Patent Application
20220032221
Embodiments of the disclosure relate to air purification systems, and more specifically, to an air purification device for use in an air management system of an aircraft.
Pressurized aircraft have integrated air management systems to provide a pressurized environment, fresh air transfer, recycling, heating, and air conditioning to maintain a comfortable safe environment for occupants for extended periods. Air recycling and replacing stale air requires continuous scrubbing for cleanliness to minimize airborne dust, dirt, odors, viruses, spores, and bacteria. This cleaning or scrubbing of the air is typically performed via physical, electrostatic or chemical filtration, such as via a HEPA filter. However, bacteria and dirt can accumulate on the filter, requiring cleaning or replacement of the filters themselves. Further, this purification is arranged at a central portion of the air management system, and as a result, the air could potentially be contaminated as it flows from the filter to the cabin.
According to an embodiment, an air purification device for use in an air management system includes a housing formed from a polymer matrix composite structure and a filter arranged within the housing. The filter is formed from a porous composite structure including a plurality of filter fibers such that air is configured to flow through the filter. Microbes within the air are configured to contact the plurality of filter fibers.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, in further embodiments the housing polymer matrix composite structure includes a plurality of structural fibers and compliant polymer matrices.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, in further embodiments one or more dimensions of the housing vary over a length of the housing.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, in further embodiments the housing and the filter are integrally formed.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, in further embodiments the plurality of filter fibers are coated with an additive material.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, in further embodiments the additive material includes an antimicrobial material.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, in further embodiments comprising an energy source operable to selectively transmit energy to the filter to sterilize the filter.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, in further embodiments the energy source is operable to emit microwaves.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, in further embodiments the energy source includes a waveguide and a horn, the horn being arranged in communication with an interior of the filter.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, in further embodiments comprising an inner conductor arranged within an interior of the filter, and an electromagnetic field is generated between the inner conductor and an inner surface of the housing.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, in further embodiments a flow path of a cooling fluid extends flows through the inner conductor to remove heat from the filter 44.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, in further embodiments an air management system of a vehicle having a conditioned area includes at least one duct defining a flow path for delivering air to the conditioned area and at least one air purification device associated with the at least one duct, the at least one air purification device being positioned to provide air purification to a localized portion of the conditioned area.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, in further embodiments a first air flow from a first source and a second air flow from a second source are provided to the at least one air purification device.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, in further embodiments the first air flow and the second air flow do not include bleed air drawn from an engine.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, in further embodiments the conditioned area includes a plurality of sections and the at least one air purification device is positioned to provide the localized air purification between adjacent sections of the plurality of sections.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, in further embodiments the conditioned area includes a plurality of rows of seats and the at least one air purification device is positioned to provide the localized air purification between adjacent rows of the plurality of rows of seats.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, in further embodiments the conditioned area includes at least one row of seats and the at least one air purification device is positioned to provide the localized air purification between adjacent seats within the at least one row of seats.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, in further embodiments the at least one air purification device emits an air curtain.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, in further embodiments the at least one air purification device forms a portion of the at least one duct.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, in further embodiments the at least one air purification device further comprises an energy source operable to emit energy into the filter to sterilize the air to be provided to the conditioned area.
The following descriptions should not be considered limiting in any way. With reference to the accompanying drawings, like elements are numbered alike:
A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the disclosed apparatus and method are presented herein by way of exemplification and not limitation with reference to the Figures.
With reference now to
As shown in the
The medium discharged from the air conditioning units 14 is provided to an air mixing unit or mixing manifold 20 via one or more outlet ducts 22. Similarly, at least one duct 24 of the cabin air recirculation sub-system 16 extends from the cabin 12 to the air mixing unit 20 to deliver air exhausted from the cabin 12 to the air mixing unit 20. Within the air mixing unit 20, the cabin recirculating air is mixed with the medium output from the one or more air conditioning units 14 to achieve a mixed medium having one or more desired parameters, such as temperature, pressure, and humidity for example.
