JP2003240375A - Air cycle type air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make high-pressure air supplied to an air separator and the like on a machine. <P>SOLUTION: This air cycle type air conditioner is an air conditioner provided with a an heat-exchanger and an air cycle machine for supplying air-conditioned air from engine bleed air, is provided with a means for splitting the bled air, and a supply switching means in an outlet side of a compressor of the air cycle machine, and switches the supply from the conditioned air to compressed air. The air cycle machine is preferably constituted of four wheel structure. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an air cycle type air conditioner for adjusting high temperature and high pressure air (bleed air) extracted from an engine of an aircraft or the like and supplying it as conditioned air to a cabin or the like. The present invention relates to an air cycle type air conditioner capable of supplying pressurized air separately from conditioned air by supply switching means provided in a conditioned air flow path, in addition to the supply of conditioned air.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Air conditioners for supplying conditioned air required for cabins and the like on board aircraft are roughly classified into air cycle type and vapor (steam) cycle type. In recent years, an air cycle type air conditioner capable of efficiently supplying conditioned air by adjusting the temperature and pressure of the air extracted from the engine (engine bleed) has become the mainstream. For example, with respect to its main configuration, an air cycle type air conditioner shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 described later is disclosed in US Pat. No. 5,086,622 and Re.32,100.
It has been proposed in the publication.

Pressurized air is supplied onboard the air conditioner together with a nitrogen generator, an oxygen generator, or an air separation device (hereinafter simply referred to as "air separation device") that simultaneously generates nitrogen and oxygen. Although a pressurized air supply device may be provided, these air conditioners and pressurized air supply devices are configured as separate independent systems.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an air cycle type air conditioner which has been conventionally used for supplying conditioned air onboard. In an aircraft engine, air compressed by a compressor is sent to a combustor, and at the same time, fuel is supplied and burned by the combustor, and combustion gas drives a turbine. In the air conditioner shown in the figure, the high temperature and high pressure air extracted from the compressor of the engine 1 is adjusted to a predetermined temperature and pressure, and the conditioned air is supplied to the cabin 12 requiring the air.

First, the air extracted from the engine 1 is
It is introduced while adjusting the flow rate via the flow rate control valve 2.
It is put into the next heat exchanger 3A. As the refrigerant of the heat exchanger 3 shown in FIG. 4, ram air guided from the outside of the machine to the air passage by the cooling fan 7 is used. The engine bleed air cooled by the primary heat exchanger 3A is subsequently introduced into the air cycle machine 4.

An air cycle machine 4 shown in FIG. 4 has a four-wheel structure in which a cooling fan 7, a compressor 5, a primary turbine 6A and a secondary turbine 6B are coaxially arranged, and these rotary machines have a structure in which they are coaxially driven. Is. The air introduced into the air cycle machine 4 is compressed by the compressor 5
To the pressurized air which is heated by the compression action.

The heated pressurized air is used as the secondary heat exchanger 3B.
After being cooled to a predetermined temperature, most of the moisture is removed as water droplets in the water collector 9 through the high temperature side of the reheater 8 and the high temperature side of the condenser 10, and further passes through the low temperature side of the reheater 8 before the air cycle. Machine primary turbine 6A
Is supplied to. The pressurized air is reduced in pressure and cooled by the expansion action in the primary turbine 6A, reheated on the low temperature side of the condenser, and then supplied to the secondary turbine 6B again. The air that has passed through the secondary turbine 6B becomes low-pressure and low-temperature conditioned air, passes through the check valve 11, and is supplied to the cabin 12.

In the four-wheel structure of the air cycle machine shown in FIG. 4, when the pressurized air is supplied to the primary and secondary turbines 6 and expanded, the air cycle machine 4 is driven,
The cooling fan 7 and the compressor 5 arranged coaxially are also driven. Normally, another air conditioner 1
3 are provided in a plural number, and if the air conditioners of the same degree are equipped with 2 to 3 sets per machine.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing another example of the structure of an air-cycle type air conditioner which has been conventionally used for supplying conditioned air on board. The air cycle machine 4 of the apparatus shown in FIG. 5 includes a cooling fan 7, a compressor 5 and a turbine 6.
Has a three-wheel structure that is driven coaxially. The air extracted from the engine is introduced into the primary heat exchanger 3A via the flow rate control valve 2, and the engine extracted air cooled by the ram air is introduced into the air cycle machine 4.

