Antimicrobial surfaces for flow path components
AssigneeHamilton Sundstrand Corporation
InventorsRicardo O. Brown, Steven Poteet, Blair A. Smith, Callie Lynn Benson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
According to an aspect, a flow path component includes a flow path component body having a flow surface. The flow path component also includes a plurality of antimicrobial nanoparticles embedded in the flow surface and at least partially exposed external to the flow surface to provide an antimicrobial surface.
Claims19
A flow path component of an airflow progression between bleed air extracted from a compressor stage of an aircraft engine through an aircraft air conditioning system to a cabin of an aircraft, the flow path component comprising:
- a flow path component body comprising a flow surface, the flow surface configured to be exposed to an air flow within a flow channel between an inlet and an outlet of the flow path component in the aircraft;
- and
- a plurality of antimicrobial nanoparticles embedded in the flow surface and at least partially exposed external to the flow surface within the flow channel forming a nanoscale texturing on the flow surface, the nanoscale texturing comprising a combination of the antimicrobial nanoparticles embedded in the flow surface and a plurality of substantially conical structures formed of polymer cure material between the antimicrobial nanoparticles, the substantially conical structures having pointed tips configured to perforate microbe cells between the antimicrobial nanoparticles embedded within the flow surface.
An air conditioning system of an airflow progression between bleed air extracted from a compressor stage of an aircraft engine to a cabin of for an aircraft, the air conditioning system comprising:
- an air cycle machine of the aircraft, wherein the air cycle machine is configured to alter a temperature and a pressure of air in the air conditioning system;
- and
- a heat exchanger of the aircraft operably coupled to the air cycle machine, the heat exchanger comprising at least one flow path component comprising:
- a flow path component body comprising a flow surface, the flow surface configured to be exposed to an air flow within a flow channel between an inlet and an outlet of the at least one flow path component;
- and
- a plurality of antimicrobial nanoparticles embedded in the flow surface and at least partially exposed external to the flow surface within the flow channel forming a nanoscale texturing on the flow surface, the nanoscale texturing comprising a combination of the antimicrobial nanoparticles embedded in the flow surface and a plurality of substantially conical structures formed of polymer cure material between the antimicrobial nanoparticles, the substantially conical structures having pointed tips configured to perforate microbe cells between the antimicrobial nanoparticles embedded within the flow surface.
A method of manufacturing a flow path component of an airflow progression between bleed air extracted from a compressor stage of an aircraft engine through an aircraft air conditioning system to a cabin of for an aircraft, the method comprising:
- performing an additive manufacturing process to form the flow path component comprising a flow path component body with a flow surface, the flow surface configured to be exposed to an air flow within a flow channel between an inlet and an outlet of the flow path component of the aircraft;
- and
- embedding a plurality of antimicrobial nanoparticles in the flow surface such that the antimicrobial nanoparticles are at least partially exposed external to the flow surface within the flow channel and form a nanoscale texturing on the flow surface, the nanoscale texturing comprising a combination of the antimicrobial nanoparticles embedded in the flow surface and a plurality of substantially conical structures formed of polymer cure material between the antimicrobial nanoparticles, the substantially conical structures having pointed tips configured to perforate microbe cells between the antimicrobial nanoparticles embedded within the flow surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.