Aircraft Galley Air-Through Cooling with Bifurcated Ducts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aircraft galley systems struggle to efficiently cool food carts in reduced depth galleys, as conventional cooling systems require more space and cannot effectively chill conventionally sized air-through carts in narrow sections.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus integrates a galley chiller air supply and return ducting assembly with bifurcated ducts and resilient seals, allowing for air-through cooling of food carts within a reduced depth galley, using an air supply work deck plenum and enabling installation on both center line and lateral galleys.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If conventional cooling systems are used in reduced depth galleys, then the galley depth is reduced, but the cooling effectiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The return airflow duct is divided into a bifurcated configuration with two separate return paths, allowing optimized airflow distribution that maintains cooling effectiveness in the reduced depth galley environment
Solution Approach 2:
The air supply work deck plenum utilizes the vertical dimension by integrating the air supply into the work deck structure, effectively using available space in a different dimension to maintain cooling performance despite reduced depth
2Area of stationary object
If narrow section duct work is used, then the galley footprint is reduced, but the airflow capacity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The bifurcated return airflow duct divides the airflow path into two parallel channels, effectively doubling the airflow capacity within the same footprint by utilizing segmented flow paths
Solution Approach 2:
The air supply work deck plenum combines multiple airflow functions into a single integrated structure, maximizing airflow volume delivery while minimizing the footprint required
3Device complexity
If conventional ducting assemblies are used, then the system is simpler, but the adaptability to different galley configurations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The ducting assembly is designed with universal adaptability to interface with different galley types (center line and lateral galleys) while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure through standardized connection points
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 solution enables the chilling of conventional air-through carts in galleys with a reduced footprint, ensuring efficient cooling and flexibility in galley configurations, while maintaining the ability to handle multiple carts and optimizing airflow.
Implementation Method 1
a supply airflow duct including a supply airflow duct inlet portion configured to receive a chilled supply airflow from a chiller unit and a supply airflow duct outlet portion configured to supply the chilled supply airflow to the aircraft galley food cart
Implementation Method 2
a bifurcated return airflow duct including an air return inlet portion configured to receive a return airflow from the aircraft galley food cart and a pair of bifurcated return airflow duct portions extending from the air return inlet portion
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
An apparatus for air-through cooling of aircraft galley food carts includes one or more chilled galley food cart bays and one or more galley chiller air supply and return ducting assemblies including a supply airflow duct and a bifurcated return airflow duct. Airflow balance baffles may be placed at the air return outlet portions and the supply airflow duct inlet portion, and interfaces between galley food carts and supply outlet ports and return inlet ports resilient may include resilient or insulated seals, and spring loaded sealing flaps opened by contact with a portion of a galley food cart.