Temperature Control Mixing Chamber for Aircraft Electronics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional temperature control systems for electronic devices in air vehicles require high power consumption and significant installation volume and weight, and can either lead to overheating or overcooling, which can cause malfunctions or damage.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses a mixing chamber to combine ram airflow and a source gasflow, with the option to recirculate heated air from the control volume, allowing for controlled temperature regulation with minimal power consumption and reduced equipment complexity by using fans and recirculation conduits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional air conditioning systems or ram air heating systems are used for temperature control, then temperature regulation is achieved, but power consumption and installation volume/weight increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the cooling function and heating function into a single integrated system. The mixing chamber merges cooled ram air with heated air from the equipment bay, creating a temperature control system that simultaneously performs both cooling and heating without requiring separate AC and heating systems, thereby reducing overall power consumption and installation volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the heat generated by electronic equipment as a resource for heating purposes. The heated air from the equipment bay is recirculated and mixed with cooled ram air, allowing the waste heat to be utilized productively rather than being discarded, thus reducing the power needed for active heating.
2Temperature
If conventional air conditioning systems or ram air heating systems are used for temperature control, then temperature regulation is achieved, but installation volume and weight increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the cooling function and heating function into a single integrated system. The mixing chamber merges cooled ram air with heated air from the equipment bay, creating a temperature control system that simultaneously performs both cooling and heating without requiring separate AC and heating systems, thereby reducing overall power consumption and installation volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs multiple functions using the same hardware infrastructure. The ram air inlet, mixing chamber, and fan assembly serve both cooling and heating purposes, making the system universal and eliminating the need for separate dedicated systems, thus reducing installation weight and volume.
3Temperature
If conventional temperature control systems are used, then temperature regulation is achieved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the cooling function and heating function into a single integrated system. The mixing chamber merges cooled ram air with heated air from the equipment bay, creating a temperature control system that simultaneously performs both cooling and heating without requiring separate AC and heating systems, thereby reducing overall power consumption and installation volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the heat generated by electronic equipment as a resource for heating purposes. The heated air from the equipment bay is recirculated and mixed with cooled ram air, allowing the waste heat to be utilized productively rather than being discarded, thus reducing the power needed for active heating.
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 provides a simple, lightweight, and cost-effective temperature control system with low power consumption, maintaining desired temperatures within a predefined range while minimizing the risk of overheating or overcooling, and ensuring homogeneity of the cooling flow.
Implementation Method 1
a mixing chamber configured for: in the presence of said source gasflow in said mixing chamber, selectively allowing said ram airflow and said source gasflow in said mixing chamber to mix therein to provide a mixing chamber outflow
Implementation Method 2
said gasflow source comprises a recirculation conduit connecting said auxiliary outlet to said mixing chamber inlet and configured for providing a recirculating airflow from said main chamber into the mixing chamber
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~3(a)
AI summary
Systems and methods are disclosed for providing a controlled temperature in a control volume. Such systems include a main chamber (defining the control volume), a mixing chamber and a gasflow source. The mixing chamber is in selective fluid communication with the main chamber, and has at least one mixing chamber inlet, and a ram air inlet for allowing ram airflow at a first temperature to be channeled into the mixing chamber. The gasflow source provides a source gasflow at a greater, second temperature to the mixing chamber. The mixing chamber provides the mixing chamber outflow at a third temperature by selectively allowing the ram airflow and the source gasflow in the mixing chamber to mix therein, or, by selectively allowing the ram airflow in the mixing chamber to flow to the main chamber (in absence of source gasflow). A controller is operative to provide a desired level for the third temperature.