Systems and methods for controlling airflow in a vehicle

A method for controlling airflow in a vehicle, said method comprising:

• receiving through an air conditioning duct, by a manifold in the vehicle, conditioned ambient air from an air conditioning pack and channeling the conditioned ambient air into at least one compartment of the vehicle;
• controlling a fan included in a recirculation duct in flow communication with the manifold, the recirculation duct being separate from the air conditioning duct;
• controlling a recirculation valve included in the recirculation duct, wherein the fan is coupled between the manifold and the recirculation valve;
• operating the fan in a first direction to channel airflow through the manifold towards the at least one compartment of the vehicle and operating the fan in a second direction to channel airflow from the manifold into the recirculation duct;
• and controlling at least one ventilation valve included in a ventilation duct between the fan and the recirculation valve, the ventilation duct in flow communication with an ambient environment surrounding the vehicle and in flow communication with the recirculation duct, wherein the fan is configured to channel ambient airflow to the manifold through the ventilation and recirculation ducts towards the at least one compartment without moving through the air—conditioning—pack when operated in the first direction.

An aircraft comprising:

• a manifold configured to receive conditioned ambient air from an air conditioning duct that includes an air conditioning pack and that the manifold is configured to channel the conditioned ambient air into at least one compartment of the aircraft;
• a recirculation duct in flow communication with said manifold, said recirculation duct separate from said air conditioning duct to move ambient airflow into the manifold at a point away from the air conditioning duct, said recirculation duct comprising a recirculation valve and a fan coupled between said manifold and said recirculation valve, said fan configured to channel airflow through said manifold towards the at least one compartment of the aircraft when operated in a first direction and channel airflow from said manifold into said recirculation duct when operated in a second direction;
• and
• a ventilation duct coupled in flow communication with said recirculation duct between said fan and said recirculation valve, said ventilation duct in flow communication with an ambient environment surrounding said aircraft and comprising at least one ventilation valve, wherein said fan is configured to channel the ambient airflow to said manifold through said ventilation and recirculation ducts towards the at least one compartment when operated in the first direction, wherein said fan is further configured to channel airflow from said manifold into the ambient environment through said ventilation and recirculation ducts when operated in the second direction and said recirculation valve is closed;
• the manifold positioned between the ventilation duct and the air conditioning duct with the ambient airflow being moved from the ambient environment through the ventilation duct and the recirculation duct and into the manifold without passing through the air conditioning pack.