Aircraft Air Conditioning Control System Reducing Weight

Solution Overview

Problem

Current aircraft pressurization, ventilation, and air conditioning systems are heavy, costly, and have reduced reliability due to the duplication of electrically fed pneumatic compressors and the need for an auxiliary power unit, which also increases energy consumption and reduces engine thrust during flight.

Innovation Solution

A control system that reduces the number of pneumatic compressors to two, with an auxiliary power unit capable of independently feeding pneumatic air conditioning kits, and a central controller to manage power distribution between compressors and the APU, allowing for automatic or manual switching in case of failure, reducing weight and increasing reliability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If two CACs are duplicated to feed each PACK, then system reliability is improved, but aircraft weight and device complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem reliabilityVSAvoidaircraft weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The APU is designed to perform multiple functions: it can supply pneumatic power to PACKs during ground operations, provide backup pneumatic supply during flight if a CAC fails, and serve as a universal power source that replaces the need for duplicate CACs. This multi-functionality allows the system to maintain reliability without the weight penalty of duplicated compressors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention merges the backup pneumatic supply function into the APU, combining what would traditionally be separate systems (duplicate CACs) into a single integrated component. The APU assumes the role of both a ground power source and an in-flight backup supply, eliminating the need for separate redundant CACs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If two CACs are duplicated to feed each PACK, then system reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem reliabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The APU is designed to perform multiple functions: it can supply pneumatic power to PACKs during ground operations, provide backup pneumatic supply during flight if a CAC fails, and serve as a universal power source that replaces the need for duplicate CACs. This multi-functionality allows the system to maintain reliability without the weight penalty of duplicated compressors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention merges the backup pneumatic supply function into the APU, combining what would traditionally be separate systems (duplicate CACs) into a single integrated component. The APU assumes the role of both a ground power source and an in-flight backup supply, eliminating the need for separate redundant CACs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of operation

If air is extracted from main engine flow, then pneumatic air conditioning is provided, but engine thrust is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepneumatic air conditioningVSAvoidengine thrust

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the pneumatic supply function from the main engine flow by using electrically-fed compressors (CACs) that generate pneumatic power independently. This separates the thrust-generating function from the air conditioning function, allowing the engines to operate at full thrust capacity while the CACs provide the necessary pneumatic supply for PACKs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces the traditional mechanical extraction of air from engine flow with an electrical system. Electrically-fed compressors use electrical power (from generators or APU) to drive pneumatic compression, eliminating the need to bleed air from the engine compressors and thereby preserving engine thrust.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP2272756B1System for controlling pressurisation, ventilation and air conditioning in an aircraft

Publication Date: 2017.07.12 AIRBUS OPERATIONS SL

Figure 1

AI summary

It consists of two electrically fed pneumatic independent compressors (CAC) (2) which are connected to an independent controller of (CACs) (5), an auxiliary power unit (APU) (3) sized for independently feeding each (PACK) (1) in the operations of the aircraft both on the ground and in flight, which is connected to an independent controller of (APU) (6) and a central controller (12) connected to the controllers (5 and 6) so that the (PACKs) are individually fed either by a (CAC) (2) or by the (APU) (3) and in such a way that a single (PACK) (1) is fed or several of them.