Aircraft Gasper Air Curtain for Pathogen Blocking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Commercial passenger aircraft face challenges in reducing pathogen transmission between passengers due to the difficulty in social distancing and the potential for water droplets carrying pathogens to spread, necessitating an effective solution to minimize the transmission of bacteria and viruses.

Innovation Solution

The design of a gasper system with an annular outlet, adjustable body, and flexible metal or wire-reinforced ducts, capable of directing air at high velocities and equipped with features such as filters, sanitizers, and alignment aids to minimize pathogen transfer, including adjustable nozzles and light sources for pathogen disinfection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If passengers are seated close together to maximize aircraft capacity, then productivity increases, but pathogen transmission risk increases due to reduced social distancing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaircraft capacityVSAvoidpathogen transmission risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The gasper acts as an intermediary device that introduces a protective airflow between passengers. The outlet positioned between adjacent seats generates a curtain of air that serves as a physical barrier, intercepting pathogen-laden droplets before they can reach neighboring passengers, thus enabling close seating while maintaining protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system utilizes pneumatic principles by generating a controlled airflow through the gasper outlet. The adjustable nozzle regulates air velocity to create a stable air curtain that functions as a protective barrier, leveraging fluid dynamics to prevent pathogen transmission without requiring physical barriers that would reduce capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

2Reliability

If air velocity from gasper outlet is increased to improve pathogen blocking, then protection effectiveness increases, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepathogen blocking effectivenessVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The gasper system incorporates an adjustable nozzle that allows dynamic regulation of air velocity. This enables the system to optimize protection effectiveness by adjusting flow rate according to specific flight conditions, passenger configurations, and pathogen risks, rather than operating at fixed high velocity that would consume excessive energy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameter of air velocity dynamically through the adjustable nozzle mechanism. By modifying flow rate and velocity parameters based on operational requirements, the system achieves effective pathogen blocking only when necessary, thereby reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If gasper outlet is positioned closer to passenger face for better protection, then pathogen blocking improves, but injury risk from contact increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepathogen blocking effectivenessVSAvoidinjury risk from outlet contact

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The gasper outlet is constructed from flexible, soft materials that can deform upon contact. This flexibility allows the outlet to yield if a passenger accidentally touches it, significantly reducing the risk of injury while maintaining the outlet's proximity to the passenger face for effective pathogen blocking.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The outlet employs composite material construction combining soft, flexible exterior materials with internal structural support. This composite design provides both the proximity needed for effective protection and the safety required to minimize contact injuries, reconciling the conflicting requirements of effectiveness and safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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 gasper system effectively reduces the likelihood of pathogens reaching passengers by directing air at optimal velocities and orientations, combined with air filtration and sanitization, enhancing passenger safety and comfort by minimizing airborne pathogen transmission.

Implementation Method 1

The gasper is designed to direct relatively cool air towards the passengers from above the passenger and can be adjusted for orientation and velocity of exiting air

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid flow:

Implementation Method 2

The air flowing through the gasper may be relatively clean (e.g., pathogen free) and may include fresh air and recirculated air that has passed through a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP3957568B1Gasper extension for reduced disease transmission

Publication Date: 2023.12.27 BE AEROSPACE INC

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Figure 3A~4C

AI summary

A gasper (106) for use in a passenger aircraft includes an inlet (200) configured to receive air. The gasper further includes an outlet (204) configured to output the air towards a passenger seat (104). The gasper further includes a body (206) extending from the inlet to the outlet and being adjustable between at least three lengths (208, 210, 212).