AIRCRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL SYSTEM THAT OPTIMIZES THE PROPORTION OF OUTSIDE AIR FROM ENGINES, APU'S, GROUND AIR SOURCES AND THE RECIRCULATED CABIN AIR TO MAINTAIN OCCUPANT COMFORT AND MAXIMIZE FUEL ECONOMY

• US 20160214723A1
• Filed: 01/27/2015
• Published: 07/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Fox, Richard B., Hagh, Bijan F., Koerner, Mike, Yates, Stephen, Michalakos, Peter M., Johnson, Russell W.
• Granted Patent: US 9,957,052 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 13/06 the air being conditioned pressurising B64D13/02
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2013/0603 Environmental Control Systems
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2013/0637 with CO2 removers
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2013/0688 with means for recirculating cabin air
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2013/0692 with special provisions against smoke from cigarettes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/50 On board measures aiming to increase energy efficiency

Abstract

An Environmental Control System includes sensors, an air purification subsystem, and a controller in communication with the sensors and air purification subsystem. The sensors detect contaminants in outside air supplied through engine and APU bleeds or other air sources including ground supplies and electric compressors, contaminants in recirculated air, particulates in outside air, carbon dioxide in recirculated air, temperature in an environment, and pressure in an environment. These sensed parameters are compared against thresholds. Based on the comparisons, changes to the outside air and/or recirculated air are made.

Claims

1. An environmental control system (ECS) having contaminants in supply air that flows into an environment, comprising:

a outside air contaminant sensor that senses contaminants in outside air that is a part of the contaminants in supply air, wherein the outside air is supplied by a source outside of the ECS, supplied through engine or APU bleeds or other air sources including ground supplies and electric compressors, wherein the outside air contaminant sensor is upstream of the environment;

a recirculated air contaminant sensor that senses contaminants in recirculated air that is another part of the contaminants in supply air, wherein the recirculated air is supplied by the environment, wherein the recirculated air contaminant sensor is downstream of the environment;

a pressure sensor that senses pressure of the supply air in the environment, wherein the pressure sensor is located in the environment;

a temperature sensor that senses temperature of the supply air in the environment, wherein the temperature sensor is located in the environment;

a carbon dioxide sensor that senses carbon dioxide in the recirculated air exiting the environment, wherein the carbon dioxide sensor is downstream of the environment; and

a controller in communication with the outside air contaminant sensor, the recirculated air contaminant sensor, the pressure sensor, the temperature sensor, and the carbon dioxide sensor;

wherein, upon receipt of a threshold signal from one of the sensors, the controller controls an inflow of the outside air supplied through engine or APU bleeds or other air sources including ground supplies and electric compressors, that mixes with the recirculated air.

2. The ECS of claim 1, wherein the outside air contaminant sensor comprises an ultra-fine particle sensor.

3. The ECS of claim 1, wherein the outside air contaminant sensor comprises a volatile organic compound sensor.

4. The ECS of claim 1, wherein the recirculated air contaminant sensor comprises a volatile organic compound sensor.

5. The ECS of claim 1, wherein the carbon dioxide sensor is downstream of the recirculated air contaminant sensor.

6. The ECS of claim 1, further comprising a precooler upstream of the outside air contaminant sensor.

7. The ECS of claim 1, further comprising an air conditioning subsystem upstream of the environment.

8. The ECS of claim 1, further comprising a mix manifold upstream of the environment.

9. A controller for an environmental control system (ECS) having a plurality of sensors and an air purification subsystem, wherein the controller:

communicates with the plurality of sensors and air purification subsystem;

receives one of a contaminant signal and an air characteristic signal;

wherein the contaminant signal is one of;

an outside air contaminant signal;

a recirculated air contaminant signal;

a carbon monoxide signal

a carbon dioxide signal; and

an ozone signal;

wherein the air characteristic signal is one of;

a temperature signal; and

a pressure signal;

upon receipt of one of the contaminant signal and the air characteristic signal, commands the air purification subsystem to alter a condition of contaminated air in the ECS.

10. The controller of claim 9, wherein, upon receipt of one of the contaminant signal and the air characteristic signal, commands a flow control valve of the air purification subsystem to alter a flow of outside air supplied through engine or APU bleeds or other air sources including ground supplies and electric compressors, into an environment.

11. The controller of claim 9, wherein, upon receipt of one of the contaminant signal and the air characteristic signal, commands a mix manifold of the air purification subsystem to alter a mix of outside air supplied through engine or APU bleeds or other air sources including ground supplies and electric compressors, and recirculated air into an environment.

12. The controller of claim 9, wherein, upon receipt of one of the contaminant signal and the air characteristic signal, commands a recirculation fan of the air purification subsystem to alter a ventilation rate of recirculated air exiting an environment.

13. The controller of claim 9, wherein, upon receipt of one of the contaminant signal and the air characteristic signal, commands an air conditioning subsystem of the air purification subsystem to alter a temperature of outside air supplied through engine or APU bleeds or other air sources including ground supplies and electric compressors, into an environment.

14. The controller of claim 9, wherein, upon receipt of one of the contaminant signal and the air characteristic signal, commands an air conditioning subsystem of the air purification subsystem to alter a pressure of outside air supplied through engine or APU bleeds or other air sources including ground supplies and electric compressors, into an environment.

15. A method for controlling an occupant comfort level in an environment, comprising:

sensing outside air contaminants in outside air entering the environment supplied through engine or APU bleeds or other air sources including ground supplies and electric compressors;

comparing the sensed outside air contaminants against an outside air contaminant threshold;

sensing recirculated air contaminants in recirculated air entering the environment;

comparing the sensed recirculated air contaminants against a recirculated air contaminant threshold;

sensing carbon dioxide in recirculated air exiting the environment;

comparing the sensed carbon dioxide against a carbon dioxide threshold;

sensing temperature of mixed air in the environment, wherein the mixed air includes the outside air supplied through engine or APU bleeds or other air sources including ground supplies and electric compressors, and the recirculated air;

comparing the sensed temperature against a temperature threshold;

sensing pressure of the mixed air in the environment;

comparing the sensed pressure against a pressure threshold;

commanding one of;

a change in an amount of outside air supplied through engine or APU bleeds or other air sources including ground supplies and electric compressors, entering the environment;

a change in an amount of recirculated air entering the environment; and

a change in temperature of mixed air entering the environment.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein commanding a change in amount of outside air supplied through engine or APU bleeds or other air sources including ground supplies and electric compressors, includes commanding a flow control valve upstream of the environment.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein commanding a change in an amount of recirculated air includes commanding a mix manifold upstream of the environment.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein commanding a change in temperature of mixed air includes commanding an air conditioning subsystem upstream of the environment.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein commanding a change in pressure of mixed air includes commanding an air conditioning subsystem upstream of the environment. The method of claim 15, further comprising commanding concurrent changes in both outside air supplied through engine or APU bleeds or other air sources including ground supplies and electric compressors, and mixed air.