Vapor cycle system for cooling components and associated method
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vapor cycle systems in aircraft face challenges in maintaining efficient cooling due to varying availability of heat sinks during different flight conditions, affecting the mass of refrigerant and system operation.
Innovation Solution
A vapor cycle system with a refrigeration circuit including a compressor, first and second condensers in series, an expansion valve, and a refrigerant charge control device that adjusts the refrigerant mass based on monitored pressure and temperature to ensure proper operation, using a computing system to control the flow through control valves and a tank.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a vapor cycle system uses multiple heat sinks (fuel, ram air, bypass duct air) for heat rejection, then the system can operate across different flight conditions, but the availability of heat sinks varies through different regions of the flight envelope causing the refrigerant mass to have differing effects on system operation
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the heat rejection function into two separate condensers: a first condenser for rejecting heat to fuel and a second condenser for rejecting heat to ram air or bypass duct air. This segmentation allows each condenser to be optimized for specific flight conditions and heat sink availability, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and operational consistency.
2Productivity
If the refrigerant mass is increased to improve cooling capacity, then more heat can be rejected, but the system performance varies depending on which condenser is being used
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts refrigerant mass distribution between the two condensers based on real-time operating conditions. The refrigerant charge control device modifies the refrigerant charge level according to which condenser is actively rejecting heat, ensuring optimal cooling capacity for each specific condenser configuration while maintaining overall system adaptability.
3Reliability
If a refrigerant charge control device is added to adjust refrigerant mass dynamically, then system operation can be optimized for different condensers, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The refrigerant charge control device operates based on feedback from sensors monitoring system operating parameters such as condenser temperature and pressure. This feedback mechanism automatically adjusts refrigerant mass to optimize performance for the active condenser configuration, achieving reliable operation without requiring complex manual intervention or overly sophisticated control systems.
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 maintains optimal refrigerant mass for efficient heat transfer and system operation across varying flight conditions, ensuring reliable cooling of aircraft components.
Implementation Method 1
an evaporator
Implementation Method 2
a compressor
Implementation Method 3
a first condenser, a second condenser
Implementation Method 4
an expansion valve
Data Source
AI summary
A vapor cycle system for cooling components includes a refrigeration circuit through which a mass of a refrigerant flows. The refrigeration circuit, in turn, includes a compressor, a first condenser, a second condenser fluidly coupled to the first condenser in series, an expansion valve, and an evaporator. Furthermore, the system includes a refrigerant charge control device configured to increase or decrease the mass of the refrigerant flowing through the refrigeration circuit, wherein the refrigerant charge control device comprises a storage device.