In an embodiment, the mixed medium is delivered to the cabin 12 from the air mixing unit 20 via an air distribution system 26 including one or more conduits 28. As shown, the mixed medium may be delivered to the cabin 12 and cockpit via a ventilation system arranged near a ceiling of the cabin 12. In some embodiments, the mixed medium typically circulates from the top of the cabin 12 toward the floor, and is distributed to a plurality of individual vents 30 of the ventilation system spaced laterally between the front and rear of the cabin 12. It should be understood that the air management system 10 illustrated and described herein is intended as an example only, and that any suitable air management system is within the scope of the disclosure. For example, although the air management system 10 illustrated and described herein discloses the use of pressurizes air, also known as “bleed air” drawn from an engine or an auxiliary power unit of the aircraft 11, it should be understood that embodiments of the air management system that are configured to deliver air from another source to the cabin 12, such as fresh air for example, rather than bleed air, are also contemplated herein.
With reference now to
One or more air purification devices 40 may be integrated into a portion of the air management system 10, such as the air mixing unit or manifold 20 or a duct portion located directly upstream from the vents 30 operable to expel air into the cabin 12 for example. In an embodiment, air purification devices 40 may be integrated into the air management system 10 to form an air knife or an air curtain between adjacent sections within the cabin 12, between adjacent rows of seats 100, or between seats 100 within a row. In such embodiments, the one or more air purification devices 40 may be used to provide local air purification to passengers of an aircraft. In such embodiments, the one or more air purification devices 40 may be arranged in parallel relative to the flow of the air. Further, in another embodiment, an air flow provided to the cabin 12 may be configured to flow through a plurality of air purification devices 40 arranged in series prior to reaching a vent 30. In such embodiments, a first air purification device along the flow may be configured to purify the air and a second air purification device may be used for filter regeneration. Alternatively, the first and second air purification devices 40 for purifying the air and regenerating the filter may be arranged in parallel.
With reference now to
By forming the housing 42 from a composite material, the housing 42 may be fashioned with any geometry. Accordingly, the housing 42 of the air purification device 40 may have a complex geometry, as shown in
The construction or composition of the composite structure of the housing 42 may, but need not be, uniform over the entire body of the housing 42. In an embodiment, at least a portion of the composite structure of the housing 42 is non-porous. As used herein, the term “non-porous” is intended to indicate that fluids, such as gas (air) and liquid (water), are not able to circulate there through. The one or more non-porous portions of the housing 42 may be designed to provide structural rigidity to the air purification device 40. Alternatively, or in addition, a portion of the composite structure of the housing 42 may have a porous configuration. In such embodiments, the porous portions of the housing 42 may function as an air purification catalyst support.
The air purification device 40 additionally includes a filter 44 arranged within the interior of the housing 42. As shown, the filter 44 may extend from a first side or inlet end 46 of the housing 42 to a second, opposite side or outlet end 48 of the housing 42. However, embodiments where the filter 44 has a non-axial configuration are also within the scope of the disclosure. The housing 42 and the filter 44 may be integrally formed with one another. As used herein, integrally formed is intended to indicate embodiments where the housing 42 and the filter 44 are permanently affixed to one another, or embodiments where the housing 42 and filter 44 are formed as a unitary structure. Alternatively, the filter 44 may be a separate component removably connectable to the housing 42 to allow either the housing 42 or the filter 44 to be replaced individually if necessary. In an embodiment, the filter 44 is formed from a porous composite material, for example including porous carbon fibers 45 (see
When installed within an air management system 10 of an aircraft, the air provided to the filter 44 includes one or more of bleed air, fresh air, ram air, cabin recirculation air, or some combination thereof. In an embodiment, the air provided to the filter 44 is a mixture of bleed air and cabin recirculation air. As the air flows through the filter 44, bacteria, viruses, pathogens, volatile organic compounds, and particulate matter within the air flow are trapped by the fibers 45. In an embodiment, at least a portion of the fibers of the filter 44, and in some embodiments the fibers 45 used to form the porous portion of the housing 42, may be coated or doped with an additive material. By using fibers, such as porous carbon fibers within the filter 44, the surface area of the filter 44 that is available to receive a suitable additive, such as via a coating for example, is significantly increased. In an embodiment, the coating material may be capable of sterilizing the microbes removed from the air flow. The sterilization described herein not only includes removal of particulate matter, but also killing or rendering harmless bacteria or airborne viruses within the air purification device 40 and/or an air flow there through.
Examples of suitable additive materials include, but are not limited to an energy absorptive material and air purification catalyst, such as silicon carbide particles, or antimicrobial materials such as silver or copper for example. Any suitable process for coating the fibers 45, such as wet chemistry or adsorption for example, is contemplated herein. Further, the fibers 45 may be coated with one or more additive materials after the formation of the housing 42, or alternatively, during the fiber manufacturing process.
