Method and apparatus for tempering gaseous and/or liquid media in transportation vehicles, particularly in aircraft

In a transportation vehicle including a fluid supply system adapted to supply at least one of a gaseous fluid or a liquid fluid, wherein said fluid supply system includes a fluid outlet, a fluid inlet arrangement having at least one of a fluid inlet and a fluid reservoir, a fluid conduit system connecting said fluid inlet arrangement to said fluid outlet so as to provide said fluid from said fluid inlet arrangement to said fluid outlet, and a fluid tempering arrangement that is interposed in said fluid conduit system and adapted to at least one of heat or cool said fluid passing therethrough,

• an improvement wherein said fluid tempering arrangement comprises:
• a first thermochemical reservoir that is adapted to store energy therein and that is arranged in heat exchange relation with said conduit system;
• a second thermochemical reservoir that is adapted to store energy therein and that is arranged in heat exchange relation with said conduit system;
• at least one valve that is at least one of interposed in said conduit system, connected to said first thermochemical reservoir, or connected to said second thermochemical reservoir;
• a controller connected for control signal transmission to said at least one valve and adapted to variably control a transfer of heat between said fluid and said first thermochemical reservoir and said second thermochemical reservoir so as to adjustingly set a temperature of said fluid provided to said fluid outlet;
• and
• a fluid regulating valve interposed in said fluid conduit system between said fluid inlet arrangement, said first thermochemical reservoir and said second thermochemical reservoir;
• wherein said fluid conduit system includes a first feed line connecting said fluid regulating valve to said first thermochemical reservoir and a second feed line connecting said fluid regulating valve to said second thermochemical reservoir and said fluid regulating valve selectively connects said fluid inlet arrangement to at least one of said first thermochemical reservoir via said first feed line or said second thermochemical reservoir via said second feed line;
• and
• wherein said fluid tempering arrangement further comprises an active first feed line tempering device interposed in or arranged in heat exchange relation with said first feed line and an active second feed line tempering device interposed in or arranged in heat exchange relation with said second feed line, and said controller is connected to said feed line tempering devices so as to control said feed line tempering devices.

In a transportation vehicle including a tap water supply system adapted to supply at least one of gaseous water or liquid water, wherein said tap water supply system includes a tap water outlet, a water inlet arrangement including a tap water inlet and a tap water storage tank connected thereto, a water conduit system connecting said water inlet arrangement to said water outlet so as to provide said water from said water inlet arrangement to said water outlet, and a water tempering arrangement that is interposed in said water conduit system and adapted to at least one of heat or cool said water passing therethrough,

• an improvement wherein said water tempering arrangement comprises:
• a first thermochemical reservoir that is adapted to store energy therein and that includes a first heat exchanger arranged in heat exchange relation with said conduit system;
• a second thermochemical reservoir that is adapted to store energy therein and that includes a second heat exchanger arranged in heat exchange relation with said conduit system;
• a hydrogen transfer conduit connected between said first and second thermochemical reservoirs;
• a hydrogen regulating valve interposed in said hydrogen transfer conduit, wherein said hydrogen regulating valve further has at least one of a hydrogen intake port or a hydrogen discharge port that can be selectively connected to at least one of a hydrogen source or a hydrogen sink;
• and
• a controller that is connected for control signal transmission to said hydrogen regulating valve, and that is adapted to variably control a transfer of heat between said water and said thermochemical reservoirs so as to adjustingly set a temperature of said water provided to said water outlet;
• wherein:
• said tap water supply system further includes a water outlet regulating valve having an outlet port connected to said tap water outlet and having first and second inlet ports and having a fourth port, and a water feed regulating valve having an inlet Port connected to said water inlet arrangement and having first and second outlet ports;
• and
• said conduit system comprises a first feed line connecting said first outlet port of said water feed regulating valve to a water inlet of said first heat exchanger, a first delivery line connecting an outlet of said first heat exchanger to said first inlet port of said water outlet regulating valve, a second feed line connecting said second outlet port of said water feed regulating valve to a water inlet of said second heat exchanger, a second delivery line connecting an outlet of said second heat exchanger to said second inlet port of said water outlet regulating valve, and a recirculation line connecting said fourth port of said water outlet regulating valve to said water storage tank.

