# US 2009/0260387 A1 · Aircraft supplemental cooling system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2009/0260387 A1 - Document ID: US20090260387A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/107,096 - Filed: 2008-04-22 - Published: 2009-10-22 - Earliest claimed: 2008-04-22 - Assignees: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation - Inventors: Gregory L. DeFrancesco - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20090260387A1 ## CPC - F25B 25/005: {using primary and secondary systems} - B64D 13/08: the air being heated or cooled - B64D 2013/0644: {including electric motors or generators} - B64D 2013/0674: {comprising liquid subsystems} - F25B 2400/0409: for evaporators - F25B 2400/06: Several compression cycles arranged in parallel - F25D 16/00: Devices using a combination of a cooling mode associated with refrigerating machinery with a cooling mode not associated with refrigerating machinery - Y02T 50/50: On board measures aiming to increase energy efficiency - F25B: REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS - B64D: EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT - F25D: REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (refrigerated showcases A47F3/04; thermally-insulated vessels for domestic use A47J41/00; refrigerated vehicles, see the appropriate subclasses of classes B60 - B64; containers with thermal insulation in general B65D81/38; heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials, e.g. refrigerants, or materials for the production of heat or cold by chemical reactions other than by combustion C09K5/00; thermally-insulated vessels for liquefied or solidified gases F17C; air-conditioning or air-humidification F24F; refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25B; cooling of instruments or comparable apparatus without refrigeration G12B) - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract A cooling system for an aircraft has a refrigerant system to cool a second fluid for a use associated with an aircraft. A valve is operable to route the second fluid to be cooled by the refrigerant under a first set of conditions, and to route the second fluid to be cooled by ambient air from outside of the aircraft under a second set of conditions. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cooling system for an aircraft comprising: a refrigerant system, said refrigerant system being operable to direct refrigerant through a first heat exchanger to cool a second fluid; a use to be associated with an aircraft, said use circulating the second fluid through the first heat exchanger to be cooled; a control for controlling the refrigerant system, and for controlling a valve, said valve being operable to route the second fluid into the first heat exchanger during a first set of conditions, and to route the second fluid through a second heat exchanger under a second set of conditions, and ambient air from outside of the aircraft which is to receive the cooling system being directed over the second heat exchanger under said second set of conditions to cool the second fluid. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The aircraft cooling system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said second heat exchanger is associated with a condenser downstream of a compressor in the refrigerant system. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The aircraft cooling system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the use includes a galley to be associated with the aircraft. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The aircraft cooling system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the use is to cool air to be directed into a cabin for the aircraft receiving the cooling system. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The aircraft cooling system as set forth in claim 1, wherein a control controls the refrigerant system to operate the refrigerant system under said first set of conditions, and to stop operation of the refrigerant system under said second set of conditions. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The aircraft cooling system as set forth in claim 5, wherein the control also opens a gate to pull ambient air over the second heat exchanger under said second set of conditions. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The aircraft cooling system as set forth in claim 6, wherein said a first set of conditions includes when the aircraft is powered by an auxiliary power unit, taxi condition, and when an engine associated with the aircraft is at idle. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The aircraft cooling system as set forth in claim 7, wherein said second set of conditions include flight operation at a flight level. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The aircraft cooling system as set forth in claim 8, wherein the second fluid is not cooled by either ambient air or the refrigerant system during at least some portion of take-off and climb of the aircraft receiving the cooling system. ### Claim 10 A method for operating a cooling system for an aircraft including the steps of: directing refrigerant through a first heat exchanger to cool a second fluid; a use to be associated with an aircraft circulating the second fluid through the first heat exchanger to be cooled; controlling a valve to route the second fluid into the first heat exchanger during a first set of conditions, and to route the second fluid through a second heat exchanger under a second set of conditions, and ambient air from outside of the aircraft being directed over the second heat exchanger under said second set of conditions to cool the second fluid. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method as set forth in claim 10, wherein said second heat exchanger is associated with a condenser downstream of a compressor in the refrigerant system. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method as set forth in claim 10, wherein the use includes a galley associated with the aircraft. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method as set forth in claim 10, wherein the use is directing cool air into a cabin for the aircraft. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method as set forth in claim 10, wherein a control controls the refrigerant system to operate the refrigerant system under said first set of conditions, and stopping operation of the refrigerant system under said second set of conditions. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method as set forth in claim 14, wherein the control opens a gate to pull ambient air over the second heat exchanger under said second set of conditions. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method as set forth in claim 15, wherein said first set of conditions include when the aircraft is powered by an auxiliary power unit, taxi, and when an engine associated with the aircraft is at idle. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method as set forth in claim 16, wherein said second set of conditions include flight operation at flight level. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method as set forth in claim 17, wherein the second fluid is not cooled by either ambient air or the refrigerant system during at least some portion of take-off and climb of the aircraft receiving the cooling system.