TECHNICAL FIELD
The embodiments disclosed herein relate to a heat exchanger assembly, and in particular to a heat exchanger system and method used to cool or heat air and/or a space, such as the interior of an airplane.
INTRODUCTION
Heat exchange systems for cooling or heating air and/or spaces are well-known. Nonetheless, there remains a need for more flexible and efficient heat exchange systems and methods.
SUMMARY
In accordance with an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a heat exchange system comprising an airflow source for providing an airflow, at least one air conduit, a heat exchange medium flow source for providing a heat exchange medium flow, and at least one heat exchange medium conduit. For each air conduit of the at least one air conduit, that air conduit defines an airflow path for receiving the airflow from the airflow source, the air conduit having an upwind portion and a downwind portion such that the airflow passes through the air conduit from the upwind portion to the downwind portion. Each heat exchange medium conduit of the at least one heat exchange medium conduit i) defines a heat exchange medium flow path for receiving the heat exchange medium flow from the heat exchange medium flow source; ii) further comprises a heat exchanger for transferring heat between the airflow within a corresponding air conduit of the at least one air conduit and the heat exchange medium flow within that heat exchange medium conduit; and iii) is inside the corresponding air conduit of the at least one air conduit.
In some embodiments, the heat exchange medium is either slurry ice for cooling the airflow or a heated fluid for heating the airflow.
In some embodiments, for each heat exchange medium conduit of the at least one heat exchange medium conduit, i) the heat exchange medium flow source supplies the heat exchange medium flow to an upstream end of that heat exchange medium conduit; ii) the heat exchange medium flow is through the heat exchange medium conduit from the upstream end to a downstream end; iii) the heat exchange medium flow is dischargeable from the downstream end of that heat exchange medium conduit; and iv) both the upstream end and the downstream end are located in the upwind portion of the corresponding air conduit.
In some embodiments, i) the at least one air conduit comprises a plurality of air conduits; and ii) the at least one heat exchange medium conduit comprises a plurality of heat exchange medium conduits.
In some embodiments, the downwind portion of each air conduit of the at least one air conduit is movable relative to the upwind portion of that air conduit.
In some embodiments, each air conduit of the at least one air conduit comprises an at least one heat exchange medium conduit holder, and the at least one heat exchange medium conduit holder holds a heat exchange medium conduit of the at least one heat exchange medium conduit away from an inner surface of the air conduit to define an airflow gap for a portion of the airflow between the inner surface of the air conduit and the heat exchange medium conduit of the at least one heat exchange medium conduit.
In some embodiments, each heat exchange medium conduit of the at least one heat exchange medium conduit comprises i) an upstream heat exchange medium artery for providing the heat exchange medium flow from the upwind portion of the corresponding air conduit to the downwind portion of the corresponding air conduit; and ii) a downstream heat exchange medium vein for receiving the heat exchange medium flow from the upstream heat exchange medium artery, and for providing the heat exchange medium flow from the downwind portion of the corresponding air conduit back to the upwind portion of the corresponding air conduit. The at least one heat exchange medium conduit holder of each air conduit of the at least one air conduit holds the upstream heat exchange medium artery and the downstream heat exchange medium vein apart to define a heat exchange medium conduit gap, and each heat exchange medium conduit of the at least one heat exchange medium conduit receives the heat exchange medium flow from the heat exchange medium flow source.
In some embodiments, the heat exchange system further comprises an air conduit reel including an air manifold in fluid communication with the airflow source, and a heat exchange medium manifold in fluid communication with the heat exchange medium flow source. The at least one air conduit comprises a plurality of air conduits. The plurality of air conduits are aligned to provide substantially parallel airflow paths and to define a first wrapping plane and a second wrapping plane; the substantially parallel airflow paths being disposed side-by-side between the first wrapping plane and the second wrapping plane; and the plurality of air conduits being wrappable around the air conduit reel without blocking the substantially parallel airflow paths. For each air conduit in the plurality of air conduits, the upwind portion is attached to the air conduit reel; and is in fluid communication with the air manifold to receive the airflow from the airflow source via the air conduit reel. The at least one heat exchange medium conduit comprises a plurality of heat exchange medium conduits. For each heat exchange medium conduit in the plurality of heat exchange medium conduits, an upstream portion of that heat exchange conduit receives the heat exchange medium flow from the heat exchange medium flow source via the air conduit reel; and the upstream portion is in fluid communication with the heat exchange medium manifold of the air conduit reel.
In some embodiments, a substantially planar air conduit guide extending through the first wrapping plane attaches to the plurality of air conduits. The substantially planar air conduit guide is bendable about a bending axis parallel to the first wrapping plane and the second wrapping plane, and orthogonal to the substantially parallel airflow paths while resisting bending about other axes not parallel to the bending axis.
In some embodiments, the planar air conduit guide comprises a plurality of supply electric power cables, a plurality of fluid conduits, and a plurality of compressed air hoses in parallel with the plurality of the air conduits.
