Modular Preconditioned Air Unit for Aircraft Ground Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing preconditioned air units for aircraft parked on the ground are costly, inefficient, and have high environmental impact due to reliance on auxiliary power units, and lack flexibility in meeting varying aircraft cooling requirements.
Innovation Solution
A preconditioned air unit with self-contained cooling modules and a variable frequency driver system, allowing for modular design, efficient energy use, and flexible cooling capacity adjustment, powered from the mains supply to reduce jet fuel consumption and emissions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the APU is used to drive air-conditioning equipment on the ground, then the aircraft cabin can be cooled or heated, but jet fuel consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The air conditioning system is divided into separate modular components: a main unit with housing and flow duct, and detachable self-contained cooling modules. This segmentation allows the cooling function to be separated from the APU, enabling the use of alternative power sources (mains power) while maintaining cooling capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The self-contained cooling modules are designed to be autonomous units with integrated refrigeration systems that can operate independently. They can be easily attached to and detached from the main unit, allowing for flexible deployment and maintenance without requiring specialized refrigeration expertise.
2Temperature
If the APU is operated on the ground, then air-conditioning is provided, but acoustic noise and CO2 emissions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-contained cooling modules to operate autonomously using mains power instead of APU. This eliminates the harmful emissions and noise associated with APU operation while maintaining the air-conditioning function, as the modules can be deployed without running the aircraft's auxiliary power unit.
3Temperature
If traditional preconditioned air units are used, then air-conditioning is provided to parked aircraft, but cost and efficiency remain problematic
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the air conditioning system into a main unit and separate cooling modules, the invention enables more efficient power usage. The modules can be selectively deployed based on cooling requirements, and the modular design allows for optimized refrigeration cycles that reduce energy consumption and operational costs compared to traditional integrated systems.
4Ease of repair
If self-contained cooling modules are made removable, then serviceability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into a main unit and detachable self-contained cooling modules with standardized connection interfaces. This segmentation improves serviceability by allowing individual modules to be easily removed and replaced without affecting the entire system, while the standardized interfaces minimize the complexity increase by providing clear, repeatable connection and disconnection procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The main unit is designed with universal mounting structures and connection interfaces that can accommodate multiple cooling modules. This universality allows the same main unit to work with different module configurations, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining ease of repair through standardized, interchangeable components.
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 solution provides cost-effective, efficient, and flexible air conditioning for aircraft, minimizing jet fuel consumption and emissions by using mains power and modular cooling modules, enabling quick maintenance and adaptation to different aircraft sizes and cooling needs.
Implementation Method 1
Each of the self-contained cooling modules comprises at least one refrigeration system each of which includes at least one compressor, at least one condenser, at least one expansion valve, and at least one evaporator connected in a refrigerant flow circuit containing a refrigerant
Implementation Method 2
The blower is preferably a highly efficient centrifugal fan
Implementation Method 3
To prevent cooling losses, the outer walls of the flow duct may be provided with a layer of heat insulation material
Implementation Method 4
The blower is preferably mounted with vibration dampers and attached with flexible connections to the flow duct
Data Source
AI summary
A preconditioned air unit for supplying preconditioned air to an aircraft parked on the ground, the preconditioned air unit comprising a main unit with a housing accommodating a flow duct with an air inlet for ambient air and an air outlet for connection to the parked aircraft, a blower connected with the flow duct for generation of an air flow from the air inlet toward the air outlet, and a plurality of compartments, each of which is configured for accommodation of a self-contained cooling module comprising at least one refrigeration system, each of which includes at least one compressor, at least one condenser, at least one expansion valve, and at least one evaporator connected in a flow circuit containing a refrigerant, and wherein each compartment is further configured so that the at least one evaporator interacts with the air flow in the flow duct when the self-contained cooling module is installed in the compartment, and wherein at least one self-contained cooling module is installed in the plurality of compartments.