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:
- dispensing an oxygen flow from a high-concentration oxygen supply to an occupant cabin of the aircraft in increase the level of oxygen concentration within the occupant cabin;
dispensing a nitrogen flow from a high-concentration nitrogen supply to a fire-susceptible, internal non-habitable region of the aircraft to decrease the capability for the atmosphere therein to support combustion; and
varying the oxygen flow into the occupant cabin and the nitrogen flow into the occupant cabin based in part on a detected condition in the aircraft.
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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.
8 Citations
17 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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dispensing an oxygen flow from a high-concentration oxygen supply to an occupant cabin of the aircraft in increase the level of oxygen concentration within the occupant cabin; dispensing a nitrogen flow from a high-concentration nitrogen supply to a fire-susceptible, internal non-habitable region of the aircraft to decrease the capability for the atmosphere therein to support combustion; and varying the oxygen flow into the occupant cabin and the nitrogen flow into the occupant cabin based in part on a detected condition in the aircraft. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. 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-rich air by separating nitrogen from air onboard the aircraft; storing the supply of nitrogen-rich air in a non-habitable area; and introducing the nitrogen-rich air stored in the non-habitable area into a habitable area, wherein the habitable area is habitable by passengers or crew. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. 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-rich flow and an oxygen-rich flow; a plurality of sensors monitoring at least one condition within at least one region of an aircraft; and a central control unit controlling a dispensation of the nitrogen-rich flow and the oxygen-rich flow based in part on an output of the plurality of sensors. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification