Toroidal Annulus Duct Design for Low-Pressure Aircraft ECS Packaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current aircraft environmental control systems (ECS) designs that operate at lower engine pressures to save fuel face challenges in packaging volume due to large line sizes and duct bend radii, which can negatively impact water extractor efficiency and require additional connections to the cabin.
Innovation Solution
A duct and fluid extractor assembly design featuring a tubular member with torus sectors forming a sectioned toroidal annulus and swirl vanes, allowing for a straight fluid path with minimal bends, combining power turbine and cooling turbine functions without compromising water extractor efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If lower engine pressures are used to save fuel, then energy efficiency is improved, but packaging volume is reduced due to large line sizes and duct bend radii
Solution Approach 1:
The duct system is segmented into multiple sections with varying cross-sectional areas. The duct includes a first section with a larger cross-sectional area for high flow conditions and a second section with a smaller cross-sectional area for low flow conditions, allowing optimized packaging volume across different operating regimes
Solution Approach 2:
The duct design incorporates variable geometry through the controllable valve system that dynamically adjusts flow distribution between different duct sections based on operating conditions, enabling the system to adapt line sizes and bend radii to actual flow requirements rather than designing for maximum flow throughout
2Use of energy by moving object
If lower engine pressures are used to save fuel, then energy efficiency is improved, but water extractor efficiency is negatively impacted
Solution Approach 1:
The duct system provides different local flow characteristics in different sections. The first duct section maintains higher flow velocities and better mixing characteristics near the water extractor inlet, while the second section provides lower velocity flow for the condenser, ensuring water extraction efficiency is maintained under low pressure conditions
3Adaptability or versatility
If additional connections to cabin air are made, then thermal control flexibility is improved, but device complexity is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The power turbine is designed to perform multiple functions: it operates as a power turbine during flight to drive the controllable valve system and as a cooling turbine during ground operations. The same turbine and duct system serves both thermal control and power generation needs, reducing the need for additional separate connections and 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
This design enables efficient fluid extraction and thermal control with reduced packaging volume and maintains water extractor efficiency, allowing the power turbine to function as both a power turbine in flight and a cooling turbine on the ground.
Implementation Method 1
fluid extractor swirl vanes in the upstream section to drive fluid of a fluid flow proceeding into the central flow path into the condensate collection gap
Implementation Method 2
a condenser, an air cycle machine (ACM), a fluid extractor assembly configured to extract a first fluid from a second fluid and to direct the second fluid from the condenser to the ACM
Data Source
AI summary
A duct is provided and includes a tubular member having an inlet portion, an outlet portion and a central portion interposed between the inlet and outlet portions and a tributary tubular member fluidly coupled to the tubular member at the central portion. The tributary tubular member includes first and second torus sectors defining first and second apertures, respectively, through which an upstream end of the central portion extends. The second torus sector is disposed within the first torus sector to define a sectioned toroidal annulus about the first and second apertures and between an exterior surface of the second torus sector and an interior surface of the first torus sector.