WO2021092819A1 - Air preparation system - Google Patents

Abstract

An air preparation system (100), comprising an air inlet (110), an air outlet (120), a compression device (130) and a main refrigeration device (140), wherein the compression device (130) is arranged between the air inlet (110) and the air outlet (120) and is in fluid communication with the air inlet (110) and the air outlet (120), the compression device (130) pressurizes air flowing through the compression device (130), the main refrigeration device (140) is arranged between the compression device (130) and the air outlet (120) and is in fluid communication with the compression device (130) and the air outlet (120), the main refrigeration device (140) reduces the temperature of air flowing through the main refrigeration device (140), the compression device (130) is an electrically powered compression device (130), and the main refrigeration device (140) is an electrically powered heat exchange element. The air preparation system (100) can reduce a bleed air flow, the installation space and the weight of the system.

Description

Air preparation system Technical field

The invention relates to an aircraft air preparation system, in particular, the invention belongs to the field of aircraft inerting system design.

Background technique

The air preparation system of civil aircraft is a subsystem of the onboard nitrogen production system in the fuel inerting system. The air preparation system processes the bleed air (including air) from the air source system and adjusts it to be suitable for the fuel inerting system. status.

The air preparation system of an existing aircraft generally consists of components such as a pressure regulating valve, a heat exchanger, a temperature control valve, a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, and a controller.

In the Chinese invention patent application CN 105936338 A filed by Hamilton Sundstrand on March 4, 2016, an air turbo compressor is used to boost the bleed air and double heat exchangers are used to control the temperature of the bleed air. Air preparation system for conditioning.

From the above description of the prior art, it can be seen that the air preparation system in the prior art often uses compressed air as an energy source to power the air preparation system.

In this way, first of all, the traditional heat exchanger needs ram air (it also needs to be drawn by a fan when it is on the ground) as the cold edge gas to adjust the temperature of the bleed air, and it needs to open on the aircraft body.

In addition, during the descent or idling phase, the bleed air pressure from the air supply system is low, which cannot meet the working requirements of the inerting system. If an air turbo compressor is used, additional bleed air is required to drive the turbine to perform work, thereby increasing engine bleed air and fuel consumption.

This puts a burden on the system installation space and system weight, and may affect the aerodynamic performance of the aircraft.

Summary of the invention

The present invention is made in order to solve the above technical problems, and aims to reduce the system bleed air flow rate and installation space and weight.

An air preparation system includes: an air inlet, an air outlet, a compression device and a main refrigeration device, wherein:

The air inlet is used to introduce air into the air preparation system,

The air outlet is used to send the air processed by the air preparation system out of the air preparation system,

The compression device is arranged between the air inlet and the air outlet and is in fluid communication with the air inlet and the air outlet, and the compression device pressurizes the air flowing through the compression device,

The main refrigeration device is arranged between the compression device and the air outlet and is in fluid communication with the compression device and the air outlet, and the main refrigeration device reduces the temperature of the air flowing through the main refrigeration device,

It is characterized by

The compression device is a compression device powered by electricity, and the main refrigeration device is a heat exchange element powered by electricity.

According to the air preparation system of the present invention, the electric-powered compression device is used for pressurization and the electric-powered heat exchange element is used for temperature adjustment, which can reduce the system bleed air flow and the system installation space and weight.

According to a preferred embodiment of the air preparation system of the present invention, the main refrigeration device is a semiconductor refrigeration fin, and the cold side of the semiconductor refrigeration fin is in contact with the air flowing through the main refrigeration device.

The advantage of using a semiconductor refrigeration chip to adjust the temperature of the bleed air is at least that: the semiconductor refrigeration chip is a current-transducer type chip, which can realize high-precision temperature control through the control of the input current and the monitoring of the downstream temperature sensor. The use of semiconductor refrigeration fins avoids the defects of traditional heat exchangers, does not require ram air and fans, can avoid the impact of openings on the aerodynamic performance of the aircraft, and can further reduce system installation space and system weight.

According to a preferred embodiment of the air preparation system of the present invention, the compression device is an on-board electric compressor, and the on-board electric compressor supercharges the air flowing through the compression device by electric energy.

