System and method for aircraft cabin atmospheric composition control
First Claim
1. A method for controlling a degree of oxygen/nitrogen shift of incoming air in response to a partial pressure of oxygen in areas of an aircraft, said method comprising:
- separating oxygen from ambient air onboard the aircraft to establish a high-concentration oxygen supply and separating nitrogen from the ambient air onboard the aircraft to establish a high-concentration nitrogen supply;
determining that an increased oxygen concentration is desired in an occupant cabin, and dispensing an oxygen flow from the high-concentration oxygen supply to the occupant cabin of the aircraft to increase a level of oxygen concentration within the occupant cabin to a level greater than a naturally-occurring partial pressure of oxygen at an experienced internal cabin pressure;
dispensing a nitrogen flow from the high-concentration nitrogen supply to a fire-susceptible, internal non-habitable region of the aircraft to decrease a capability for an atmosphere therein to support combustion; and
determining that reduced oxygen concentration is desired in the occupant cabin; and
dispensing into the occupant cabin nitrogen from the high-concentration nitrogen supply, thereby diluting the oxygen concentration in the occupant cabin.
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Abstract
Method and arrangement for adjusting nitrogen and oxygen concentrations within regions of an aircraft. The method includes separating nitrogen from ambient air onboard an aircraft thereby establishing a high-concentration nitrogen supply and then dispensing high-concentration nitrogen from the supply to a fire-susceptible, non-habitable region of the aircraft where the high-concentration nitrogen is reservoired thereby decreasing the capability for the atmosphere therein to support combustion. Oxygen is also separated from the ambient air thereby establishing a high-concentration oxygen supply that is dispensed to an occupant cabin of the aircraft thereby increasing the level of oxygen concentration within the cabin to a level greater than the naturally occurring concentration of oxygen at the experienced internal cabin pressure. When it is determined that reduced oxygen concentration is required in the occupant cabin, the reservoired high-concentration nitrogen is moved into the passenger cabin diluting the oxygen-elevated environment.
84 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method for controlling a degree of oxygen/nitrogen shift of incoming air in response to a partial pressure of oxygen in areas of an aircraft, said method comprising:
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separating oxygen from ambient air onboard the aircraft to establish a high-concentration oxygen supply and separating nitrogen from the ambient air onboard the aircraft to establish a high-concentration nitrogen supply; determining that an increased oxygen concentration is desired in an occupant cabin, and dispensing an oxygen flow from the high-concentration oxygen supply to the occupant cabin of the aircraft to increase a level of oxygen concentration within the occupant cabin to a level greater than a naturally-occurring partial pressure of oxygen at an experienced internal cabin pressure; dispensing a nitrogen flow from the high-concentration nitrogen supply to a fire-susceptible, internal non-habitable region of the aircraft to decrease a capability for an atmosphere therein to support combustion; and determining that reduced oxygen concentration is desired in the occupant cabin; and dispensing into the occupant cabin nitrogen from the high-concentration nitrogen supply, thereby diluting the oxygen concentration in the occupant cabin. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A system for adjusting a nitrogen concentration and an oxygen concentration within areas of an aircraft, the system comprising:
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a gas separation unit to separate ambient air within an aircraft into a nitrogen enriched flow and an oxygen enriched flow; a plurality of sensors monitoring at least one condition within at least one region of an aircraft; and a controller configured to control a dispensation of the nitrogen enriched flow and the oxygen enriched flow based in part on an output of the plurality of sensors, wherein the controller causes the dispensation of nitrogen from the nitrogen enriched flow into an occupant cabin if a reduced oxygen concentration in the occupant cabin is desired. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for controlling an atmosphere in habitable and non-habitable areas of an aircraft, said method comprising:
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establishing a supply of nitrogen enriched air by separating nitrogen from air onboard the aircraft and a supply of oxygen enriched air by separating oxygen from air onboard the aircraft; storing the supply of nitrogen enriched air in a non-habitable area; and introducing nitrogen enriched air stored in the non-habitable area into a habitable area upon determining that reduced oxygen concentration is desired in the habitable area, wherein the habitable area is habitable by passengers or crew; and introducing the oxygen enriched air into a habitable area, wherein the habitable area is habitable by passengers or crew. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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Specification