In an embodiment, an energy source 50 is associated with the air purification device 40. In such embodiments, the energy source 50 may be capable of emitting a light or wave having a wavelength suitable to perform purification via germicidal irradiation. In an embodiment, the energy source 50 is capable of emitting microwaves; however other types of energy or waves are also within the scope of the disclosure.
The design or configuration of the housing 42 may be selected based on an electromagnetic field generated by the energy source 50 to maximize microwave losses in the filter 44 and/or enhance air purification performance and quality. Further, the housing 42 may include a material capable of performing electromagnetic interference (EMI) to retain the electromagnetic fields within the structure, and prevent interference with the cables and electronics of the aircraft. Alternatively, or in addition, the housing 42 may include a thermal shielding material to protect the housing 42 from hotspots that could affect the integrity of the structure. This EMI or thermal shielding material may be a separate layer affixed to a surface of the housing 42, or alternatively, may be embedded into the material of the structure.
Alternatively, or in addition, one or more parameters associated with the energy output from the energy source 50 may be selected based on the configuration of the housing 42 and the specific application of the air purification device 40. For example, the microwaves generated by the energy source 50 may be standing waves or travelling waves, and may have a power level of 600 W or greater. Further, in an embodiment, the microwaves may have a frequency or 915 MHz, or alternatively, a frequency of 2.54 GHz. The parameters described herein are intended as an example only, and it should be understood that any suitable parameter is within the scope of the disclosure.
The energy source 50 may be located adjacent a side of an exterior of the housing 42. In the non-limiting embodiments of
Further, in some embodiments, an inner conductor 54 may be arranged within the interior of the filter 44. In such embodiments, the housing 42 is formed as an outer conductor and an electromagnetic field is generated between the inner conductor 54 and an adjacent surface of the housing 42. The inner conductor 54 may extend over an entire length, or alternatively, only a portion of the length of the housing 42. Further, the inner conductor 54 and the outer conductor may but need not have a coaxial configuration, as shown in
The energy emitted by the energy source 50 may be used not only to purify the air as it passes through the filter 44, but also to regenerate the filter 44 via desorption. As the microwaves penetrate through the filter 44, the microwaves may be selectively absorbed by the particles, such as bacteria or viruses for example. In such embodiments, the microwaves need not heat the material of the filter 44, or the heat may be actively dissipated to maintain the filter 44 at a generally constant temperature. In other embodiments, the microwaves provided to the filter 44 heat the filter 44, including the fibers 45 that are coated with an absorptive material and a catalyst. The use of a microwave typically requires exposure for only a matter of seconds to kill any virus or bacteria present. However, the length of exposure may vary in response to one or more parameters, such as the intensity or strength of the microwave, the volume flow rate of air, and the humidity of the air, for example. As a result, the air purification device 40 does not require regular replacement of the filter 44. Rather, the filter 44 may be regenerated via a regular maintenance operation. As used herein, the term “regenerate” when used in reference to a filter is intended to described purifying or cleaning the filter 44 periodically via exposing the filter 44 to the waves emitted by the energy source. In an embodiment, one or more parameters of the air management system 10, such as an operating pressure or flow temperature for example, may be adjusted when a maintenance operation is performed. Such regular maintenance operations may be scheduled to occur at a fixed time interval, or alternatively, may be performed in response to detection of a parameter of the filter 44, such as a reduced flow rate through the filter 44 for example.
The air purification device 40 may be positioned at any portion of an air management system 10, and therefore may be used to provide localized purification compared to the HEPA filters in existing air management systems. Further, by mounting an energy source 50 adjacent the air purification device 40, the energy source 50 may be used to continuously disinfect the airflow and/or a portion of a filter 44, without exposing aircraft occupants to any harmful effects from exposure to microwaves. Additionally, the air purification device 40 including the energy source 50 could continuously operate when the vehicle is both airborne and grounded without the need for any chemical means of rendering airborne viruses and bacteria harmless.
The term “about” is intended to include the degree of error associated with measurement of the particular quantity based upon the equipment available at the time of filing the application.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, element components, and/or groups thereof.
While the present disclosure has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment or embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the present disclosure without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the present disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this present disclosure, but that the present disclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims.
This invention was made with Government support under DE-EE0007888 awarded by The Department of Energy. The Government has certain rights in the invention.