The advantage of using an onboard electric compressor to pressurize the bleed air is at least that it does not require additional bleed air from the air supply system, which reduces the consumption of bleed air.

According to a preferred embodiment of the air preparation system of the present invention, it further includes a pre-cooling device, wherein:

The pre-cooling device is a heat exchange element powered by electricity,

The pre-refrigeration device is arranged between the air inlet and the compression device and is in fluid communication with the air inlet and the compression device,

The pre-cooling device reduces the temperature of the air flowing through the pre-cooling device.

The setting of the pre-refrigeration device can pre-adjust the temperature of the air entering the compression device according to actual needs, so that the compression effect of the compression device is more ideal.

According to a preferred embodiment of the air preparation system of the present invention, the pre-cooling device is a semiconductor cooling fin, and the cold side of the semiconductor cooling fin is in contact with the air flowing through the pre-cooling device.

The advantage of using a semiconductor refrigeration chip to adjust the temperature of the bleed air is at least that: the semiconductor refrigeration chip is a current-transducer type chip, which can realize high-precision temperature control through the control of the input current and the monitoring of the downstream temperature sensor. The use of semiconductor refrigeration fins avoids the defects of traditional heat exchangers, does not require ram air and fans, can avoid the impact of openings on the aerodynamic performance of the aircraft, and can further reduce system installation space and system weight.

According to a preferred embodiment of the air preparation system of the present invention, an anti-surge valve is arranged upstream of the compression device, and a feedback loop connected to the anti-surge valve is arranged downstream of the compression device, and the feedback loop will leave The air of the compression device is fed back to the anti-surge valve.

The setting of the anti-surge valve and its coordinated feedback loop helps to avoid the reflux of the compressed high-pressure gas and the surge of the compressor.

According to a preferred embodiment of the air preparation system of the present invention, a temperature control valve is arranged downstream of the compression device and upstream of the main refrigeration device, and the temperature control valve is in communication with a bypass branch. It bypasses the main refrigeration device and communicates to the downstream of the main refrigeration device.

By adding the temperature control bypass branch, the temperature control accuracy is improved. Especially in the high-altitude cruise stage, the temperature of the outside atmosphere is low, and the bleed air flow required for fuel inerting is small, which easily causes the system outlet temperature to be too low. The technical solution of the present invention adds a temperature control bypass branch, so that the opening of the temperature control valve can be adjusted according to the system outlet temperature. The hot air in the bypass branch is appropriately mixed with the gas cooled by the main refrigeration device before being supplied. The fuel inerting system prevents the pilot temperature from being too low and affecting the performance of the fuel inerting system.

According to a preferred embodiment of the air preparation system of the present invention, the air preparation system includes a control system, wherein:

The control system includes a controller for controlling the air state in the air preparation system,

The control system further includes a first sensor arranged downstream of the compression device for monitoring the state of the air leaving the compression device, the first sensor sending the detected signal to the controller,

The control system further includes a second sensor arranged downstream of the main refrigeration device for monitoring the state of the air leaving the main refrigeration device, and the second sensor sends the detected signal to the controller.

The sensor downstream of the compressor monitors the bleed air status at the compressor outlet, the sensor at the outlet of the air preparation system (downstream of the main refrigeration device) and the bleed air status at the outlet of the monitoring system prevent high temperature or high pressure gas from affecting the downstream system.

According to a preferred embodiment of the air preparation system of the present invention, the controller is configured to control the compression device and/or the main refrigeration device according to the signal sent by the first sensor and/or the second sensor. The running status is controlled.

Controlling the air preparation system based on the detected air state, especially real-time dynamic control, can greatly help to obtain air with desired characteristics.

According to a preferred embodiment of the air preparation system of the present invention, the first sensor and the second sensor include a temperature sensor and/or a pressure sensor.

The pressure sensor and/or temperature sensor downstream of the compressor monitors the bleed air pressure and temperature at the compressor outlet, so as to provide the control system with accurate bleed air pressure and temperature data at that location. The pressure sensor and/or temperature sensor at the outlet of the air preparation system (downstream of the main refrigeration device) monitors the bleed air pressure and temperature at the system outlet, so as to provide the control system with accurate bleed air pressure and temperature data at that location.

