Compartment cooling loss identification for efficient system operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing galley monument cooling systems in aircraft or similar setups face inefficiencies due to doors being left open or cooling system degradation, leading to overall cooling capacity degradation across multiple galley monuments.
Innovation Solution
A galley cooling system with temperature sensors and a control unit that monitors temperature changes and adjusts cooling capacity by bypassing the cooling fluid through inefficient galley monuments, reallocating cooling resources to maintain efficient operation across all units.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single cooling system cools multiple galley monuments, then the system complexity is reduced, but the cooling efficiency degrades when one monument experiences cooling loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the cooling system by providing individual temperature sensors and control capabilities for each galley monument compartment. This allows independent monitoring and control of each compartment while maintaining a shared cooling fluid circuit, resolving the contradiction between system simplicity and cooling reliability.
2Reliability
If cooling capacity is maintained at all monuments, then cooling reliability is improved, but energy consumption increases when some monuments have cooling losses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control by continuously monitoring compartment temperatures with sensors and using this information to modulate the cooling fluid flow. When a compartment experiences cooling loss (temperature rises above threshold), the system increases cooling capacity to that specific compartment while reducing capacity to other compartments, optimizing energy consumption while maintaining cooling reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling system dynamically adjusts the distribution of cooling capacity to each galley monument based on real-time temperature conditions. The system transitions from static equal distribution to dynamic demand-based distribution, allowing efficient response to cooling losses without excessive energy consumption.
3Measurement precision
If temperature monitoring is implemented for each compartment, then cooling loss detection is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by placing temperature sensors specifically at each galley monument compartment that requires monitoring, rather than using a single centralized sensor. Each monitored compartment has its own temperature measurement capability, allowing precise local detection of cooling losses while keeping the overall system design simple and modular.
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 effectively identifies and mitigates cooling losses by reallocating cooling capacity, ensuring efficient cooling across all galley monuments by detecting temperature changes and adjusting fluid flow, thereby maintaining overall system performance.
Implementation Method 1
A control determines whether a sensed condition is indicative of efficient operation of a particular galley cooling unit
Implementation Method 2
the control is operable to decrease cooling capacity delivered to a galley cooling unit which is experiencing inefficient operation in the form of loss of cooling
Data Source
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AI summary
A galley cooling system comprises a plurality of galley cooling units (40) each to be associated with separate galleys. A sensor (44) senses a condition within each of the galleys. A control determines whether a sensed condition is indicative of efficient operation of a particular galley cooling unit, and the control is operable to decrease cooling capacity delivered to a galley cooling unit which is experiencing inefficient operation. An aircraft galley system incorporating the above cooling unit, and a method of operating a galley cooling unit are also disclosed and claimed.