# US 12,214,888 B2 · Aircraft environmental control system

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- Number: US 12,214,888 B2
- Document ID: US12214888B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/390,042
- Filed: 2021-07-30
- Published: 2022-02-03
- Granted: 2025-02-04
- Earliest claimed: 2020-07-30
- Assignees: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
- Applicants: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
- Inventors: Louis J. Bruno; Tony Ho; Aiden Coutin
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12214888B2

## CPC

- B64D 13/08: the air being heated or cooled
- B64D 13/06: the air being conditioned (pressurising B64D13/02)
- F25B 9/004: {the refrigerant being air}
- F25B 9/06: using expanders (F25B9/10 takes precedence)
- B64D 2013/0618: {with arrangements for reducing or managing bleed air, using another air source, e.g. ram air}
- B64D 2013/064: {comprising more than one system, e.g. dual systems}
- B64D 2013/0648: {with energy recovery means, e.g. using turbines}
- B64D 2013/0662: {with humidity control}
- 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
- F25B: REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
- Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION

## Abstract

An air cycle machine for an environmental control system for an aircraft includes at least one turbine configured to receive and extract work from a first medium and a third medium. A compressor is configured to compress a second medium and a shaft mechanically couples the at least one turbine and the compressor. A mixing point is located downstream of at least one turbine. A mixture of the first medium and the third medium generated at the mixing point is provided to another component of the environmental control system.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An air cycle machine for an environmental control system for an aircraft, the air cycle machine comprising:
at least one turbine configured to receive and extract work from a first medium and a third medium;
a compressor configured to compress a second medium;
a shaft mechanically coupling the at least one turbine and the compressor;
a mixing point located downstream of the at least one turbine, wherein a mixture of the first medium and the third medium generated at the mixing point is provided to another component of the environmental control system;
a ram air circuit having at least one ram air heat exchanger arranged therein, the at least one ram air heat exchanger being the another component of the environmental control system; and
a divider arranged within the ram air circuit to form a first region and a second region, the at least one heat exchanger having a first portion arranged within the first region and a second portion arranged within the second region.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The air cycle machine of claim 1, wherein the at least one turbine includes a first turbine configured to receive and extract work from the first medium and a second turbine configured to receive and extract work from the third medium.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The air cycle machine of claim 2, wherein the mixing point is located downstream of the first turbine and the second turbine.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The air cycle machine of claim 2, wherein the first turbine is positioned adjacent a first end of the shaft and the second turbine is positioned adjacent a second end of the shaft.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The air cycle machine of claim 2, wherein the first turbine is positioned adjacent a first end of the shaft and the compressor is positioned adjacent a second end of the shaft.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The air cycle machine of claim 2, wherein the mixing point is located upstream of the second turbine.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The air cycle machine of claim 6, wherein the first turbine and the second turbine are arranged in series such that the second turbine is also configured to receive and extract work from the first medium.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The air cycle machine of claim 1, wherein the at least one turbine includes a first nozzle for receiving the first medium and a second nozzle for receiving the third medium.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The air cycle machine of claim 1, wherein the first medium is bleed air.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The air cycle machine of claim 1, wherein the second medium is fresh air.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The air cycle machine of claim 1, wherein the third medium is cabin air.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The air cycle machine of claim 1, wherein the mixture of the first medium and the third medium is delivered to the second region of the ram air circuit.