Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02490588 2004-12-21
AIR DISPERSION SYSTEM
Field of the invention
The invention relates to an air dispersion system or air distribution system,
e.g. for
homogenizing a thermal load dispersion or distribution within a chamber, in
particular, the heat dispersion or distribution within a cabin of an aircraft.
Technical background
In order to control or regulate the cabin temperature of an aircraft, the
cabin typically
is subdivided into a certain number of temperature zones. However, it is also
possible
that the distribution of the heat sources and heat sinks in the zone is
inhomogeneous.
This is the case, for example, when the seating density within the zone
varies. A high
density of passengers forms a heat source, while an empty door area represents
a heat
sink. The result is that in regions with a heat source, a warmer temperature
prevails
and, conversely, in a region with heat sinks, a colder temperature prevails.
An
inhomogeneous temperature distribution within the zone, however, connotes a
restriction of thermal comfort.
Whether there is an inhomogeneous distribution of the heat sources and heat
sinks
depends, then, on the individual arrangement of the seat layout. This can
appear
differently for each aircraft customer.
In order to counteract the inhomogeneity of the thermal load distribution
within a
temperature zone, typically the supply amount through the air outlets is
reduced at the
positions with colder supply temperature, whereby the temperature level of the
corresponding cabin part is raised. One disadvantage of reducing the air
volume,
however, is that the air distribution system must be calibrated anew, which is
connected with a large expenditure of time.
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DE 43 35 152 Cl discloses a cabin air circulation system for air conditioning
of the
fuselage of a passenger aircraft. This cabin air circulation system regulates
the fresh
air volume flow including the temperature monitoring for the fuselage pressure
of a
passenger aircraft and allows a high degree of purity of the air-conditioned
air. The
temperature regulation takes place by means of a separate heat exchanger in
the
circulating air.
DE 195 90 773 C1 discloses a ventilation system for reducing the concentration
of
impurities in passenger areas, in particular, in the smoking zones.
DE 44 25 871 C2 discloses a method for air conditioning two passenger decks of
an
aircraft. For temperature adjustment, air conditioning systems are used,
respectively
for an upper deck circuit and a main deck circuit. In each air conditioning
system, the
drawn air removed from the drive works is cooled. The air conditioning
aggregates,
in addition, are connected to an exterior air line, in order to cool the hot
drawn air
from the drive works with external air during operation.
Summary of the invention
According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an air
dispersion
system is provided which may have at least one main supply line, through which
air is
distributed via respective exhaust routes with a predetermined pressure to air
outlets
and is blown into respective temperature zone regions. The air dispersion
system of
the present invention further has at least one heating element, which is
associated with
at least one of the air outlets and tempers the air, which flows in a
corresponding
exhaust route of this air outlet, to a predetermined temperature, and the
heated air can
blow out into a corresponding region.
It is believed that this air dispersion system according to an exemplary
embodiment of
the present invention may allow for a homogenous temperature distribution in
each
zone.
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According to a further embodiment of the invention, the air dispersion or
distribution
system has auxiliary supply lines, which branch off from the main supply line,
whereby the individual air outlets are supplied with air individually via an
auxiliary
line.
In this manner, for example, the heating element can be mounted in the area of
the
auxiliary supply line, in order to heat the air flowing therethrough, before
it exits into
the respective region via the air outlet.
Since each temperature zone is supplied by an air outlet (or a group of air
outlets),
with failure or malfunction of one auxiliary supply line, it is believed that
only the
corresponding air outlet (or the group of air outlets) is affected, and the
manner of
functioning of the remaining air outlets, which are not supplied via this
auxiliary
supply line, remains essentially maintained.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the air
supply
takes place from air outlet to air outlet, which may have the advantage that
the air
dispersion system has a simpler structure.
According to still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the
heating
element is mounted, for example, on the air discharge side and/or the air
inlet side of
an air outlet, in order to heat the air flowing therethrough, before it is
blown out into a
corresponding region.
Detailed description of exemplary embodiments
Further exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described with
reference to
the accompanying figures. In the figures:
Figure 1 shows a cross section through an aircraft cabin;
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Figure 2 shows a schematic view of the air dispersion system of the air craft
cabin
shown in Figure 1 according to a first exemplary embodiment;
Figure 3 shows a schematic view of the air dispersion system of the aircraft
cabin
shown in Figure 1 according to a second exemplary embodiment;
Figure 4 shows a installation point for the heating system with the air
dispersion
system shown in Figure 3; and
Figure 5 shows a side view from the right of the air outlet shown in Figure 4.