The air introduced into the air cycle machine 4 is supplied to the compressor 5 to become pressurized air, which is guided to the secondary heat exchanger 3B and cooled to a predetermined temperature, and then passes through the high temperature side of the condenser 10. Water is separated by the water collector 9. After that, it is introduced into the turbine 6, and the pressure is lowered and the temperature is lowered by the expansion action, and the mixer 14 is used for temperature adjustment.
Will be introduced to. In the mixer 14, the temperature is adjusted by mixing with the air circulated from the cabin 12.

The air passing through the mixer 14 becomes low-pressure and low-temperature conditioned air, passes through the check valve 11 and is supplied to the cabin 12. In the three-wheel structure of the air cycle machine shown in FIG. 5, when the pressurized air separated from the water is supplied to the turbine and expanded, the cooling fan 7 and the compressor 5 arranged coaxially are driven.

FIG. 6 is a view showing a further different configuration example of an air cycle type air conditioner which has been conventionally used for supplying conditioned air on a machine. In the air cycle machine 4, a compressor 5 and a turbine 6 are arranged. It has a two-wheel structure. Therefore, the cooling fan 7 that guides the ram air from the outside of the machine is provided with the fan motor 7B and is separately arranged.

The air extracted from the engine 1 passes through the primary heat exchanger 3A and the compressor 5 to become compressed air, which is then guided to the secondary heat exchanger 3B and cooled to a predetermined temperature. The air cycle machine 4 is driven by being supplied to the turbine 6. After the pressure is lowered and the temperature is lowered by the turbine 6, the water separator 15 separates the water in the air, and the water is passed through the check valve 11 to be supplied to the cabin 12.

[0014]

In order to operate an air separation device or the like with high efficiency on an aircraft, an independent pressurized air supply device is mounted and the pressurized air is adjusted to an appropriate temperature and pressure. Need to supply. However, the conventional pressurized air supply device employs a system for extracting air (bleed air) that has become high temperature and high pressure by a compressor in the engine, and a system for pressurizing air using a hydraulic compressor.

In the system for extracting the bleed air, when the bleed pressure of the engine is in a low flight condition, it may not be possible to supply the required amount with the pressure required for the air separation device. For example, since the introduced air is still extracted from the compressor of the engine, the pressure level of the extracted air is extremely low and the amount of extracted air is reduced at the same time because the engine thrust is throttled, especially when the aircraft descends. To do. If a predetermined amount of pressurized air is to be secured under the extraction conditions at this time, it is necessary to mount a large and heavy air separation device or the like, which deteriorates mountability on an aircraft.

On the other hand, in a system utilizing a hydraulic compressor, since the weight of the hydraulic device for pressurizing air is heavy and the structure of the compressor for pressurizing is complicated, the mountability on the aircraft is reduced and the reliability is sufficient. There is a problem that can not be obtained. Furthermore, regardless of which system is used, the extracted air is at a high temperature, and in order to cool the pressurized air to a predetermined temperature, a dedicated cooling device is required, which reduces the weight of the mounted equipment. It will be against the request.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems in the conventional pressurized air supply technique, and it is not necessary to mount an independent pressurized air supply device on the machine, and the air is extracted from the engine. Using an air conditioner that adjusts the conditioned air to supply conditioned air, a supply switching means is provided in the conditioned air flow passage, and the conditioned air is switched from the conditioned air supply so that it can be supplied as pressurized air. An object is to provide a cycle type air conditioner.

[0018]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the inventor of the present invention has made various studies on a device structure capable of efficiently supplying pressurized air to an air separation device mounted on an aircraft. It was As a result, it has been noted that it is effective to utilize the heat exchanger and compressor of the air conditioner installed as another system for adjusting the temperature and pressure for the pressurized air.

That is, in order to increase the pressure for pressurized air,
It is efficient to use the compressor 5 provided in the air cycle machine 4 shown in FIGS. This makes it possible to supply high-pressure air having a higher pressure than the engine bleed air and a predetermined pressure to the air separation device or the like.

Further, for the temperature control for the pressurized air, the inlet side of the air cycle machine 4 shown in FIGS.
It is effective to use the heat exchanger 3 provided on the outlet side. This eliminates the need for a separate and independent cooling device for the pressurized air. Moreover, since the air-cycle type air conditioner is already lightweight and compact and has high reliability for an aircraft, there is no fear of reducing the mountability on the aircraft.

On the other hand, during the supply of the pressurized air, the air used to drive the turbine of the air cycle machine is inferior in terms of air conditioning temperature and pressure to the conditioned air supplied from the original air conditioner. Become. However, the conditioned air obtained during the supply of the pressurized air is mixed with the conditioned air supplied from another air conditioner, or is supplied as a conditioned air to a cargo room, which has a low demand, and is secondary. Can be used.