In some embodiments, the heat exchange system further comprises an air mixing box and a hose. For each air conduit of the plurality of air conduits, the downwind portion is attached to the air mixing box and the air mixing box is in fluid communication with the plurality of air conduits to receive the airflow from the airflow source. If the heat exchange medium is slurry ice, the air mixing box can comprise an air manifold in fluid communication with the airflow source; and a filter for removing moisture from the airflow. The hose is in fluid communication with the air manifold of the air mixing box to receive a dried airflow from the air manifold of the mixing box downwind of the filter; and has a first end attached to the air mixing box and a second end movable relative to the first end and the second end; is positionable relative to an aircraft to provide the dried airflow from the air mixing box to the aircraft.
In some embodiments, the heat exchange system further comprises an air mixing box and a hose. For each air conduit of the plurality of air conduits, the downwind portion is attached to the air mixing box and the air mixing box is in fluid communication with the plurality of air conduits to receive the airflow from the airflow source. If the heat exchange medium is heated fluid, the air mixing box can comprise an air manifold in fluid communication with the airflow source; and a humidifier for adding moisture to the airflow. The hose is in fluid communication with the air manifold of the air mixing box to receive a humidified airflow from the air manifold of the mixing box downwind of the filter; and has a first end attached to the air mixing box and a second end movable relative to the first end; the second end is positionable relative to an aircraft to provide the humidified airflow from the air mixing box to the aircraft.
In some embodiments, for each heat exchange medium conduit of the at least one heat exchange medium conduit, the corresponding air conduit comprises an external membrane defining the airflow path, and the external membrane of the corresponding air conduit has a thermal resistance exceeding a thermal resistance of the heat exchanger, such that heat transfer between the airflow inside the corresponding air conduit and the heat exchange medium flow exceeds heat transfer across the external membrane of the corresponding air conduit.
In some embodiments, the heat exchange system may further comprising an air conduit guide for supporting the at least one air conduit and for straightening the airflow path defined by the at least one air conduit.
In some embodiments, the air conduit guide comprises a plurality of supply electric power cables, a plurality of fluid conduits, and a plurality of compressed air hoses in parallel with the plurality of the air conduits.
In some embodiments, the at least one air conduit comprises only a single air conduit.
In some embodiments, at least a portion of the at least one air conduit is telescopic defining an extended length of the at least one air conduit and a retracted length of the at least one air conduit. The heat exchange medium conduit is extendable to at least the extended length of the at least one air conduit and retractable to at least the retracted length of the at least one air conduit, the retracted length being shorter than the extended length. The heat exchange system is attached to an aircraft passenger bridge.
In accordance with an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method for providing cooling to a space. The method involves: providing an airflow along an airflow path; providing a slurry ice flow along a slurry ice flow path, the slurry ice flow path being adjacent to the airflow path, separated by a thermally conductive barrier, the slurry ice flow being provided at a temperature below a temperature of the airflow such that heat is transferred from the airflow to the slurry ice flow via the thermally conductive barrier; and positioning the airflow path to eject a cooled airflow into the space to be cooled.
In some embodiments, the space to be cooled is an interior of a vehicle or an aircraft.
In some embodiments, the described method involves: providing a thermally insulated slurry ice reservoir; filling the thermally insulated slurry ice reservoir with slurry ice; and after filling the thermally insulated slurry ice reservoir with the slurry ice, moving the thermally insulated slurry ice reservoir containing the slurry ice closer to the space to be cooled, such that the airflow path is positionable to eject the cooled airflow into the space to be cooled; wherein providing the slurry ice flow along the slurry ice flow path comprises providing the slurry ice flow to the thermally insulated slurry ice reservoir.
In some embodiments, the described method involves: the slurry ice flow path comprising a slurry ice artery and a slurry ice vein. The slurry ice artery is surrounded by the airflow path; traverses the airflow path in an outgoing direction; and iii) contains the slurry ice flow to cool the airflow within the airflow path. The slurry ice vein is surrounded by the airflow path; traverses the airflow path in an incoming direction, opposite to the outgoing direction; and contains the slurry ice flow to cool the airflow within the airflow path.
In accordance with an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a heat exchange system comprising an airflow source for providing an airflow, at least one air conduit, a heat exchange medium flow source for providing a heat exchange medium flow, and at least one heat exchange medium conduit. For each air conduit of the at least one air conduit, that air conduit defines an airflow path for receiving the airflow from the airflow source, the air conduit having an upwind portion and a downwind portion such that the airflow passes through the air conduit from the upwind portion to the downwind portion. Each heat exchange medium conduit of the at least one heat exchange medium conduit i) defines a heat exchange medium flow path for receiving the heat exchange medium flow from the heat exchange medium flow source; ii) further comprises a heat exchanger for transferring heat between the airflow within a corresponding air conduit of the at least one air conduit and the heat exchange medium flow within that heat exchange medium conduit; and iii) contains the corresponding air conduit of the at least one air conduit is inside.
