Helical water collector

An air conditioning system for an aircraft, the air conditioning system comprising:

• a condenser;
• an air cycle machine;
• A water extractor comprising:
• an inlet fluidly connected to the condenser;
• an outlet fluidly connected to the air cycle machine;
• a body comprising a helical passageway having an exit proximate the outlet and an entrance;
• an elbow connector enclosing a fluid passageway that fluidly connects the inlet to the entrance of the helical passageway, the elbow connector being bent at a selected angle and including an inner radius and an outer radius opposite the inner radius;
• and
• a baffle extending from proximate the inlet to the entrance and located within the fluid passageway of the elbow connector, the baffle being configured to partition the fluid passageway into a first fluid passageway proximate the inner radius of the elbow connector and a second fluid passageway proximate the outer radius of the elbow connector.

A method of extracting water from an air conditioning system, the method comprising:

• turning airflow a selected turn radius using an elbow connector bent to a selected angle;
• capturing condensate on an inner radius of the elbow connector using a baffle located within the elbow connector;
• drawing the airflow into an inlet of a helical passageway from the elbow connector, the helical passageway being configured to centrifugally rotate the airflow within the helical passageway;
• separating moisture from the airflow within the helical passageway using centrifugal forces;
• and
• collecting moisture from the airflow into a plurality of catchment orifices located in a radially outer wall of the helical passageway.