Advanced environmental control system in an integrated simple cycle pack

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11085673-B2
Application number	US-201715648132-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 12, 2017
Priority date	Apr 28, 2017
Publication date	Aug 10, 2021
Grant date	Aug 10, 2021

Abstract

An environmental control system of an aircraft includes a ram air circuit including a ram air shell having a heat exchanger positioned therein and a dehumidification system arranged in fluid communication with the ram air circuit. A plurality of expansion devices is arranged in fluid communication with the ram air circuit and the dehumidification system. At least one of the expansion devices is a simple cycle expansion device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An environmental control system of an aircraft, comprising:
a ram air circuit including a ram air shell having a heat exchanger positioned therein;
a dehumidification system arranged in fluid communication with the ram air circuit, the dehumidification system having an outlet; and
a plurality of expansion devices including a first expansion device and a second expansion device arranged in fluid communication with the ram air circuit and the dehumidification system, wherein at least one of the plurality of expansion devices is a two wheel air cycle machine and the first and second expansion device includes a first turbine and a second turbine, respectively, and an inlet of the first turbine and an inlet of the second turbine is fluidly connected to the outlet of the dehumidification system such that a flow of medium at the outlet of the dehumidification system is providable to the inlet of each of the first expansion device and the second expansion device in parallel; and
a valve arranged downstream from the outlet of the dehumidification system and upstream from an inlet of the first turbine and an inlet of the second turbine, the valve being operable to direct a flow of a medium to all or a portion of the plurality of expansion devices.

2. The environmental control system of claim 1 , wherein in a first position, the at least one valve is configured to direct the flow of fluid to only a portion of the plurality of expansion devices.

3. The environmental control system of claim 2 , wherein in a second position, the at least one valve is configured to direct the flow of fluid to each of the plurality of expansion devices.

4. The environmental control system of claim 1 , wherein the ram air circuit includes a plurality of independent outlets formed in the shell.

5. The environmental control system of claim 4 , wherein at least one outlet is associated with each of the plurality of expansion devices.

6. The environmental control system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of expansion devices are substantially identical.

7. The environmental control system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of expansion devices further comprises a turbine configured to provide energy by expanding a first medium therein.

8. The environmental control system of claim 7 , wherein the first medium is bleed air.

9. The environmental control system of claim 8 , wherein the bleed air circuit is drawn from at least one of an engine and an auxiliary power unit.

10. The environmental control system of claim 7 , wherein each of the plurality of expansion devices further comprises a fan configured to receive energy from a second medium.

11. The environmental control system of claim 10 , wherein the second medium is fresh air.

12. The environmental control system of claim 10 , wherein the fan is operably coupled to the turbine via a shaft.

13. The environmental control system of claim 10 , wherein the fan is arranged in fluid communication with the ram air circuit.

14. The environmental control system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one simple cycle expansion device includes a two-wheel air cycle machine.

15. The environmental control system of claim 1 , wherein the environment control system is mounted within a single bay of the aircraft.

16. The environmental control system of claim 1 , wherein the environment control system is mounted within multiple bays of an aircraft.

Assignees

• Hamilton Sundstrand Corp
• Hamilton Sunstrand Corp

Inventors

• Army Donald E
• Bruno Louis J
• Kandil Sherif M
• Pess Matthew
• Roy Robert C
• Surawski Eric
• Turney Joseph
• Zeidner Lawrence E
• D'Orlando Paul M

Classifications

• B64D13/06 Primary

  the air being conditioned (pressurising B64D13/02) · CPC title

• F02C6/08

  the gas being bled from the gas-turbine compressor · CPC title

• Y02T50/50

  On board measures aiming to increase energy efficiency · CPC title

• F25B9/06 Primary

  using expanders (F25B9/10 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F05D2220/323

  for aircraft propulsion, e.g. jet engines · CPC title