Other aspects and features will become apparent, to those ordinarily skilled in the art, upon review of the following description of some exemplary embodiments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The drawings included herewith are for illustrating various examples of articles, methods, and apparatuses of the present specification. In the drawings:
FIG. 1A is a side perspective view of a heat exchanger assembly, in accordance with an embodiment;
FIG. 1B is a sectional view of heat exchanger assembly shown in FIG. 1A taken along line 1b-1b;
FIG. 1C is an enlarged view of the heat exchanger assembly shown in FIG. C taken of section 1c;
FIG. 2A is a side perspective view of a heat exchanger assembly, in accordance with an embodiment;
FIG. 2B is a sectional view of heat exchanger assembly shown in FIG. 2A taken along line 2b-2b;
FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a heat exchanger assembly, in accordance with an embodiment;
FIG. 4 is a front plan view of an air conduit reel, an air manifold, and a centrifugal fan, in accordance with an embodiment;
FIG. 5 is a side plan view of an air conduit reel and a guide arm, in accordance with an embodiment;
FIG. 6A is a side plan view of an air mixing box and a preconditioned air hose, in accordance with an embodiment;
FIG. 6B is a sectional view of the air mixing box shown in FIG. 6A taken along line 6b-6b; and
FIG. 7 is a flow chart of a method for cooling a space in accordance with an embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Various apparatuses or processes will be described below to provide an example of each claimed embodiment. No embodiment described below limits any claimed embodiment and any claimed embodiment may cover processes or apparatuses that differ from those described below. The claimed embodiments are not limited to apparatuses or processes having all of the features of any one apparatus or process described below or to features common to multiple or all of the apparatuses described below.
Referring to FIG. 1A, illustrated therein is a heat exchange assembly 100, in accordance with an embodiment. The heat exchange assembly 100 includes a heat exchange system 102, an air mixing box 104, a planar air conduit guide 106, an air conduit reel 108, and a preconditioned air hose 110. The heat exchange assembly 100 can serve a number of functions, such as the cooling or heating of any space. For example, the cooling of the interior of an airplane, the cooling or heating of the interior of a building, or the cooling or heating of a room in a house. Although the description below discusses slurry ice as a heat exchange medium, it is to be understood that any heat transfer fluid may act as the heat exchange medium, for example, water and common refrigerants.
Referring to FIG. 1B, illustrated therein is a sectional view of the heat exchange assembly 100 of FIG. 1A taken along line 1b-1b. The heat exchange system 102 comprises an airflow source (not shown), at least one air conduit 112, a heat exchange medium flow source (not shown) and at least one heat exchange medium conduit 114. For example, the airflow source may be a fan that blows air from the surrounding environment through each air conduit of the at least one air conduit 112, and the heat exchange medium source may be a slurry ice reservoir that provides slurry ice through each heat exchange medium conduit of the at least one heat exchange medium conduit 114. Each air conduit defines an airflow path 116 for receiving an airflow from the airflow source such that the airflow passes through each air conduit of the at least one air conduit 112 from an upwind portion 118 (shown in FIG. 1A) to a downwind portion 120 (shown in FIG. 1A).
Referring still to FIG. 1B, each heat exchange medium conduit 114 defines a heat exchange medium flow path for receiving a heat exchange medium flow from the heat exchange medium flow source. For example, each heat exchange medium conduit 114 may define a slurry ice flow path along which slurry ice can flow. Each heat exchange medium conduit 114 may be positioned inside a corresponding air conduit 112 to define a heat exchanger, comprising as shown, for example, in FIG. 1B, gap 122 as well as an exterior surface of heat exchange medium conduit 114, such that heat may be transferred between the airflow within gap 122 of that air conduit 112 and the heat exchange medium flow within the heat exchange medium conduit 114 contained within that air conduit 112. Heat exchange medium conduit 114 may run substantially parallel to air conduit 112 and have a similar overall length. In an alternative embodiment, heat exchange medium conduit 114 may run parallel to air conduit 112 in a coiled manner resulting in heat exchange medium conduit 114 having a greater overall length than air conduit 112. For example, the ratio of heat exchange medium conduit 114 to air conduit 112 over a set distance may be 3:1. In an alternative embodiment, for each air conduit of the at least one air conduit 112, that air conduit may be positioned inside a corresponding heat exchanger conduit of the at least one heat exchanger conduit 114. In this alternative embodiment, heat may be transferred between the heat exchange medium flow within the corresponding heat exchange medium conduit 114 and the airflow within the air conduit 112 contained within that heat exchange medium conduit 114.
Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, the heat exchange medium flow source supplies the heat exchange medium flow to an upstream end (not shown) of each heat exchange medium conduit 114 (shown in FIG. 1B). The heat exchange medium flow path is through each heat exchange medium conduit 114 from its upstream end to its downstream end (not shown). The upstream end and the downstream end of each heat exchange medium conduit may be located in the upwind portion 118 (shown in FIG. 1A) of the corresponding air conduit 112 (the air conduit that contains that heat exchange medium conduit) (shown in FIG. 1B). For example, in some embodiments the upstream end of each heat exchange medium flow path begins at the upwind portion 118 of the corresponding air conduit 112. The heat exchange medium flow travels through each heat exchange medium conduit 114 from the upwind portion 118 to the downwind portion 120 of that corresponding air conduit 112. For each heat exchange medium conduit 114, when the heat exchange medium flow enters the downwind portion 120 of the corresponding air conduit 112, that heat exchange medium conduit 114 turns such that the heat exchange medium flow path is directed to back to the upwind portion 118 of the corresponding air conduit 112. Upon reaching the upwind portion 118 of the corresponding air conduit 112, the heat exchange medium flow path ends and the heat exchange medium is dischargeable from the downstream end of that heat exchange medium conduit.
