US 6,306,032 B1Granted

Air-conditioning system for below-deck areas of a passenger aircraft

AssigneeDaimlerChrysler Aerospace Airbus GmbH

InventorsHans-Joachim Scheffler, Michael Markwart, Uwe Buchholz

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Abstract

An aircraft air-conditioning system provides ventilation, air-conditioning and fire protection for a below-deck stairwell and cargo hold that may be equipped with passenger sleeping compartment containers. An air mixing unit mixes fresh air and recycled air to supply mixed air through a first supply air main line (31) and a supply air unit (21) into the freight hold (4), and through a second supply air main line (32) into the stairwell (5). A trimming air unit (7A) provides hot bleed air from the aircraft engines into the mixed air supplied through the first and second supply air main lines (31, 32). An exhaust air line (11) extracts exhaust air from the freight hold (4), while an exhaust air supplemental line (15) extracts exhaust air from the stairwell (5), both of which are connected to an exhaust air main line with an exhaust air ventilator (16) that blows the exhaust air overboard. A bypass line (8) provides bypass air if needed for the demands of the ventilator (16). Regulating valves and non-return flap valves in the supply air line and in the exhaust air line regulate the flow of air and prevent back-flow. Temperature sensors are connected to a controller that regulates the temperature of the mixed supply air to achieve a comfortable temperature in the freight hold and in the stairwell. In the event of fire, the air valves are closed, to seal-off the freight hold (4) and prevent the spread of smoke into the stairwell or other ventilated areas.

In a passenger aircraft including a fuselage enclosing a fuselage interior space with a main deck floor therein, and with a passenger cabin above said main deck floor and respective first and second below-deck spaces below said main deck floor, a source of fresh external air, a source of hot pressurized air, and an air recycling system that is a source of recycled air in said aircraft,

an air-conditioning system for air-conditioning said below-deck spaces in said passenger aircraft, said air-conditioning system comprising:
an air mixer unit that is connected to said source of fresh external air and to said source of recycled air, and is adapted to receive and mix said fresh external air and said recycled air to prepare mixed air;
a first supply air main line that is connected to and extends from said air mixer unit, and is adapted to receive a portion of said mixed air from said air mixer unit;
a supply air unit that is connected and communicates from said first supply air main line to said first below-deck space;
a second supply air main line that is connected to and extends from said air mixer unit, is adapted to receive a portion of said mixed air from said mixer unit, and is connected and communicates into said second below-deck space;
a trimming air supply unit that is connected to said source of hot pressurized air to provide trimming air;
a first trimming air line that is connected and communicates from said trimming air supply unit to said first supply air main line;
a second trimming air line that is connected and communicates from said trimming air supply unit to said second supply air main line;
an exhaust air main line that communicates overboard to an external environment outside of said aircraft;
an exhaust air unit that is connected and communicates from said first below-deck space to said exhaust air main line;
and
an exhaust air supplemental line that is connected and communicates from said second below-deck space to said exhaust air main line.

9 more elements

Abstract

Claims19