In summary, the beneficial effects of the air preparation system according to the present invention are at least as follows:

(1) It can reduce the system bleed air flow, installation space and weight; and

(2) Improve the accuracy of temperature and pressure control.

It should be understood that the general description above and the detailed description below illustrate various embodiments and are intended to provide an overview or framework for understanding the nature and characteristics of the claimed subject matter. This document includes drawings to provide further understanding of the various embodiments. The drawings are incorporated into this specification and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate various embodiments described herein, and together with the text description are used to explain the principles and operations of the claimed subject matter.

Description of the drawings

With reference to the above objectives, the technical features of the present invention are clearly described in the following, and its advantages are apparent from the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention by way of example, without limiting the scope of the present invention. range.

In the attached picture:

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment of an air preparation system according to the present invention.

List of reference signs

100 Air Preparation System

110 air inlet

111 Flow control valve

120 Air outlet

130 Compression device

140 Main refrigeration unit

150 pre-cooling device

160 Anti-Asthma Valve

170 feedback loop

180 Temperature control valve

190 Bypass Branch Road

191 Flow adjustment device

200 control system

210 Controller

220 The first sensor

230 second sensor

Detailed ways

The embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail, and examples of these embodiments are shown in the drawings and described below. Although the present invention will be described in conjunction with exemplary embodiments, it should be appreciated that this specification is not intended to limit the present invention to those illustrated embodiments. On the contrary, the present invention is intended to cover not only these exemplary embodiments, but also various alternative forms, modifications, equivalent forms, and other embodiments that can be included within the spirit and scope of the present invention. In order to facilitate the explanation and precise definition of the technical solutions of the present invention, the terms "upper", "lower", "inner" and "outer" are used to refer to the positions of the features of the exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings to compare these features. Describe.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram of an air preparation system 100 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As can be seen from FIG. 1, the air preparation system 100 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention includes: an air inlet 110, an air outlet 120, a compression device 130 and a main refrigeration device 140. These components and their advantageous embodiments are described below.

The air inlet 110 is used to introduce air into the air preparation system 100. In practical applications, the air inlet 110 may be the outlet of a previous system, such as an air source system. In other words, the air of the air preparation system 100 can be supplied by an air source.

The air inlet 110 may include a flow regulating valve 111, which is located upstream of the air preparation system 100. The flow regulating valve 111 is used to adjust the flow and pressure of the air entering the air preparation system, that is, to adjust the bleed air pressure, and can be used to open or close the air inlet 110, that is, to open or close the air preparation system.

The air outlet 120 is used to send the air processed by the air preparation system 100 out of the air preparation system 100. Preferably, the air outlet 120 can be directly connected to the next system, such as an inerting system.

The compression device 130 is arranged between the air inlet 110 and the air outlet 120 and is in fluid communication with the air inlet 110 and the air outlet 120. The compression device 130 pressurizes the air flowing through the compression device 130. In addition, the compression device 130 is a compression device powered by electricity. In other words, the energy used for compression of the compression device 130 is supplied by the power source. The power source may be an on-board generator, for example. More specifically, the compression device 130 may be configured as an onboard electric compressor, and the onboard electric compressor pressurizes the air flowing through the compression device 130 with electric energy.

As also shown in the preferred embodiment in FIG. 1, an anti-surge valve 160 may be arranged upstream of the compression device 130, and a feedback loop 170 connected to the anti-surge valve 160 may be arranged downstream of the compression device 130. Among them, the feedback loop 170 can be used to feed back the air leaving the compression device 130 to the anti-surge valve 160.

It should be noted that when the pressure of the bleed air from the gas source is sufficient, the compression device 130 (for example, an electric compressor) does not work or shuts down, and the bleed air can be directly adjusted by the main refrigeration device 140 described below to enter the inerting system.