In some embodiments, the heat exchange medium may be slurry ice for cooling the airflow. Alternatively, in other embodiments, the heat exchange medium may be a heated fluid for heating the airflow. Any fluid which promotes heat transfer may be used as a heat exchange medium. In accordance with an embodiment, the supply of the heat exchange medium flow source is a slurry ice supply line (not shown) extending from a slurry ice generator, located, for example, within an airport hangar, to the heat exchange system 102, 202, and 302 (shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, and 3) located on an airport tarmac. In an alternative embodiment, the slurry ice supply line may be a network of insulated pipes that run, for example, under the airport tarmac and transports slurry ice to any one of a number of locations within the airport. In this embodiment, the heat exchange system 102, 202, and 302 may be used to cool the interior of a stationary airplane on the airport tarmac. In an alternative embodiment, the heat exchange supply line may be a network of insulated pipes that run, for example, underground to a building. In yet another embodiment, the network of insulated pipes may run between multiple buildings, for example, between portable classrooms in a school yard. In accordance with an alternative embodiment, the heat exchange medium supply line may be a network of insulated pipes that run under the airport tarmac and transports a heated fluid. The network of insulated pipes as described in any of the above embodiments may run above the ground, or along the ground in alternative embodiments. In another embodiment, as described below, the heat exchange system may be attached to the base of an aircraft passenger bridge. In alternative embodiments, as described below, the heat exchange system may be attached to an air conduit reel. In alternative embodiments, the slurry ice supply line may be connected to a thermally insulated slurry ice reservoir located close to the heat exchange system 102, 202, and 302 on the airport tarmac. The slurry ice reservoir may have an agitator to keep the frozen components of the slurry ice from separating from the liquid components. In an alternative embodiment, the thermally insulated slurry ice reservoir may be a movable vat, a vehicle with a detachable storage tank, a refrigerated tanker truck, etc. The slurry ice generator may fill the slurry ice reservoir, which may be subsequently moved closer to the heat exchange system 102, 202, and 302 after filling. The described embodiment may also be adapted for use with heated water as the heat exchange medium. In this alternative embodiment, the heat exchange system 102, 202, and 302 may be used to heat a space, such as the interior of an airplane. In an alternative embodiment, the examples described above can be used to heat or cool a building or a room of a building rather than an aircraft.
Referring again to FIG. 1B, in accordance with an embodiment, the at least one air conduit 112 comprises a plurality of air conduits 124 and the at least one heat exchange medium conduit 114 comprises a plurality of heat exchange medium conduits 126. Each air conduit 112 of the plurality of air conduits 124 may comprise at least one heat exchange medium conduit holder 128. Each heat exchange medium holder 128 can hold a heat exchange medium conduit 114 away from an inner surface 130 of the corresponding air conduit 112 to define an air flow gap 132 for a portion of the airflow between the inner surface 130 of the corresponding air conduit 112 and that heat exchange medium conduit 114. With each heat exchange medium conduit 114 held off the inner surface 130 of the corresponding air conduit 112 by a corresponding heat exchange medium holder 128, the surface area of that heat exchange medium conduit 114 in contact with the airflow in the corresponding air conduit 112 can be increased. In this way, the air flow gap 132 may improve the efficiency of heat exchange.
Referring still to FIG. 1B, in accordance with an embodiment, each heat exchange medium conduit 114 may comprise an upstream heat exchange medium artery 134 and a downstream heat exchange medium vein 136 defining a closed-loop artery-vein configuration inside the corresponding air conduit 112. Each heat exchange medium conduit 114 may receive heat exchange medium flow from the heat exchange medium flow source. The upstream heat exchange medium artery 134 can provide the heat exchange medium flow from the upwind portion 118 of the corresponding air conduit 112 to the downwind portion 120 of the same air conduit 112. The downstream heat exchange medium vein 136 receives the heat exchange medium flow from the upstream heat exchange medium artery 134 and provides the heat exchange medium flow from the downwind portion 120 of the corresponding air conduit 112 back to the upwind portion 118 of that air conduit 112. The heat exchange medium flow may then be returned to the heat exchange medium flow source or, alternatively, discharged.
Referring still to FIG. 1B, in accordance with an embodiment, each heat exchange conduit holder 128 of each air conduit 112 may hold the upstream heat exchange medium artery 134 and the downstream heat exchange medium vein 136 apart to define a heat exchange medium conduit gap 138. Providing the heat exchange medium conduit gap 138 may improve the efficiency of the heat exchanger 122 by increasing the surface area of the upstream heat exchange medium artery 134 and the downstream heat exchange medium vein 136 in contact with the airflow in the corresponding air conduit 112.
