METHODS FOR DETERMINING PERFORMANCE OF AN AIR-CONDITIONING SYSTEM OF AN AIRCRAFT

• US 20170084095A1
• Filed: 02/21/2014
• Published: 03/23/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Taleris Global LLP (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Taleris Global LLP (General Electric Company)
• Inventors: Larder, Brian David, Horabin, Robert William, Catt, Christopher Joseph, Heath, Daniel James, SMIT, Johan Arnold, BEAVEN, Frank, Robbins, Mark John, Howard, Julia Ann
• Application Number:
  US15/119,889
• Publication Number:
  US 20170084095A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 13/06 the air being conditioned pressurising B64D13/02
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2013/064 comprising more than one system, e.g. dual systems
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2013/0655 with zone or personal climate controls
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2614 HVAC, heating, ventillation, climate control
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0235 based on a comparison with predetermined threshold or range, e.g. "classical methods", carried out during normal operation; threshold adaptation or choice; when or how to compare with the threshold
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0237 based on parallel systems, e.g. comparing signals produced at the same time by same type systems and detect faulty ones by noticing differences among their responses
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0816 Indicating performance data, e.g. occurrence of a malfunction

Abstract

Methods of determining an overall performance of air-conditioning system(s) are disclosed. The methods include transmitting data from a sensor operably coupled to at least one air-conditioning pack, comparing the transmitted data, determining an overall performance of the air-conditioning system(s) based on the comparing, and providing an indication of the determined overall performance of the air-conditioning system(s).

Claims

1. A method of determining an overall performance of an air-conditioning system of an aircraft, the method comprising:

transmitting data from a sensor operably coupled to at least one air-conditioning pack, while the aircraft is in a stable on-ground condition;

comparing the transmitted data to a predetermined threshold;

determining, with a controller, an overall performance of the air-conditioning system based on the comparing; and

providing an indication of the determined overall performance.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the data is transmitted during taxi.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitted data is an outlet temperature of the at least one air-conditioning pack.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the comparing the transmitted data to a predetermined threshold determines when the outlet temperature is above 10°

C.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the indication of the determined overall performance is an alert when the outlet temperature is above 10°

C.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the comparing the transmitted data to a predetermined threshold determines when the outlet temperature is between 0°

C. and 10°

C.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the indication of the determined overall performance indicates prioritized monitoring.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitted data is flow data from two air-conditioning packs.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the predetermined threshold is related to the flow data from one of the two air-conditioning packs and the comparing the transmitted data to a predetermined threshold includes determining an amount of divergence between the flow data from the two air-conditioning packs.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising comparing the amount of divergence to an acceptable threshold.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein when the comparing indicates a divergence greater than the acceptable threshold an alert is indicated.

16. The method of claim 2, wherein the transmitted data is an outlet temperature of the at least one air-conditioning pack.

12. A method of determining overall performance of air-conditioning systems of multiple aircrafts, the method comprising:

transmitting, from an air-conditioning pack of an aircraft, data related to an outlet temperature of the air-conditioning pack;

transmitting, from an air-conditioning pack of at least one other aircraft, data related to an outlet temperature of the air-conditioning pack of the at least one other aircraft;

comparing, with a controller, the transmitted data related to the outlet temperatures from the aircraft and the at least one other aircraft;

determining, with a controller, an overall performance of the air-conditioning systems of the aircrafts based on the comparing; and

providing an indication of the determined overall performance of the air-conditioning systems of the aircrafts.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising filtering the transmitted data such that only data obtained during similar operating conditions is compared.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the filtering comprises utilizing in-cruise measurements at a predetermined altitude range.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the filtering comprises filtering on-ground measurements to a particular airport location, ambient temperature, or humidity range.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the filtering comprises filtering on-ground measurements to a particular airport location, ambient temperature, or humidity range.