As a concrete device configuration, if a supply switching means is provided in the flow path of the conditioned air of the air conditioner, and the pressurized air is supplied separately from the conditioned air by adjusting this means. The above problems can be achieved.

The present invention has been completed on the basis of the above findings, and has as its gist the following air cycle type air conditioners (1) to (3). (1) An air conditioner equipped with a heat exchanger, an air cycle machine, and water separating means for adjusting the air extracted from the engine to a predetermined temperature and pressure and supplying it as conditioned air. A means for diverting air is provided, at least a compressor and a turbine are arranged in the air cycle machine, a supply switching means for pressurized air is provided on the outlet side of the compressor, and air reaching the outlet side of the compressor is conditioned air. It is an air-cycle type air conditioner characterized in that it can be switched from supply to supply as pressurized air. (2) In the air cycle type air conditioner of the above (1), it is preferable that the air cycle machine arranges the cooling fan, the compressor, the primary turbine and the secondary turbine coaxially and drives the four wheels coaxially. .

This makes it possible to realize high system efficiency by returning the heat taken from the bleed air to condense water to the bleed air again, and at the same time, to take the heat taken from the bleed air into the primary turbine and the secondary turbine. Increase the turbine driving force by returning to the inlet side of
This is because the system efficiency can be further improved. (3) In the air cycle type air conditioner of the above (1), it is desirable that the supply switching means for the pressurized air be composed of one switching valve and one closing valve, respectively. The supply switching means of the present invention may be configured by combining a switching valve and a check valve, or may be configured by only a closing valve.

[0025]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The apparatus configuration of the present invention is shown in FIG.
-Details will be described based on the embodiment shown in FIG. However, the air conditioner of the present invention is not limited to the configuration described in this embodiment.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an air cycle type air conditioner of the present invention applied to an air cycle machine having a four-wheel structure. As shown in FIG.
A branch point 21 is provided at a portion passing through the flow rate control valve 2 as a means for branching the air extracted from the. further,
A switching valve 22 is provided in the flow path branched from the branch point 21, and a stop valve 23 is provided at a position corresponding to the inlet side of the air separation device 24 and the outlet side of the compressor 5. The operating states of the switching valve 22 and the shutoff valve 23 shown in FIG. 1 indicate a state in which pressurized air is supplied.

The air extracted from the engine 1 is split at the branch point 21 after passing through the flow control valve 2. Branch point 2
The air that has passed 1 to the right is fed to the primary heat exchanger 3A. The air cooled in the primary heat exchanger 3A is subsequently introduced into the air cycle machine 4, and the compressor 5
To the pressurized air, which is further heated with increasing pressure to become pressurized air.

The pressurized air heated by the compressor 5 is guided to the secondary heat exchanger 3B provided on the outlet side thereof,
After being cooled to a predetermined temperature, it is supplied as pressurized air to the air separation device etc. 24 through the stop valve 23 in the open state. The pressurized air that exits the secondary heat exchanger 3B is blocked by the switching valve 22 and does not mix in the flow path of the conditioned air.

On the other hand, the air that has been branched at the branch point 21 and passed downward is introduced into the high temperature side of the reheater 8 and the high temperature side of the condenser 10 while still passing through the tertiary heat exchanger 3C, and the water collector Water is removed at 9 and reheater 8
After passing through the low temperature side, it is supplied to the primary turbine 6A of the air cycle machine. Further, the pressurized air is condensed on the low temperature side of the condenser 10 and then supplied to the secondary turbine 6B again to drive the air cycle machine 4.

Since the air that has driven the air cycle machine 4 while passing through the tertiary heat exchanger 3C does not satisfy the required conditions for the air conditioning temperature and pressure, the other air conditioner 1
It will be used for a secondary use, such as mixing with the conditioned air supplied from No. 3 or supplying it as conditioned air to a cargo room with low demand.

In the device configuration shown in FIG. 1, the switching valve 22
By switching the operating states of the shutoff valve 23 and the shutoff valve 23 (not shown), as described in FIG. 4, the original function of the air conditioner is exerted, and the conditioned air that meets the requirements is supplied. It will be.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a structural example of an air cycle type air conditioner of the present invention applied to an air cycle machine having a three-wheel structure. In the figure, as a means for dividing the air extracted from the engine, a branch point 21 is provided at a portion passing through the primary heat exchanger 3A, and a switching valve 22 is provided in a flow path branched from the branch point. And compressor 5
At the point where the secondary heat exchanger 3B has passed on the outlet side of the shutoff valve 23
Is provided so that pressurized air can be supplied to the air separation device 24 or the like.