Referring to FIG. 2A, an embodiment of heat exchange assembly 200 is shown having a heat exchange system 202. The heat exchange assembly 200 includes a heat exchange system 202, an air mixing box 204, a planar air conduit guide 206, an air conduit reel 208, and a preconditioned air hose 210. Referring to FIG. 2B, illustrated therein is a sectional view of the heat exchange assembly 200 of FIG. 2A taken along line 2b-2b. Heat exchange system 202 is similar to heat exchange system 102 except heat exchange system 202 has only a single air conduit 212 including a heat exchange medium conduit 214. Air conduit 212 may be larger than an individual air conduit 112 of heat exchange assembly 100. Increasing the diameter of air conduit 112 may reduce an internal pressure drop along heat exchange assembly 200. Each heat exchange medium conduit 214 may be positioned inside air conduit 212 to define a heat exchanger, comprising, as shown, for example, in FIG. 2B, gap 222 as well as an exterior surface of heat exchange medium conduit 214, such that heat may be transferred between the airflow within that air conduit 212 and the heat exchange medium flow within the heat exchange medium conduit 214 contained within that air conduit 212. The air conduit 212 may include at least one heat exchange medium conduit holder 228 for holding the heat exchange medium conduit 214 away from an inner surface 230 of the air conduit 212 to define an air flow gap 232.
Referring still to FIG. 2B, heat exchange medium conduit 214 may comprise an upstream heat exchange medium artery 234 and a downstream heat exchange medium vein 236 defining a closed-loop artery-vein configuration inside the corresponding air conduit 212. Each heat exchange medium conduit 214 may receive heat exchange medium flow from the heat exchange medium flow source. The upstream heat exchange medium artery 234 can provide the heat exchange medium flow from the upwind portion 218 of the air conduit 212 to the downwind portion 220 of the air conduit 212. The downstream heat exchange medium vein 236 can receive the heat exchange medium flow from the upstream heat exchange medium artery 234 and provide the heat exchange medium flow from the downwind portion 220 of the air conduit 212 back to the upwind portion 218 of air conduit 212. The heat exchange medium flow may then be returned to the heat exchange medium flow source or, alternatively, discharged.
Referring to FIG. 3, an embodiment of heat exchange assembly 300 is shown having a heat exchange system 302. Heat exchange system 302 is similar to heat exchange systems 102 and 202 except heat exchange system 302 includes a single air conduit 312 comprising at least one heat exchange medium conduit 314. The air conduit 312 may comprise at least one heat exchange medium conduit holder 328 to hold the heat exchange medium conduit 314 away from an inner surface 330 of the air conduit 312 to define an air flow gap 332.
Referring still to FIG. 3, in accordance with an embodiment, each heat exchange medium conduit 314 may include an upstream heat exchange medium artery 334 and a downstream heat exchange medium vein 336 defining a closed-loop artery-vein configuration inside the air conduit 312. Each heat exchange medium conduit 314 may receive heat exchange medium flow from the heat exchange medium flow source.
When describing additional features of the claimed invention below, reference is made to the embodiment of heat exchange assembly 100 and its components. It should be understood that the description below is not limited to heat exchange assembly 100 and, where applicable, can be applied to heat exchange assembly 200 and heat exchange assembly 300.
Referring to FIG. 4, an embodiment is shown in which the air conduit reel 108 comprises an air manifold 140 that can be in fluid communication with the airflow source and a heat exchange medium manifold 142 that can be in fluid communication with the heat exchange medium flow source. Each air conduit 112 of the plurality of air conduits 124 can be attached at the upwind portion 118 (shown in FIG. 1A) to the air conduit reel 108 to be in fluid communication with the air manifold 140 to receive the airflow source. In some embodiments, the airflow source may be a centrifugal fan 144. The centrifugal fan 144 may be attachable and detachable from the air conduit reel 108. Each heat exchange medium conduit 114 of the plurality of heat exchange medium conduits 126 can receive the heat exchange medium flow source at the upstream end via the heat exchange medium manifold 142 connected to the air conduit reel 108.
Referring again to FIG. 1A, the plurality of air conduits 124 (shown in FIG. 1B) attached to the air conduit reel 108 may be aligned to provide substantially parallel airflow paths and to define a first wrapping plane 146a and a second wrapping plane 148a (shown in FIG. 1B). A Cartesian coordinate system 147 comprising an x-axis (x), a y-axis (y) and a z-axis (z) is superimposed on FIG. 1A to assist in describing the alignment of the plurality of the air conduits 124. The first wrapping plane 146a corresponds to the xz-plane of the Cartesian coordinate system 147 which extends parallel along the plurality of air conduits 124 (i.e. the z-axis) from the origin of the Cartesian coordinate system 147 to the air mixing box 104. The second wrapping plane 148a is parallel to the first wrapping plane 146a, separated by an offset 149 (shown in FIG. 1B) along the y-axis corresponding to the diameter of each air conduit 112 of the plurality of air conduits 124. As illustrated in FIG. 1A, as the air conduit reel 108 can be elevated a distance 151 above a surface 158 to permit wrapping of the plurality of air conduits 124, the substantially parallel airflow path can further define a first wrapping plane 146b and a second wrapping plane (not shown) between the air conduit reel 108 and the origin of the Cartesian coordinate system 147. Both the first wrapping plane 146b and second wrapping plane are slanted versions of the first wrapping plane 146a and the second wrapping plane 148a, respectively, from the origin of the Cartesian coordinate system 147 to the air conduit reel 108.
