Aircraft Compressed-Air Cooling with Shared Ram-Air Heat Exchangers
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for cooling compressed air for OBOGS and OBIGGS in aircraft are heavy, space-intensive, and costly, with unnecessary ram air passage requirements and inefficient use of cooling capacity when these systems are not in operation.
Innovation Solution
Integrate the system heat exchanger into the existing ram air passage of the aircraft air conditioning system, allowing shared use of ram air for cooling and connecting it via a closable line to the air conditioning system to utilize its cooling capacity when OBOGS/OBIGGS are switched off, eliminating the need for separate ram air passages and jet pumps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a separate ram air passage is provided for the system heat exchanger, then the cooling capacity for OBOGS/OBIGGS is ensured, but the aircraft structure becomes more complex and weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system heat exchanger is integrated into the existing air conditioning system's ram air passage, merging two separate cooling functions into a single shared infrastructure. This eliminates the need for a separate dedicated ram air passage for OBOGS/OBIGGS while ensuring adequate cooling capacity for both systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The common ram air passage serves dual purposes: it provides cooling for the air conditioning system heat exchanger and simultaneously cools the system heat exchanger for OBOGS/OBIGGS. This multi-functional design reduces structural complexity and weight while maintaining required cooling performance.
2Reliability
If the system heat exchanger operates independently, then it can cool compressed air when OBOGS/OBIGGS are switched off, but the cooling capacity is wasted and energy is consumed unnecessarily
Solution Approach 1:
A dynamic control system with controllable flow resistance elements (such as valves or variable resistances) adjusts the flow distribution through the system heat exchanger based on operational status. When OBOGS/OBIGGS are switched off, the flow resistance is adjusted to redirect ram air flow through the air conditioning system heat exchanger, ensuring continuous useful cooling while preventing energy waste.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system monitors the operational status of OBOGS/OBIGGS and automatically adjusts the flow resistance to optimize cooling capacity utilization. This feedback mechanism ensures that the system heat exchanger's cooling capacity is always put to productive use, either for OBOGS/OBIGGS when active or for the air conditioning system when they are inactive.
3Adaptability or versatility
If jet pumps are installed for ground operation, then the system can function during ground operations, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system utilizes the aircraft's existing fan infrastructure to generate the necessary ram air flow during ground operations. The fan, already installed for air conditioning purposes, is leveraged to provide airflow through the common ram air passage and heat exchangers, eliminating the need for separate jet pumps and reducing overall system complexity.
4Reliability
If separate cooling systems are provided for air conditioning and OBOGS/OBIGGS, then each system has dedicated cooling capacity, but the overall system weight and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the cooling systems for air conditioning and OBOGS/OBIGGS into a single integrated architecture. The common ram air passage and shared heat exchanger infrastructure reduce weight while maintaining reliable cooling capacity for both systems through dynamic flow control.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated cooling system serves multiple functions through a single infrastructure. The common ram air passage and system heat exchanger provide cooling for both air conditioning and OBOGS/OBIGGS operations, reducing overall system weight while ensuring adequate cooling capacity for each function when needed.
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
This approach reduces weight, space, and operational costs by utilizing existing infrastructure, ensuring continuous cooling capacity utilization and minimizing unnecessary ram air throughput, even during ground operations.
Implementation Method 1
hot compressed air (approx. 200° C.) is directed from the compressed air bleed system into a special OBOGS heat exchanger. In this process, the air is cooled to the required temperature range of approximately 0° C. to 60° C.
Implementation Method 2
The system heat exchanger is integrated into the existing ram air passage of the aircraft air conditioning system, allowing shared use of ram air for cooling
Data Source
AI summary
A method and a system for the preparation of compressed air having a heat exchanger (system heat exchanger) which is in communication with a pressure source on the inlet side on the compressed air side and which is in communication with a system or unit on the outlet side on the compressed air side which is to be supplied with cooled compressed air and including at least one heat exchanger (air conditioning system heat exchanger) which is in communication with a pressure source on the inlet side on the compressed air side and which is in communication with additional components of an aircraft air conditioning system on the outlet side on the compressed air side. Provision is made for the system heat exchanger and the at least one air conditioning system heat exchanger to have a common inlet for supply with ram air or environmental air and for the system heat exchanger to be connected on its outlet side on the compressed air side via a closable line to the line system on the compressed air side in communication with the at least one air conditioning system heat exchanger or to the at least one air conditioning system heat exchanger itself.