In the figures, the same or similar elements will be provided with the same
reference
numerals.
Fig. 1 shows a section through an aircraft cabin 1, which is subdivided into a
certain
number of temperature zones 2. In Fig. 1, for example, in the left half, a
first
temperature zone 2a is shown and in the right half, a second temperature zone
2b is
shown.
Via air outlets 3, the temperature zones 2 are supplied with air. In
particular, for
example, air is blown into the temperature zone 2a via the air outlet 3a, and
via the air
outlet 3b, air is blown into the temperature zone 2b.
The air outlets 3a, 3b shown in Fig. 1 are arranged in the upper region
(ceiling region)
of the aircraft cabin, but, however, can be formed at any other desired
position within
the cabin.
In addition, Fig. 1 shows sensors 4, for example, temperature sensors 4a, 4b,
which
are arranged respectively in each temperature zone 2a, 2b in the upper region
(ceiling
region) of the cabin. The temperature zones can be arranged alternatively
virtually at
any position within the temperature zone. The sensor may be positioned within
the
temperature zone 2 at a position, which corresponds to the mean temperature of
the
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temperature zone (not thermal load). This temperature results naturally from
the
thermal load within the temperature zone. With these temperature sensors 4a,
4b, the
temperature within a temperature zone 2 is typically measured at the point,
which
corresponds with the mean temperature in the zone. The engaged local
temperatures
are affected, therefore, by the occurring thermal load (sources and sinks).
Fig. 1 further shows seats, for example, for receiving passengers. In one
region of the
aircraft cabin, in which many seats 5 occupied with passengers is located,
generally
the temperature of this temperature zone 2 is greater than the temperature in
a region
of the cabin, in which few or no occupied seats 5 are located (a minimal
seating
density), for example, in the area of the door. The region with many seats,
then,
represents a heat source, for example, and the region at the door represents a
heat
sink.
Fig. 2 shows a schematic view of the air dispersion system in the aircraft
cabin shown
in Fig. 1 according to a first exemplary embodiment. This air dispersion
system has a
main supply line 6, via which multiple air outlets 3 are supplied with air. In
the
figure, for purposes of simplicity, the air outlet 3c according to Fig. 1 is
shown. Each
air outlet 3 is associated with a specific temperature zone 2. The air outlet
3a, then,
supplies the temperature zone 2a with air.
From the main supply line 6, a plurality of auxiliary supply lines 7 branch
off, in order
to supply the individual air outlets 3, respectively, with air. Therefore, the
air exhaust
routes of an air outlet 3 are defined by a corresponding auxiliary line 7
supplying it
with air and by an air route within the air outlet to the exhaust side of the
air from the
air outlet.
Alternatively, also only one group of air outlets 3 can be connected via an
individual
auxiliary supply line 7 with the main supply line 6, so that air is fed via
the main
supply line 6 and the individual auxiliary supply line 7 to the group of air
outlets.
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Fig. 2 shows further a heating element 8, which is formed on the auxiliary
supply line
7a, which supplies the air outlet 3a with air, which is blown heated into the
temperature zone 2a, when the heating element 8 is in operation.
The heating element 8 can be a heating coil, for example, an electrical
heater, or the
like. The heating element can be located within the auxiliary supply line 7a,
so that
any air flow flowing through the auxiliary supply line 7a comes into contact
with the
heating element 8 and is thereby heated in an effective manner.
Alternatively, it is possible to mount the heating element 8 externally on the
auxiliary
supply line 7a, so that no direct contact with the air flowing in the
auxiliary supply
line 7a occurs. This has the advantage that the heating element 8 can be
installed
subsequently, without having to engage in the tube line system.
The air heated by the heating element 8 is fed to the air outlet 3a and is
blown out via
air nozzles 9a into the temperature zone 2a.
Fig. 3 shows a schematic view of an air dispersion system in the aircraft
cabin shown
in Fig. 1, according to a second exemplary embodiment.