Referring to FIG. 4, the plurality of air conduits 124 may be wrapped around the air conduit reel 108 without blocking or collapsing the substantially parallel airflow paths. In some embodiments, each of the substantially parallel airflow paths can be kept open to allow for airflow by its corresponding heat exchange conduit holder 128. The plurality of air conduits 124 may be aligned together by a substantially planar air conduit guide 106 (shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B). FIG. 1B shows a planar air conduit guide 106, in accordance with an embodiment, in which the planar air conduit guide 106 aligns the plurality of air conduits 124. In some embodiments, the plurality of air conduits 124 comprises nine 4-inch diameter air hoses. In an alternative embodiment, the plurality of air conduits 124 comprises twenty 2-inch diameter air hoses. Alternative embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, may comprise only a single air conduit 212. A single air conduit 212 may be aligned by a planar air conduit guide 206. With or without planar air conduit guide 206, a single air conduit 212 may be wrapped around an air conduit reel 208 in a similar manner as described above. In other embodiments, the single air conduit 212 may not be sufficiently bendable to wrap around an air conduit reel 208. In still further embodiments, the diameter of each of the plurality of air conduits 124 may vary, and the number of air conduits 124 may also vary.
Referring again to FIGS. 1A and 1B, the planar air conduit guide 106 may extend through the first wrapping plane 146a, 146b and the second wrapping plane 148a. In one embodiment, the planar air conduit guide 106 may be bendable about a bending axis 150 parallel to the first wrapping plane 146a, 146b and the second wrapping plane 148a and orthogonal to the substantially parallel airflow paths while resisting bending about other axes not parallel to the bending axis 150 as to allow the planar air conduit guide to be wrappable around the air conduit reel 108 in either a clockwise 154 or a counterclockwise 156 direction. In an alternative embodiment (not shown), an alternate planar air conduit guide may be bendable about a bending axis parallel to and above the first wrapping plane while resisting bending about all other axes, including axes parallel to the bending axis but on the other side of the planar air conduit guide, being underneath the second wrapping plane. This asymmetrical resistance to bending (bending about the first wrapping plane is facilitated, but bending about the second wrapping plane is resisted, allows the alternate air conduit guide to support the weight of the plurality of conduits 124. In this way, the first wrapping plane and second wrapping planes are not divided into portions (i.e. 146a and 146b; 148a) due to gravity. In this embodiment, the plurality of air conduits 124 may be extended to reach areas off the surface 158 while remaining unbent despite the effect of gravity.
Referring to FIG. 5, illustrated therein is side view of the air conduit reel 108 further comprising a guide arm 156. The guide arm 156 may be spring-loaded and may connect to a roller (not shown) that holds the planar air conduit guide 106 in the center of the air conduit reel 108. The guide arm 156 may be used to assist in wrapping and unwrapping the plurality of air conduits 124 around the air conduit reel 108. The air conduit reel 108 may be used to move the plurality of air conduits 124 from a fully wrapped position (not shown) to a fully unwrapped position (shown in FIG. 1A). The downwind portion 120 of each air conduit 112 can be movable relative to the upwind portion 118 of each air conduit 112. For example, the air conduit reel 108 may be used to unwrap the plurality of air conduits 124 to a position below an airplane for cooling. After cooling has completed, the air conduit reel 108 may be used to remove the plurality of air conduits 124 from the position below the airplane by wrapping the plurality of air conduits 124 about the air conduit reel 108.
In accordance with an embodiment, the planar air conduit guide 106 may rest on the surface 158 when not in the fully wrapped position (shown in FIG. 1A). Referring specifically to FIG. 1B, in accordance with another embodiment, the planar air conduit guide 106 may further comprise at least one pair of wheels 160, which can be attached on adjacent sides of the planar air conduit guide 106 to support the planar air conduit guide 106 on the surface 158 (shown in FIG. 1B).
Referring again to FIG. 4, in accordance with an embodiment, the air conduit reel 108 further comprises a heat exchange medium swivel 162. The heat exchange medium swivel 162 may be connected to the heat exchange medium manifold 142 such that the air conduit reel 108 rotates independently of the heat exchange medium swivel 162 as to prevent a heat exchange medium supply line (not shown) and heat exchange medium discharge line (not shown) from twisting when the air conduit reel 108 is being rotated. FIG. 1C is an enlarged view of FIG. 1A taken of section 1c. In accordance with an embodiment, FIG. 1C shows the heat exchange medium swivel 162 connected to the air conduit reel 108, including a heat exchange medium supply line connection 164 and a heat exchange medium discharge line connection 166 for connecting the heat exchange medium supply line and the heat exchange medium discharge line, respectively. For example, the heat exchange supply line may travel from a slurry ice reservoir (not shown) to the heat exchange medium supply line connection 166, and/or, the heat exchange medium discharge line may travel from the heat exchange medium discharge connection 168 to the slurry ice reservoir.
