Recirculation Air Motor-Driven ACM for Lower Bleed-Air Use
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional aircraft systems rely on bleed air from gas turbine engines for cabin cooling, which significantly impacts fuel consumption, and there is a need to reduce the amount of bleed air extracted to minimize fuel consumption.
Innovation Solution
A recirculation air conditioning system using a motor-driven air cycle machine that includes a compressor, turbine, and heat exchanger to condition recirculation airflow, reducing the need for conventional recirculation fans and ECS cooling capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If bleed air is extracted from the engine core for cabin cooling, then the aircraft cabin can be cooled, but fuel consumption increases dramatically
Solution Approach 1:
The recirculation fan uses its own motor to drive the impeller, creating a self-contained recirculation system that does not rely on bleed air from the engine core. The system serves itself by using electrical power instead of pneumatic power from the engine
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the recirculation function from the bleed air system, separating it into an independent system driven by an electric motor. This removes the dependency on engine core air for cabin air recirculation
2Quantity of substance
If ECS packs cool air far below cabin temperature requirements, then the amount of bleed air needed is minimized, but the system complexity and energy use increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the temperature parameter of the recirculated air by cooling it below cabin requirements, then uses the mixing chamber to blend it with warmer air to achieve the desired cabin temperature. This allows flexible temperature control while minimizing bleed air usage
3Productivity
If a conventional recirculation fan is used, then cabin air can be circulated, but additional system complexity and energy consumption are introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the recirculation fan function with the ECS cooling system by using the same housing and integrating the motor-driven impeller into the existing air cycle machine structure. This combines two separate functions into one integrated system
Solution Approach 2:
The motor-driven impeller assembly serves multiple functions: it acts as both the recirculation fan and the cooling system component. The same structure performs both air circulation and thermal management functions
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 provides supplemental cooling, allowing for lower ECS flow rates or higher outlet temperatures, improving engine efficiency and reducing drag by using cabin discharge airflow as a heat sink, while eliminating the need for a recirculation fan.
Implementation Method 1
The heat exchanger is in fluid communication with each of the compressor and the aircraft cabin and configured to transfer thermal energy between a cabin discharge airflow received from the aircraft cabin and the recirculation airflow received from the compressor
Implementation Method 2
conducting, in a cooling operation, a recirculation airflow received from the aircraft cabin through an air cycle system including a compressor, a heat exchanger, and a turbine
Data Source
AI summary
A conditioning system for recirculation air of an aircraft cabin includes an air cycle system in fluid communication with the aircraft cabin and configured to receive a recirculation airflow from the aircraft cabin and a mixing chamber disposed in fluid communication between the air cycle system and the aircraft cabin. The mixing chamber is configured to mix the recirculation airflow received from the air cycle system with a conditioned airflow received from an environmental control system pack of the aircraft.