Aircraft Cabin Air Compressor Liquid Cooling Passage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft cabin air compressors (CACs) face inefficiencies in cooling, as air-cooled electric motors may not adequately manage temperature, leading to potential overheating and reduced system performance.
Innovation Solution
A liquid-cooled supplemental passage is integrated into the CAC case, surrounding critical components like motors and bearings, to enhance cooling efficiency by directing a liquid cooling medium through the compressor, thereby reducing component temperatures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If air-cooled electric motors are used in the CAC, then the system structure is simple, but the cooling efficiency is insufficient leading to overheating
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a liquid cooling system using hydraulic principles to circulate cooling liquid through passages in the motor housing and bearing chambers. This liquid-cooled approach replaces the insufficient air-cooling system, effectively removing heat from the motor and bearing components while managing the increased system complexity through integrated cooling passages.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling system is segmented into distinct cooling passages: motor cooling passages formed in the motor housing and bearing cooling passages in the bearing chambers. This segmentation allows targeted cooling of different hot spots (motor windings and bearing surfaces) independently, improving overall cooling efficiency while maintaining manageable system complexity.
2Reliability
If cooling passages are added to cool the motor, then the cooling efficiency improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the cooling passages directly into the motor housing structure and bearing chamber walls. The motor housing itself forms the cooling passages, and the bearing chambers incorporate cooling channels in their walls. This integration combines the structural components with the cooling function, improving reliability through effective cooling while minimizing additional complexity by using existing structural elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The motor housing serves dual functions: it provides structural support for the motor assembly and simultaneously acts as a cooling manifold with integrated cooling passages. The bearing chambers also serve both as structural elements and as cooling channels. This multi-functionality improves system reliability through effective cooling while reducing overall device complexity by eliminating separate cooling components.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If cooling passages are added to cool the bearings, then the bearing lifespan is extended, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing cooling passages are merged directly into the bearing chamber walls. The cooling liquid flows through channels formed in the bearing chamber structure, directly cooling the bearing surfaces where they are located. This integration extends bearing lifespan through effective cooling while minimizing complexity by using the bearing chamber structure itself as the cooling passage.
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 implementation of a liquid-cooled supplemental passage effectively cools the motor and bearing components, prolonging their lifespan and improving the reliability and performance of the CAC by maintaining optimal operating temperatures.
Implementation Method 1
The supplemental cooling passage is configured to direct a supplemental cooling medium through it... effectively cools the motor and bearing components
Implementation Method 2
directing a liquid cooling medium through the compressor, thereby reducing component temperatures
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
Disclosed is a cabin air compressor (CAC) of an aircraft environmental control system, the CAC having: a CAC case (110) defining a forward end and an aft end axially spaced apart axially from the forward end, wherein the forward end defines a compressor inlet; and a supplemental cooling passage (500) defined by the CAC case (110), wherein the supplemental cooling passage (500) is configured to direct a supplemental cooling medium through it.