That is, the air that has passed the branch point 21 to the left is introduced into the air cycle machine 4 and supplied to the compressor 5 to become compressed pressurized air. This pressurized air is guided to the secondary heat exchanger 3B provided on the outlet side of the compressor 5, cooled to a predetermined temperature, and then passes through the shutoff valve 23 in the open state to the air separation device 24 or the like. Supplied. The pressurized air exiting the secondary heat exchanger 3B is transferred to the switching valve 22.
Does not mix into the flow path of conditioned air.

On the other hand, the air that has been split at the branch point 21 and passed upward passes through the high temperature side of the condenser 10 and separates the water in the water collector 9 while still passing through the primary heat exchanger 3A. After that, the pressure is lowered and the temperature is lowered by the turbine 6, and the mixture is introduced into the mixer 14. The conditioned air generated here is also used for secondary use.

Similarly, in the device configuration shown in FIG. 2, by switching the operating states of the switching valve 22 and the closing valve 23, the function as the air conditioner described in FIG. 5 is exerted.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a structural example of an air cycle type air conditioner of the present invention applied to an air cycle machine having a two-wheel structure. In FIG. 3, as a means for dividing the air extracted from the engine, a branch point 21 is provided on the inlet side of the primary heat exchanger 3A, and a switching valve 22 is provided in the flow path branched from the branch point 21. A shutoff valve 23 is provided on the outlet side of the compressor 5 so that pressurized air can be supplied to the air separation device 24 or the like.

The air that has passed the branch point 21 to the left is 1
After passing through the secondary heat exchanger 3A, it is introduced into the air cycle machine 4 and supplied to the compressor 5 to become compressed compressed air. The pressurized air reaches the shutoff valve 23 provided on the outlet side of the compressor 5, passes through the shutoff valve 23 in the open state, and is supplied to the air separation device or the like 24. The pressurized air on the outlet side of the compressor 5 does not enter the conditioned air flow path due to the action of the switching valve 22.

On the other hand, the air that has been split at the branch point 21 and passed upward is the secondary heat exchanger 3B (corresponding to the primary heat exchanger).
The air cycle machine 4 is driven by being supplied to the turbine 6 in a state where the air cycle machine 4 is passed. The conditioned air generated here is also used for secondary use. Further, by switching the operating states of the switching valve 22 and the closing valve 23 shown in FIG. 3, the function as the air conditioner described in FIG. 6 is exhibited.

[0039]

According to the air cycle type air conditioner of the present invention, high pressure air capable of operating an air separation device or the like with high efficiency without installing an independent dedicated pressurized air supply device is provided. , And conditioned air can be appropriately switched and supplied. As a result, the weight of the device mounted on board can be reduced, and the mountability on the aircraft will not be deteriorated.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an air cycle type air conditioner of the present invention applied to an air cycle machine having a four-wheel structure.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an air cycle type air conditioner of the present invention applied to an air cycle machine having a three-wheel structure.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an air cycle type air conditioner of the present invention applied to an air cycle machine having a two-wheel structure.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an air cycle type air conditioner that has been conventionally used to supply conditioned air onboard.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing another configuration example of an air cycle type air conditioner that has been conventionally used to supply conditioned air onboard.

FIG. 6 is a view showing a further different configuration example of an air cycle type air conditioner that has been conventionally used for supplying conditioned air onboard the aircraft.

[Explanation of symbols]

1: Engine, 2: Flow control valve 3: Heat exchanger, 4: Air cycle machine 5: Compressor, 6: Turbine 7: Cooling fan, 8: Reheater 9: Water collector, 10: Condenser 11: Check valve, 12: Cabin 13: Other air conditioner, 14: Mixer 15: water separator, 21: branch point 22: Switching valve, 23: Closing valve 24: Air separation device, etc.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An air conditioner comprising a heat exchanger, an air cycle machine, and a water separation means for adjusting the air extracted from an engine to a predetermined temperature and pressure and supplying the air as conditioned air. Means for diverting the compressed air is provided, at least a compressor and a turbine are arranged in the air cycle machine, and a supply switching means for supplying pressurized air is provided on the outlet side of the compressor to condition the air reaching the outlet side of the compressor. An air-cycle type air conditioner characterized by being configured so that it can be supplied as pressurized air by switching from the supply of air. 2. The air cycle type air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the air cycle machine has a cooling fan, a compressor, a primary turbine and a secondary turbine arranged coaxially and driven coaxially. 3. Each of the pressurized air supply switching means is one.
The air-cycle type air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the air-cycle type air conditioner is composed of individual switching valves and closing valves.