Aircraft air duct system for transmitting sanitized air

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11613362-B2
Application number	US-202016782527-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 5, 2020
Priority date	Feb 5, 2020
Publication date	Mar 28, 2023
Grant date	Mar 28, 2023

Abstract

An air duct system is disclosed, and includes an air duct having a main body, where the main body of the air duct defines a passageway having a reflective inner surface. The air duct system also includes an ultraviolet light source configured to generate ultraviolet light. The ultraviolet light source directs the ultraviolet light along the reflective inner surface of the air duct.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An air duct system, comprising:
an air duct having a main body, wherein the main body of the air duct defines a passageway having a reflective inner surface;
an ultraviolet light source configured to generate ultraviolet light, wherein the ultraviolet light source directs the ultraviolet light along the reflective inner surface of the air duct;
a visible light source configured to generate visible light, wherein the visible light source directs the visible light along the reflective inner surface of the air duct; and
one or more photovoltaic devices disposed along the reflective inner surface of the air duct, wherein a portion of the visible light generated by the visible light source is converted into electrical power by the photovoltaic devices.

2. The air duct system of claim 1 , wherein the ultraviolet light includes a germicidal wavelength ranging from 185 to 400 nanometers.

3. The air duct system of claim 1 , further comprising one or more air valves disposed along the main body of the air duct.

4. The air duct system of claim 3 , further comprising one or more one or more ultraviolet optical filters, wherein an ultraviolet optical filter is placed over each of the one or more air valves.

5. The air duct system of claim 1 , further comprising one or more lighting apertures disposed along the main body of the air duct, wherein a portion of the visible light generated by the visible light source exits the air duct through the one or more lighting apertures.

6. The air duct system of claim 5 , further comprising one or more ultraviolet optical filters, wherein an ultraviolet optical filter is placed over each of the one or more lighting apertures.

7. The air duct system of claim 1 , wherein the visible light source comprises an array of light-emitting diodes (LEDs).

8. The air duct system of claim 1 , wherein the visible light emitted from the visible light source has an angle of divergence of ten degrees or less.

9. The air duct system of claim 1 , wherein the reflective inner surface of the main body of the air duct includes a reflectance of at least fifty percent.

10. The air duct system of claim 1 , wherein the reflective inner surface of the main body of the air duct includes a reflectance of at least ninety-nine percent.

11. The air duct system of claim 1 , further comprising a thermoelectric generator having a hot side and a cold side, wherein the hot side of the thermoelectric generator is positioned along an outer surface of the air duct.

12. The air duct system of claim 11 , wherein the thermoelectric generator is cooled by natural convection, forced convection, or solid conduction.

13. The air duct system of claim 1 , wherein the reflective inner surface of the main body of the air duct includes a reflectance of at least twenty-five percent.

14. An aircraft having an interior cabin, the aircraft comprising:
an air duct having a main body, wherein the main body of the air duct defines a passageway having a reflective inner surface, and wherein the air duct is configured to supply air to the interior cabin of the aircraft;
an ultraviolet light source configured to generate ultraviolet light, wherein the ultraviolet light source directs the ultraviolet light along the reflective inner surface of the air duct;
a visible light source configured to generate visible light, wherein the visible light source directs the visible light along the reflective inner surface of the air duct;
one or more lighting apertures disposed along the main body of the air duct, wherein a portion of the visible light generated by the visible light source exits the air duct through the one or more lighting apertures; and
one or more ultraviolet optical filters, wherein an ultraviolet optical filter is placed over each of the one or more lighting apertures.

15. The aircraft of claim 14 , wherein the ultraviolet light includes a germicidal wavelength ranging from 185 to 400 nanometers.

16. The aircraft of claim 14 , wherein the reflective inner surface of the main body of the air duct includes a reflectance of at least twenty-five percent.

17. The aircraft of claim 14 , wherein the visible light source comprises an array of light-emitting diodes (LEDs).

18. A method for sanitizing conditioned air flowing through an air duct in an aircraft, the method comprising:
receiving, by the air duct, the conditioned air, and ultraviolet light;
directing the ultraviolet light along a reflective inner surface of the air duct, and wherein the ultraviolet light reflects off of the reflective inner surface and travels along a passageway of the air duct, and sanitizes the conditioned air flowing through the air duct;
directing visible light along the reflective inner surface of the air duct, wherein the visible light is generated by a visible light source; and
converting a portion of the visible light generated by the visible light source into electrical power by one or more photovoltaic devices disposed along the reflective inner surface of the air duct.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising releasing the conditioned air by one or more air valves disposed along a main body of the air duct.

20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the ultraviolet light includes a germicidal wavelength ranging from 185 to 400 nanometers.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Hiller Nathan D

Classifications

• B64U50/31

  generated by photovoltaics · CPC title

• F24F8/22

  using UV light · CPC title

• B64D13/06 Primary

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

• Y02T50/50

  On board measures aiming to increase energy efficiency · CPC title

• B64D2013/0644

  including electric motors or generators · CPC title