign.
Solution Approach 2:
The sterilization function is nested within the existing air conditioning system by utilizing the high-temperature zone already present in the engine bleed air path. The recirculated air is injected into this existing high-temperature zone, allowing sterilization to occur within the structural framework of the traditional system without adding entirely new sterilization equipment.
2Reliability
If ultra-high-temperature sterilization is implemented, then virus and bacteria killing rate is significantly improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the engine bleed air, which already contains high-temperature gas as a byproduct of engine operation, to provide the heat required for sterilization. This high-temperature zone is essentially a waste heat source from the engine that would otherwise be discarded. By routing recirculated air through this existing high-temperature zone, the system achieves sterilization using energy that is already available from engine operation, rather than requiring additional energy input dedicated solely to sterilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The high-temperature zone created by engine bleed air, which could be considered a harmful or wasted thermal resource, is converted into a beneficial sterilization tool. The thermal energy that would otherwise be waste heat is utilized to kill viruses and bacteria in the recirculated air, transforming a potential hazard into a protective function.
3Productivity
If recirculated air is used in air supply system, then energy efficiency is improved, but risk of virus transmission increases
Solution Approach 1:
Different quality treatments are applied to different air streams based on their intended use. Fresh air from outside the cabin receives standard filtration and cooling. Recirculated air, which will be reused in the cabin, receives additional ultra-high-temperature sterilization treatment in the high-temperature zone before being mixed back into the supply air. This local quality differentiation ensures that air which contacts passengers multiple times (recirculated air) receives enhanced treatment.
Solution Approach 2:
The recirculated air undergoes ultra-high-temperature sterilization treatment before being mixed with fresh air and supplied to the cabin. By performing sterilization in advance (preliminarily) in the high-temperature zone, the system ensures that viruses and bacteria are eliminated before the air comes into contact with passengers, preventing potential transmission while maintaining the energy efficiency benefits of recirculation.
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
The UHTS-ACS significantly improves air quality by killing infectious viruses and bacteria, reducing the risk of cross-infection and ensuring the health and safety of aircraft passengers and crew, especially during epidemics, while maintaining system economy and reducing costs.
Implementation Method 1
a heater (26) connected to said recirculated air main line (10)
Implementation Method 2
the mixed gas enters a compressor (15) to be compressed by the compressor (15) such that the temperature of the mixed gas further increases
Implementation Method 3
the mixed gas is regulated to a suitable temperature through the heat dissipation of the secondary heat exchanger (13) and the cooling of the turbine (16)
Implementation Method 4
a primary heat exchanger (12), a secondary heat exchanger (13)
Data Source
AI summary
An aircraft Ultra-High-Temperature Sterilization Air Conditioning System (UHTS-ACS) and a sterilization method are provided. An ultra-high-temperature sterilization recirculated air device is added on the basis of a traditional aircraft air conditioning system. The recirculated air device includes an ultra-high-temperature sterilization recirculated airline (9), a heater (26), a high-temperature injection mixing chamber (27) and a primary heat exchanger (12) bypass. The recirculated airline is connected to the high-temperature injection mixing chamber (27). After being mixed with high-temperature engine bleed air (I) under the injection action of an injector (28), the mixed high-temperature gas enters a compressor (15) through the primary heat exchanger (12) bypass to be compressed and heated, is regulated to a suitable temperature through cooling of a secondary heat exchanger (13) and a turbine (16), and then is supplied to an aircraft cabin. The system and method can perform ultra-high-temperature sterilization on the recirculated air of the aircraft air conditioning system, thus ensuring the cleanliness of the aircraft cabin supply air and the hygiene safety of people on board, and thereby achieving the effects of killing the infectious viruses and inhibiting cross infection among people.