In a transportation vehicle including a tap water supply system adapted to supply tap water to a tap water outlet in a galley, a restroom, a sanitary facility or a lounge area of said transportation vehicle, wherein said tap water supply system includes said tap water, said tap water outlet, a tap water inlet arrangement including a tap water inlet feeding into a tap water storage tank, a water conduit system connecting said water inlet arrangement to said water outlet so as to provide said water from said water inlet arrangement to said water outlet, and a water tempering arrangement that is interposed in said water conduit system and adapted to at least one of heat or cool said water passing therethrough,

• an improvement wherein said water tempering arrangement comprises:
• a first thermochemical reservoir that is adapted to store energy therein and that comprises a first hydride-forming metal and a first heat exchanger which is connected to or incorporated in said conduit system and is arranged in heat exchange relation with said first hydride-forming metal, wherein said first hydride-forming metal exhibits a first reaction temperature for absorption of hydrogen;
• a second thermochemical reservoir that is adapted to store energy therein and that comprises a second hydride-forming metal different from said first hydride-forming metal, and a second heat exchanger which is connected to or incorporated in said conduit system and is arranged in heat exchange relation with said second hydride-forming metal, wherein said second hydride-forming metal exhibits a second reaction temperature for absorption of hydrogen which is different from said first reaction temperature;
• at least one valve interposed in said conduit system or connected to at least one of said thermochemical reservoirs;
• and
• a controller connected for control signal transmission to said at least one valve and adapted to variably control a transfer of heat between said water and said thermochemical reservoirs so as to adjustingly set a temperature of said water provided to said water outlet;
• wherein:
• said at least one valve includes a water outlet regulating valve having an outlet port connected to said tap water outlet and having first and second inlet ports and having a fourth port, and a water feed regulating valve having an inlet port connected to said water inlet arrangement and having first and second outlet ports;
• and
• said conduit system comprises a first feed line connecting said first outlet port of said water feed regulating valve to an inlet of said first heat exchanger, a first delivery line connecting an outlet of said first heat exchanger to said first inlet port of said water outlet regulating valve, a second feed line connecting said second outlet port of said water feed regulating valve to an inlet of said second heat exchanger, a second delivery line connecting an outlet of said second heat exchanger to said second inlet port of said water outlet regulating valve, and a recirculation line connecting said fourth port of said water outlet regulating valve to said water storage tank.

In a transportation vehicle including a tap water supply system adapted to supply tap water to a tap water outlet in a galley, a restroom, a sanitary facility or a lounge area of said transportation vehicle, wherein said tap water supply system includes said tap water, said tap water outlet, a tap water inlet arrangement having at least one of a tap water inlet and a tap water reservoir, a water conduit system connecting said water inlet arrangement to said water outlet so as to provide said water from said water inlet arrangement to said water outlet, and a water tempering arrangement that is interposed in said water conduit system and adapted to at least one of heat or cool said water passing therethrough,

• an improvement wherein said water tempering arrangement comprises:
• a first thermochemical reservoir that is adapted to store energy therein and that comprises a first hydride-forming metal and a first heat exchanger which is connected to or incorporated in said conduit system and is arranged in heat exchange relation with said first hydride-forming metal, wherein said first hydride-forming metal exhibits a first reaction temperature for absorption of hydrogen;
• a second thermochemical reservoir that is adapted to store energy therein and that comprises a second hydride-forming metal different from said first hydride-forming metal, and a second heat exchanger which is connected to or incorporated in said conduit system and is arranged in heat exchange relation with said second hydride-forming metal, wherein said second hydride-forming metal exhibits a second reaction temperature for absorption of hydrogen which is different from said first reaction temperature;
• at least one valve interposed in said conduit system or connected to at least one of said thermochemical reservoirs;
• a controller connected for control signal transmission to said at least one valve and adapted to variably control a transfer of heat between said water and said thermochemical reservoirs so as to adjustingly set a temperature of said water provided to said water outlet;
• and
• a hydrogen transfer conduit connected between said first and second thermochemical reservoirs;
• and
• wherein said at least one valve comprises a hydrogen regulating valve interposed in said hydrogen transfer conduit, wherein said hydrogen regulating valve has a hydrogen intake or discharge port that can be selectively connected to a hydrogen source or a hydrogen sink;
• and
• further comprising a fuel cell as said hydrogen sink connected to said hydrogen discharge port of said hydrogen regulating valve.