# US 12,006,045 B2 · Regenerative filter system

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- Number: US 12,006,045 B2
- Document ID: US12006045B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/190,925
- Filed: 2021-03-03
- Published: 2021-09-09
- Granted: 2024-06-11
- Earliest claimed: 2020-03-05
- Assignees: United Technologies Research Centre Ireland, Limited
- Applicants: United Technologies Research Centre Ireland, Limited
- Inventors: Yonghua Zhu; Erica Zavaglio
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12006045B2

## CPC

- B64D 13/08: the air being heated or cooled
- B64D 13/06: the air being conditioned (pressurising B64D13/02)
- B64D 2013/0618: {with arrangements for reducing or managing bleed air, using another air source, e.g. ram air}
- B64D 2013/0651: {comprising filters, e.g. dust filters}
- B64D 2013/0688: {with means for recirculating cabin air}
- Y02T 50/50: On board measures aiming to increase energy efficiency
- B64D: EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT
- Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION

## Abstract

A regenerative filter system includes a regenerative filter material arranged to filter air recirculated from an aircraft interior and means for passing a regeneration air stream through the regenerative filter material to regenerate the filter material by removing adsorbed contaminant therefrom, whereby the means for passing the regeneration air stream comprises means for expanding air exhausted from the aircraft interior and using the expanded air to drive a compressor for compressing and conditioning ram air to provide the regeneration air stream to the filter material.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A regenerative filter system comprising:
a regenerative filter material arranged to filter air recirculated from an aircraft interior; and
means for passing a regeneration air stream through the regenerative filter material to regenerate the filter material by removing adsorbed contaminant therefrom, whereby the means for passing the regeneration air stream comprises a turbine for expanding exhaust air exhausted from the aircraft interior, wherein the turbine drives a compressor for compressing and conditioning ram air to provide the regeneration air stream to the regenerative filter material.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The regenerative filter system of claim 1, wherein the regenerative filter material is provided in a contaminant removal device.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The regenerative filter system of claim 2, wherein the contaminant removal device is an air driven regenerative filter.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The regenerative filter system of claim 2, wherein the contaminant removal device is a pressure or temperature swing filter.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The regenerative filter system of claim 1, wherein the means for expanding the air exhausted from the aircraft interior comprises a turbine, which drives the compressor to compress ram air that is passed through the filter material to regenerate the regenerative filter material.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The regenerative filter system of claim 5, wherein the compressed ram-air is mixed with cooled compressed ram air before being passed through the regenerative filter material.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The regenerative filter system of claim 6, wherein the compressed ram air is cooled by a heat exchanger.

### Claim 8

An aircraft environmental control system, comprising:
means for mixing and conditioning fresh air and recirculation air from an aircraft interior to provide mixed, conditioned air to the aircraft interior, the system further comprising:
one or more regenerative filters arranged in a path of at least part of the recirculating air, prior to the means for mixing and conditioning, the one or more regenerative filters configured to remove one or more contaminants and/or moisture from the recirculation air before mixing and conditioning, and
means for passing a regeneration air stream through the regenerative filter(s) to regenerate the one or more regenerative filters by removing adsorbed contaminant therefrom, whereby the means for passing the regeneration air stream comprises:
a turbine for expanding exhaust air from the aircraft interior, the turbine driving a compressor for compressing and conditioning ram air to provide the regeneration air stream to the one or more regenerative filters.

### Claim 9

A method of providing a regeneration air stream to a regenerative filter of an aircraft environmental control system, the method comprising:
expanding air exhausted from an interior of the aircraft; and
using the expanded air to drive a compressor for compressing and conditioning ram air to provide the regeneration air stream to the regenerative filter.