Flared Outlet Header for Aircraft Cabin Air Dehumidification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Airplane cabins face challenges in maintaining a constant flow of conditioned air while effectively removing moisture from recirculated air to prevent condensation and discomfort for passengers.
Innovation Solution
A liquid-to-air heat exchanger system with a flared outlet header is used to cool and dehumidify air in the airplane cabin, where warm air is directed through a heat exchanger core, cooled by a liquid coolant, and the outlet header separates and collects water from the cooled air, ensuring moisture-free air is recirculated back into the cabin.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a liquid-to-air heat exchanger is used to cool recirculated air, then the air temperature is reduced and passenger comfort is improved, but water condenses in the heat exchanger and must be removed
Solution Approach 1:
The outlet header is designed with a water collection chamber that extracts and collects condensed water from the cooled air stream, separating it from the recirculated air to prevent it from being returned to the cabin
Solution Approach 2:
The outlet header incorporates a vertical dimension with an upwardly extending portion that allows condensed water to collect and drain downward into a collection chamber, utilizing gravity to separate water from the horizontal air flow
2Reliability
If the outlet header is designed to collect water, then moisture is removed from recirculated air, but the header structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The water collection function is merged into the outlet header structure itself, combining the air outlet function with the water collection and drainage function in a single integrated component rather than adding separate water removal equipment
Solution Approach 2:
The outlet header design allows condensed water to automatically collect and drain through gravity into a collection chamber without requiring external pumps or active water removal systems
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 system efficiently cools and dehumidifies air, preventing condensation and enhancing passenger comfort by ensuring dry, conditioned air is recirculated, thus addressing the issue of moisture in recirculated air.
Implementation Method 1
a liquid to air heat exchanger... The liquid inlet directs relatively cool liquid from an integrated cooling system to the heat exchanging core. The liquid outlet directs relatively warm liquid away from the heat exchange core back to the integrated cooling system.
Implementation Method 2
The outlet header has a shape configured to collect water from the cool air
Implementation Method 3
The outlet header has a shape configured to collect water from the cool air... The outlet header has a flared configuration that promotes water separation through gravitational settling
Data Source
AI summary
An air cooling system includes a heat exchanger, an inlet duct, an outlet duct, and an outlet header. The inlet duct is fluidly connected to the heat exchanger and is configured to direct relatively warm air from the cabin into the heat exchanger. The outlet duct is fluidly connected to the heat exchanger and configured to direct relatively cool air out of the heat exchanger and back to the cabin. The outlet header is located between the heat exchanger and the outlet duct. The outlet header has a shape configured to collect water from the cool air.