With this air dispersion system, a main supply line 6a branches off into a
left supply
line 6a and a right supply line 6b. Via the left supply line 6a, one group of
air outlets
is supplied with air (for purposes of simplicity, only one air outlet 3a is
shown in the
figure), whereby the air outlets are connected directly among each other, so
that an air
supply from air outlet to air outlet is ensured. Each air outlet 3 has air
nozzles 9, via
which the air is blown out into a temperature zone 2.
In contrast to the first embodiment, a heating element 8 is located directly
on an air
outlet 3a, in order to blow out heated air via air nozzles 9a. The heating
element 8 can
be formed integrally with this on the air inlet side and/or air exhaust side
of the air
outlet 3a, in order to heat air first on the ends of an exhaust route of the
air outlet 3a.
In this manner, a heating element can be used with less heat output, compared
with
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the first exemplary embodiment, in which air already is heated relative to the
beginning of an exhaust route.
The heating element 8 also can be formed separately and, for example, can be
inserted
into the air nozzles 9a of the air outlet 3a, whereby an exchange or a
subsequent
installation of the heating element 8 is very simple.
As shown in Fig. 3, only the air outlet 3a is provided with a heating element,
so that
only the air blown out from this air outlet is heated, and with reference to
the supply
air flow, air outlets 3 lying upstream or downstream are not affected; that
is, air blown
out through these air outlets is not heated.
In the first exemplary embodiment according to Fig. 2 and the second exemplary
embodiment shown in Fig. 3, respectively, only one heating element 8 is shown
by
way of example. Depending on the requirements, however, also multiple air
outlets 3
can be associated with a heating element 8 or multiple heating elements 8. The
heating element 8, then, preferably is associated with an air outlet 3, in
order to heat
air in its exhaust route, when this air outlet 3 lies in a so-called heat
sink. Such a heat
sink can be formed, for example, by a door area.
Alternatively, the heating element also can be used in the standard manner for
all of
the air outlets 3, in order to temper accordingly the air blown out from the
air outlets
to a predetermined temperature, whereby the heat output of the heating element
can
be dispersed differently. Preferably, the heat output of the heating element,
which is
located in the region of a heat sink, is greater than that of a heating
element which is
located in the region of a heat source. A heat source, for example, is formed
by a high
density of passengers.
As with the first exemplary embodiment, a heating element 8 can be a heating
coil, an
electric heater, or the like, for example.
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The heat output of the heating element 8, for example, can be constant or
adjustable
both in the first exemplary embodiment as well as in the second exemplary
embodiment.
Preferably, the heat output is regulated with the aid of the temperature
sensors 4
shown in Fig. 1 (sensors 4a, and/or 4b), such that the exhaust route of an air
outlet is
heated, in order to raise the temperature level of regions that are too cold
to the
temperature level of the sensor point.
Fig. 4 shows a possible installation point for the heating element 8.
According to this exemplary embodiment, the heating element 8 is formed on the
air
exhaust side of the air outlet 3, so that the air blown out through the air
nozzles 9 is
heated. However, it also can be formed on an air inlet side of the air outlet
3.
When the air outlet 3 has multiple air nozzles 9, it is possible that the
heating element
8 extends only over a part of the air nozzles 9.
Fig. 5 shows a side view of the outlet shown in Fig. 4 from the right. As
shown in Fig.
5, the air outlet 3 is supplied from the right with air, which exits
downwardly in part
over the air nozzles 9 and in part, flows further to the left, in order to
supply the air
outlets lying downstream shown in Fig. 3. The exhaust air flow branching off
downwardly from the supply air flow (that is, the air exhaust route) is heated
by the
heating element 8 formed directly on the air outlet 3, so that heated air is
blown into a
corresponding temperature zone 2, which is associated with this air outlet 3.
The exhaust route of the air outlet 3, then, is heated by the heating element
8, so that
heated air is blown into a temperature zone 2.
Although the invention is described above with reference to an aircraft cabin,
it is
obvious to the practitioner to modify the air dispersion system of the present
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invention, such that it also can be used in a bus, a PKW, a train, etc., and
such is
contemplated as part of the invention disclosed herein.
It should be noted that the term "comprising" does not exclude other elements
or steps
and the "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. Also elements described in
association with different embodiments may be combined.
The scope of the claims should not be limited by the preferred embodiments set
forth
in the foregoing examples, but should be given the broadest interpretation
consistent
with the description as a whole.
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CAL LAW11092296\4
