Split Aircraft Ventilation System With Active And Passive Air Movers
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft ventilation systems face challenges in minimizing crown-space usage while avoiding increased weight and power consumption, particularly in small-body aircraft with limited space, weight capacity, and power resources.
Innovation Solution
A split ventilation system is introduced, featuring separate branches with active and passive air movers, where active air movers like fans are used for primary ventilation and passive air movers like Venturi ports are employed to supplement airflow when necessary, with shutoff valves and detectors to manage airflow based on pressure and flow-rate thresholds, minimizing ductwork length and optimizing space usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a common duct line runs along the length of the aircraft to collect air from multiple galleys and lavatories, then ventilation coverage is improved, but crown space occupancy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ventilation system is divided into multiple independent branches, each serving specific air sources (galleys and lavatories). Each branch has its own air mover and discharge path, eliminating the need for a single long common duct line that would consume excessive crown space.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the vertical dimension by discharging air from branches located in the lower portion of the aircraft interior, near the floor, rather than relying solely on horizontal crown space. This allows the ventilation system to achieve comprehensive coverage without occupying excessive crown space.
2Reliability
If multiple fans are provided for redundancy in the ventilation system, then reliability is improved, but weight and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs a dynamic configuration where at least one branch includes both an active air mover (fan) and a passive air mover (Venturi port). The passive air mover is activated only when needed, allowing the system to maintain redundancy without continuously operating multiple powered fans, thus reducing weight and power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The passive air mover (Venturi port) utilizes the kinetic energy of the aircraft's motion through the air to create a pressure differential that draws air through the branch without requiring an additional powered fan. This self-service mechanism provides backup ventilation capability without adding significant weight or power requirements.
3Use of energy by moving object
If a passive air mover is added to supplement active ventilation, then power consumption is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The passive air mover (Venturi port) is integrated into the existing branch structure, combining the active and passive air moving mechanisms within the same branch. This merging approach allows the system to utilize both powered and unpowered air movement without requiring completely separate systems, thereby limiting the increase in overall complexity.
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 reduces crown-space occupancy, maintains efficient ventilation, and conserves power by utilizing passive air movers only when active ventilation is insufficient, thereby addressing the limitations of traditional systems.
Implementation Method 1
The passive air mover may include a Venturi port
Data Source
AI summary
A ventilation system, aircraft, and method. The ventilation system includes a first conduit in fluid communication with a first air source in the aircraft to direct a fluid flow from the first air source. The ventilation system also includes a first branch in fluid communication with the first conduit and a first outflow point, the first branch including an active air mover to move the fluid flow toward the first outflow point. The ventilation system further includes a second branch that is separate from the first branch and in fluid communication with the first conduit and a second outflow point, the second branch including a passive air mover to move the fluid flow to toward the second outflow point.