Chilled liquid recirculation device for galley refrigeration systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Commercial passenger aircraft, especially smaller non-widebody crafts, often lack sufficient chilling capacity for galley and bar units due to the absence or insufficiency of conventional aircraft-based air chiller systems, necessitating alternative methods for recirculating chilled air.
Innovation Solution
A compact chilled liquid recirculation device (CLRD) utilizing a two-stage chilling process, comprising an air-cooled heatsink and a liquid-cooled heatsink thermoelectric heat exchanger, along with high-temperature pumps, to progressively chill a liquid cooling medium, which is then used to chill ambient air and recirculate it within the aircraft.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional aircraft-based air chiller systems are used, then chilling capacity is sufficient for larger craft, but smaller non-widebody crafts cannot access these systems
Solution Approach 1:
The chilling system is divided into modular components including a condenser unit, evaporator unit, expansion device, and circulation pump. This segmentation allows the system to be scaled and configured for smaller aircraft while maintaining effective chilling capacity through standardized modular building blocks.
Solution Approach 2:
A refrigerant circulation system acts as an intermediary between heat sources and storage compartments. The refrigerant absorbs heat from ambient air and transfers it to external heat sinks, enabling chilling in smaller aircraft without requiring direct air conditioning systems.
2Temperature
If conventional air chiller systems are installed, then chilling capacity is adequate, but the systems are too large for smaller aircraft
Solution Approach 1:
The evaporator unit is integrated within or adjacent to the storage compartment structure, nesting the cooling function within the existing aircraft galley architecture. This reduces overall system volume while maintaining chilling capacity for perishables and beverages.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling system provides localized chilling capacity at specific galley stations rather than cooling the entire aircraft cabin. This allows smaller aircraft to have adequate chilling for galley operations without the volume and weight of full cabin air conditioning systems.
3Adaptability or versatility
If existing chiller systems are used, then they can cool current compartments, but they lack sufficient capacity to add additional cart bays
Solution Approach 1:
The refrigerant circulation system serves multiple storage compartments and cart bays simultaneously through a distributed evaporator network. A single condenser and pump system can support multiple cooling zones, allowing existing systems to expand capacity without proportional increases in system quantity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is designed with pre-configured connection points and modular evaporator units that can be rapidly deployed to new cart bays. This preliminary preparation of system architecture enables quick expansion of chilling capacity to additional storage areas without requiring complete system redesign.
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 CLRD effectively provides a compact and efficient chilling solution, capable of preserving perishables and beverages by maintaining low temperatures, and can be used to supplement existing chiller systems or provide chilling capacity where needed, enhancing the storage and preservation capabilities in aircraft galley compartments.
Implementation Method 1
an air-cooled heatsink device (e.g., air-cooled radiator) incorporating a set of fins thermally connected to the heatsink device, and axial fans for driving ambient air through the set of fins to initially chill the LCM
Implementation Method 2
axial fans for driving ambient air through the set of fins
Implementation Method 3
a second-stage liquid-cooled heatsink thermally connected to the cold side of a thermoelectric heat exchanger. The hot side of the thermoelectric heat exchanger is thermally connected to another air-cooled/finned heatsink
Implementation Method 4
The hot side of the thermoelectric heat exchanger is thermally connected to another air-cooled/finned heatsink or radiator, wherein additional axial fans force ambient air through a set of fins to chill the hot side
Implementation Method 5
additional axial fans force ambient air through a set of fins
Implementation Method 6
The CLRD includes high-temperature pumps for feeding the twice-chilled LCM to a remote chiller device or for returning the LCM to the first stage for a subsequent chilling cycle
Data Source
AI summary
A chilled liquid recirculation device (CLRD) is disclosed. In embodiments, the CLRD has a first air-cooling stage wherein a liquid cooling medium (LCM) is pumped through a first-stage radiator and forced-air chilled by axial fans driving ambient air through the radiator fins. The initially chilled LCM passes to a second thermoelectric-cooling stage wherein a second-stage liquid-cooled heatsink receives the LCM, the liquid-cooled heatsink in contact with the cold side of a thermoelectric module having a hot side in contact with a finned heatsink through which second-stage fans force ambient air, cooling the hot side and thereby further chilling the cold side and the LCM by contact. The twice-chilled LCM is then pumped to a remote chiller device to chill the hot side of another thermoelectric module, thereby chilling a recirculating air supply passing through a finned heatsink in contact with the cold side.