In an alternative embodiment, at least a portion of the heat exchange assembly 100, 200, or 300 may be attached to the base of an aircraft passenger bridge extending from an airport terminal. For example, heat exchange system 102 may run along the base of the aircraft passenger bridge and air mixing box 104 may be attached to the base of the aircraft passenger bridge at an end opposite to the airport terminal. When an aircraft arrives at the airport terminal, the passenger bridge attaches to the aircraft, and preconditioned air hose 110 can be connected between the aircraft and the air mixing box 104 to deliver the airflow to the aircraft.
In an alternative embodiment, the passenger bridge may be extendable and compressible. The heat exchange system 102 may correspondingly extend and compress. In one example, the heat exchange system 102 may bend back upon itself forming a tortuous path. In a second example, the heat exchange system 102 may telescope within itself. In a third example, the at least one heat exchange medium conduit 114 may telescope while the at least one air conduit 112 may compress. In a forth example, the heat exchange system 102 may correspondingly ravel and unravel on the air conduit reel 108 as the passenger bridge extends and compresses. In a fifth example, the at least one air conduit 112 may be telescopic (different lengthwise portions of the air conduit fitting or nesting within one another, analogous to a telescope) and the heat exchange medium conduit 114 may fold back on itself. In a sixth example, the at least one air conduit 112 may be telescopic and the heat exchange medium conduit 114 may stretch and relax accordingly. The above example do not intend to limit the ways by which the at least one air conduit 112 and the heat exchange medium conduit 114 may extend to a first length and retract to a second length. There may be other methods of extending and compressing the at least one air conduit 112 or the heat exchange medium conduit 114.
As shown in accordance with the embodiment of FIGS. 6A and 6B, the air mixing box 104 comprises an air manifold 170 in fluid communication with the airflow source. Although discussed in reference to heat exchange assembly 100, heat exchange assembly 200 and heat exchange assembly 300 may each include an air mixing box that is similar to air mixing box 104. In accordance with an embodiment wherein the heat exchange medium is slurry ice, the air manifold 170 may include a filter 172 for removing moisture from the airflow. Filter 172 be a cyclonic air flow path in air mixing box 104 to promote the separation of moisture or condensation from the air flow as it travels within air mixing box 104. Condensation separated from the air flow, whether by a filter, or cyclonic or other means, may collect in a lower compartment 180 of the air mixing box 104. Moisture, or condensation, may also collect on inner surface 130 (shown in FIG. 1B) as the air flow is cooled. In an embodiment, at least some of the condensation may be removed from the inner surface 130 prior to the air mixing box 104. The condensation may be expelled from the air conduit 112 from an aperture, or a drain (not shown), in air conduit 112. The aperture may be positioned in air conduit 112 to allow condensation to drip onto surface 158. The aperture may also be used to drain chemicals out of the air conduit 112 during a cleaning process. Each air conduit 112 of the plurality of air conduits 124 is attached, at the downwind portion 120, to the air mixing box 104 and the air mixing box 104 can be in fluid communication with the plurality of air conduits 124 to receive the airflow from the airflow source. The preconditioned air hose 110 is in fluid communication with the air manifold 170 to receive a dried airflow from the air manifold downwind of the filter 172. The preconditioned air hose 110 has a first end 174 attached to the air mixing box 104 and a second end 176 moveable relative to the first end 174. The second end 176 can be positionable relative to an airplane 178 to provide a dried airflow from the air mixing box 104. A lower compartment 180 of the air mixing box 104 may be used to collect and store condensation from the airflow as the airflow dries in the air mixing box 104. The air mixing box 104 may include a filter for removing bacteria from the airflow, for example a mesh filter or an ultraviolet light. The air mixing box 104 may also include an at least one pair of wheels 182, attached on adjacent sides of the mixing box 104. Each pair of wheels 182 may assist in positioning of the air mixing box 104 relative to the airplane 178 to be cooled. FIG. 6B shows a section view of the air mixing box of FIG. 6A along the line 6b-6b. As the airflow moves downwind through the filter 172, filtered condensation falls and can be collected in the lower compartment 180 (shown in FIG. 6A).
In an alternative embodiment, where the heat exchange medium is a heated fluid (such as hot water), the air manifold may include a humidifier (not shown) for adding moisture to the airflow. The other components of the air mixing box 104 can operate in the manner described in which slurry ice is the heat exchange medium. However, instead of providing the dried airflow through the preconditioned air hose 110, a humidified airflow can be provided. The air manifold 170 may include a switch (not shown) for switching between the humidifier and the filter 172 as to enable the filter 172 to be used for both heating and cooling using different types of heat exchange mediums.
Referring again to FIG. 1A, in accordance with an embodiment, the planar air conduit guide 106 may be used to supply a plurality of utility conduits 184 in parallel with the plurality of air conduits 124. The plurality of utility conduits 184 may include electric power cables, fluid conduits, and compressed air hoses. The plurality of utility conduits 184 may be used to operate the filter 172, the humidifier, a fan (not shown), a heater (not shown), a sensor (not shown), or any combination thereof, contained in the air mixing box 104. In accordance with an embodiment, the plurality of utility conduits 184 may be configured to form a plurality of utility outlets (not shown) at the air mixing box 104. For example, the plurality of utility outlets may distribute power to ground support equipment, such as belt loaders, baggage-lifting robots, or container lifters. In accordance with another embodiment, the plurality of utility conduits 184 may be extendable from either the planar air conduit guide 106 or the air mixing box 104 to ground support equipment near or under the airplane.
