Aircraft Cabin Micro-Climate Control for Lower ECS Energy Use
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft cabin environmental control systems (ECS) consume a significant amount of energy, and setting a single optimal temperature for passenger comfort often results in discomfort for some passengers, leading to inefficiencies and increased fuel consumption.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system where micro-climate conditioning modules at individual seats provide passengers with temperature control, and a set point controller adjusts the ECS temperature based on passenger input and usage patterns to optimize comfort and reduce fuel consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a single optimal temperature set point is used for the ECS, then the overall cabin environment is maintained at a comfortable level for the majority of passengers, but individual passenger comfort is compromised and ECS energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the cabin environment control into individual seat-level zones, allowing each passenger to control their own micro-climate independently. This is achieved by providing temperature control at each seat rather than maintaining a single uniform cabin temperature, thereby resolving the contradiction between individual comfort and overall energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality control by allowing different temperature settings at different seat locations within the cabin. Each passenger can adjust their specific seating position's temperature according to their personal comfort requirements, rather than being subject to a single cabin-wide temperature setting.
2Loss of energy
If the cabin temperature set point is increased to reduce ECS energy demand, then fuel consumption decreases, but passenger comfort is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the temperature control into individual seat zones, the system can raise the overall cabin temperature set point to reduce ECS energy demand, while individual passengers who require cooler temperatures can activate their personal cooling devices without affecting the overall energy savings.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-service temperature control where passengers can independently activate their personal heating or cooling devices according to their needs. This allows the ECS to operate at higher, more energy-efficient temperature set points while passengers self-regulate their immediate environment.
3Ease of operation
If individual temperature control devices are provided to all passengers, then individual comfort is improved, but device complexity and system cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by using the same basic temperature control mechanism (personal heating/cooling devices) across all passenger seats. This standardized approach provides individual comfort control throughout the cabin without requiring different complex systems for different zones or passenger types.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The present disclosure makes use of the fact that passengers have ways of adjusting the temperature in their immediate environment or indicating their level of comfort or discomfort and uses information about the passengers' use of the temperature control capabilities in their immediate environment and/or indications of their level of comfort/discomfort as an input to a controller (10) of the ECS (1) to automatically adjust the ECS supply air temperature set point.