The main refrigeration device 140 is arranged between the compression device 130 and the air outlet 120 and is in fluid communication with the compression device 130 and the air outlet 120, and the main refrigeration device 140 reduces the temperature of the air flowing through the main refrigeration device 140. In addition, the main refrigeration device 140 is a heat exchange element powered by electricity. In other words, the cooling energy of the main cooling device 140 is supplied by the power source. The power source may be an on-board generator, for example. More specifically, the main refrigeration device 140 may be configured as a peltier fin, and the cold side of the pelmet is in contact with the air flowing through the main refrigeration device 140. The main refrigeration device 140 may include one or more semiconductor refrigeration fins, for example. The semiconductor refrigeration fins may preferably be arranged around the air flow channel in the main refrigeration device 140 so as to better cool the air flowing through the main refrigeration device 140.

As also shown in the preferred embodiment in FIG. 1, a temperature control valve 180 may be arranged downstream of the compression device 130 and upstream of the main refrigeration device 140. The temperature control valve 180 may communicate with the bypass branch 190. Wherein, the bypass branch 190 can bypass the main refrigeration device 140 and communicate to the downstream of the main refrigeration device 140. The bypass branch 190 may also be provided with a flow adjustment device 191 to adjust the flow rate through the bypass branch 190.

In a preferred embodiment, the air preparation system of the present invention may further include a pre-refrigeration device 150. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the pre-cooling device 150 may be arranged between the air inlet 110 and the compression device 130 and in fluid communication with the air inlet 110 and the compression device 130. The pre-cooling device 150 reduces the temperature of the air flowing through the pre-cooling device 150. In the case where the pre-refrigeration device 150 is arranged, the bleed air is cooled by the pre-refrigeration device 150 before flowing through the compression device 130 and then enters the compression device 130 to be pressurized.

The pre-cooling device 150 may preferably adopt an electrically-powered heat exchange element similar to that of the main cooling device 140. For example, similar to the main cooling device 140, the pre-cooling device 150 may also be a peltier, and the cold side of the peltier is in contact with the air flowing through the pre-cooling device 150. Since the cooling requirements of the pre-cooling device 150 are often not as large as the main cooling device 140, the cooling effect and installation scale of the cooling fins of the pre-cooling device 150 may be smaller than that of the main cooling device 140.

Preferably, the air preparation system 100 may include a control system 200. As shown in the preferred embodiment in FIG. 1, the control system 200 may include a controller 210. The control system 200 may further include a first sensor 220 and a second sensor 230.

The controller 210 may be connected with one or more of all the components in the air preparation system 100 to control them. For example, the controller 210 can control the flow regulating valve 111, the pre-cooling device 150, the anti-surge valve 160, the compression device 130, the first sensor 220, the temperature control valve 180, the main refrigeration device 140, and the second sensor 230. In order to realize the above-mentioned control, the controller 210 may communicate with the above-mentioned components through common technical means in the art, so as to realize the transmission of corresponding control signals.

The above-mentioned first sensor 220 is arranged downstream of the compression device 130 and is used to monitor the state of the air leaving the compression device 130. As described above, the first sensor 220 may send the detected signal to the controller 210 for the controller 210 to control the compression device 130 and/or the anti-surge valve 160 according to the signal. The first sensor 220 may include, for example, a temperature sensor and/or a pressure sensor. The temperature sensor and the pressure sensor can monitor the temperature and pressure of the bleed air leaving the compression device 130.

The above-mentioned second sensor 230 is arranged downstream of the main refrigeration device 140 and is used to monitor the state of the air leaving the main refrigeration device 140. As described above, the second sensor 230 may send the detected signal to the controller 210 for the controller 210 to control the main refrigeration device 140 and/or the temperature control valve 180 according to the signal. The second sensor 230 may include, for example, a temperature sensor and/or a pressure sensor. The temperature sensor and the pressure sensor can monitor the temperature and pressure of the bleed air leaving the main refrigeration device 140.

For example, the control system 200 may be configured to: when the bleed air pressure from the air inlet area 110 (for example, the air source) is too low, the controller 210 of the air preparation system 100 follows the downstream of the main refrigeration device 140 (for example, the main semiconductor refrigeration fin) The value of the sensor 230 (for example, a pressure sensor) drives the compression device 130 (for example, an on-board electric compressor) to work. The pressurized gas enters the inerting system after the temperature is adjusted by the main semiconductor refrigeration film and the temperature control valve.