Referring again to FIG. 1B, each air conduit 112 of the plurality of air conduits 124 comprises an external membrane 186 defining the airflow path. The external membrane 186 of the corresponding air conduit 112 can have a thermal resistance exceeding a thermal resistance of the heat exchanger 122 such that heat transfer between the airflow inside the corresponding air conduit 112 and the heat exchange medium flow exceeds that of the heat transfer across the external membrane 184 of the corresponding air conduit 112 and an external environment 188. For example, on a hot day, heat may be transferred from the external environment 188 to the airflow inside the corresponding air conduit 112 through the external membrane 186. Heat transfer from the atmosphere outside the external membrane 186 may counteract cooling provided by the heat exchanger 122 within the corresponding air conduit 112 wherein the airflow is being cooled by the transfer of heat to the heat exchange medium, such as slurry ice. To mitigate this, the external membrane 186 may be made of material that has high thermal resistance to limit heat transfer between the airflow the corresponding air conduit 112 and the external environment 188.
Although in the Figures it appears that air conduit 112 and heat exchange medium conduit 114 are similar in length, in alternative embodiments, the length of air conduit 112 may be substantially longer than heat exchange medium conduit 114. For example, heat exchange medium conduit 114 may be inserted into air conduit 112 part way down the length of air conduit 112. In a second example, where the heat exchange system is used to cool an aircraft, the air conduit 112 may extend from an air flow source that is located further from the heat exchange medium source. In this example, the heat exchange medium conduit 114 and the air conduit 112 could be joined at an intermediate location in the air conduit 112, for example proximate to an aircraft. This would allow for the air flow to be cooled only shortly prior to entering the fuselage of the aircraft. This could, for example, be particularly advantageous in embodiments in which the air conduit is provided with a passenger bridge, and is extendable or contractible as the passenger bridge is extended toward or contracted away from an aircraft. In at least some of these embodiments, the air conduit provided with the passenger bridge could be telescopically extendable or contractible, such that the air conduit could be contracted by fitting or nesting different lengthwise portions of the air conduit within one another, and could be extended by reversing this operation. In these embodiments, or indeed in any embodiments in which the passenger bridge is extendable or retractable, it may be advantageous to provide the heat exchange medium conduit only in portions of the passenger bridge and air conduit that are not telescopically or otherwise extendable or contractible, as the heat exchange medium conduit may not be extendable or contractible.
Referring to FIG. 7, illustrated therein is a method 1000 for cooling a space, in accordance with an embodiment. At 1002 an airflow is provided along an airflow path. For example, the airflow may be provided by a fan that blows air from the surrounding environment and the airflow path may be defined by an air flow conduit. At 1004A, a slurry ice flow can be provided along a slurry ice flow path. For example, the slurry ice flow path may be defined by a slurry ice conduit. As indicated in 1004B, the slurry ice flow path can be adjacent to the airflow path and the slurry ice flow path can be separated from the airflow path by a thermally conductive barrier. For example, the thermally conductive barrier may be the external membrane of the slurry ice conduit, which may, for example, be made of a thermally conductive material such as copper. At 1004C, the slurry ice flow path can be provided at a temperature below a temperature of the airflow such that heat is transferred from the airflow to the slurry ice flow via the thermally conductive barrier. At 1006, the airflow path can be positioned to eject a cooled airflow into the space to be cooled. For example, the space to be cooled may be the interior of an airplane or the interior of a vehicle. In an alternative embodiment, the slurry ice flow path may surround the airflow path.
Referring still to FIG. 7, the slurry ice flow path may further comprise a slurry ice artery and a slurry ice vein. The slurry ice artery can be surrounded by the airflow path. The slurry ice artery can traverse the airflow path in an outgoing direction and can contain the slurry ice flow to cool the airflow within the airflow path. The slurry ice vein can be surrounded by the airflow path and can traverse the airflow in an incoming direction, opposite to the outgoing direction. The slurry ice vein can contain the slurry ice flow to cool the airflow within the airflow path.
Referring still to FIG. 7, as illustrated therein method 1000 may comprise an additional method 1008 in accordance with another embodiment. This additional method 1008 exemplifies one way of providing slurry ice at 1004A. At 1010 of additional method 1008, a thermally insulated slurry ice reservoir is provided. At 1012 of additional method 1008, the thermally insulated slurry reservoir can be filled with slurry ice. For example, a slurry ice generator located within an airport hangar may fill the thermally insulated slurry ice reservoir with slurry ice. At 1014 of additional method 1008, the thermally insulated slurry ice reservoir can be moved closer to the space to be cooled such that the airflow path is positionable to eject the cooled airflow into the space to be cooled. Once the slurry ice is provided, whether by the additional method 1008 or in some other way (such as, for example, without limitation, by pipeline) method 1000 can proceed through 1004A, 1004B, 1004C and 1006 as described above
While the above description provides examples of one or more apparatus, methods, or systems, it will be appreciated that other apparatus, methods, or systems may be within the scope of the claims as interpreted by one of skill in the art.
Patent Application
20190086105
