Human factors approach to control contaminant concentrations in aircraft supply air from engine and APU bleed air and ground air sources, and in recirculated air being delivered to aircraft cabins for the optimization of user experience and energy consumption

• US 9,896,215 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2017
• Issued: 02/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Fox, Richard B., Chase, Deanna P., Kurlak, Paul, Koerner, Mike, Hagh, Bijan F., Johnson, Russell W., Yates, Stephen, Michalakos, Peter M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jones, Christopher P
• Application Number:
  US15/661,348
• Publication Number:
  US 20170320582A1
• Time in Patent Office: 208 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2258/06 Polluted air
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2259/4575 in aeroplanes or space ships
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/30 Controlling by gas-analysis apparatus regulating non electrical variables in general G05D
• 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: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/32 Responding to malfunctions or emergencies
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2011/0002 for admittance of outside air
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/50 Air quality properties
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/60 Odour
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/70 Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/50 On board measures aiming to increase energy efficiency

Abstract

An Environmental Control System includes a sensor, an air purification subsystem, and a controller in communication with the sensor and air purification subsystem. The sensor detects a contaminant in the air and generates a contaminant signal. The controller compares the contaminant signal to a predicted sensory response threshold. When the contaminant signal reaches the predicted sensory response threshold, the controller commands the air purification subsystem to alter a condition in the air.

Claims

1. A method for controlling contaminants in air in an environment, comprising:

creating a sample database of the contaminants in the air;

calculating a contaminant concentration of a contaminant in the sample database;

calculating a predicted sensory detection threshold of the contaminant;

wherein the predicted sensory detection threshold is based on a plurality of contaminant sample population percentiles;

wherein the predicted sensor detection threshold is below a dose addition sensory response of 1.0;

comparing the predicted sensory detection threshold to one of a contaminant concentration and contaminant mass in the air;

altering a condition of the air based on the comparison.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein creating the sample database includes determining a frequency of occurrence of anticipated contaminants in the air.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein calculating a contaminant concentration includes calculating a contaminant concentration equivalent.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein calculating a predicted sensory detection threshold includes calculating one of an odor threshold, an irritancy threshold, a mass threshold, and a combination thereof.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein altering a condition of the air includes adjusting one of a valve, a mix manifold, and a fan of an environmental control system that provides conditioned air to the environment.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein altering a condition of the air includes adjusting a mix of outside air entering an environmental control system (ECS) that provides conditioned air to the environment and recirculated air circulating in the ECS.