Similarly, the control system 200 can perform various controls on the air preparation system 100 by monitoring other signals, which will not be repeated here.

The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, but it should be understood that, if necessary, aspects of the embodiments can be modified to adopt aspects, features, and concepts of various patents, applications, and publications to provide additional embodiments.

In view of the above detailed description, these and other changes can be made to the embodiments. Generally speaking, in the claims, the terms used should not be construed as limiting the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification and claims, but should be construed as including all possible embodiments together with all equivalents enjoyed by these claims. range.

Claims (10)

An air preparation system (100), comprising: an air inlet (110), an air outlet (120), a compression device (130) and a main refrigeration device (140), wherein: The air inlet (110) is used to introduce air into the air preparation system (100), The air outlet (120) is used to send the air processed by the air preparation system (100) from the air preparation system (100), The compression device (130) is arranged between the air inlet (110) and the air outlet (120) and is in fluid communication with the air inlet (110) and the air outlet (120), the compression device (130) pressurize the air flowing through the compression device (130), The main refrigeration device (140) is arranged between the compression device (130) and the air outlet (120) and is in fluid communication with the compression device (130) and the air outlet (120). The refrigeration device (140) reduces the temperature of the air flowing through the main refrigeration device (140), It is characterized by The compression device (130) is a compression device powered by electricity, and the main refrigeration device (140) is a heat exchange element powered by electricity. The air preparation system (100) according to claim 1, wherein: The main refrigeration device (140) is a semiconductor refrigeration fin, and the cold side of the semiconductor refrigeration fin is in contact with the air flowing through the main refrigeration device (140). The air preparation system (100) according to claim 1, wherein: The compression device (130) is an onboard electric compressor, and the onboard electric compressor pressurizes the air flowing through the compression device (130) through electric energy. The air preparation system (100) according to claim 1, wherein: It also includes a pre-cooling device (150), in which, The pre-cooling device (150) is a heat exchange element powered by electricity, The pre-refrigeration device (150) is arranged between the air inlet (110) and the compression device (130) and is in fluid communication with the air inlet (110) and the compression device (130), The pre-cooling device (150) reduces the temperature of the air flowing through the pre-cooling device (150). The air preparation system (100) according to claim 4, characterized in that: The pre-cooling device (150) is a semiconductor refrigeration fin, and the cold side of the semiconductor refrigeration fin is in contact with the air flowing through the pre-cooling device (150). The air preparation system (100) according to claim 1, wherein: An anti-surge valve (160) is arranged upstream of the compression device (130), and a feedback loop (170) connected to the anti-surge valve (160) is arranged downstream of the compression device (130). The feedback The circuit (170) feeds back the air leaving the compression device (130) to the anti-surge valve (160). The air preparation system (100) according to claim 1, wherein: A temperature control valve (180) is arranged downstream of the compression device (130) and upstream of the main refrigeration device (140), the temperature control valve (180) is in communication with a bypass branch (190), and the bypass The through branch (190) bypasses the main refrigeration device (140) and communicates to the downstream of the main refrigeration device (140). The air preparation system (100) according to claim 1, wherein: The air preparation system (100) includes a control system (200), wherein: The control system (200) includes a controller (210) for controlling the air state in the air preparation system (100), The control system (200) also includes a first sensor (220) arranged downstream of the compression device (130) for monitoring the state of the air leaving the compression device (130), the first sensor (220) The detected signal is sent to the controller (210), The control system (200) also includes a second sensor (230) arranged downstream of the main refrigeration device (140) for monitoring the state of the air leaving the main refrigeration device (140), the second sensor (230) ) Send the detected signal to the controller (210). The air preparation system (100) according to claim 8, characterized in that: The controller (210) is configured to control the compression device (130) and/or the main refrigeration device (130) and/or the main refrigeration device (130) according to the signal sent by the first sensor (220) and/or the second sensor (230). 140) to control the operating status. The air preparation system (100) according to claim 8, characterized in that: The first sensor (220) and the second sensor (230) include temperature sensors and/or pressure sensors.

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