System and method for improved cooling efficiency of an aircraft during both ground and flight operation

An aircraft system for improved ground cooling efficiency, the system comprising:

• an electric based air conditioning system coupled to a pack bay of an aircraft, the air conditioning system comprising:
• at least one air conditioning pack housed in the pack bay and having an air conditioning pack inlet and an air conditioning pack outlet;
• at least one air compressor housed in the pack bay and providing air to the air conditioning pack, the air compressor having an air compressor inlet and an air compressor outlet;
• and,
• at least one electric power source housed in the pack bay and that provides electric power to the air compressor;
• an aircraft interior air recovery system coupled to the air conditioning system, the aircraft interior air recovery system comprising:
• at least one air flow path for redirecting a first portion of aircraft interior outflow air from an aircraft interior to the air compressor via the air compression device inlet, then to the air conditioning pack, and then directly back into the aircraft interior;
• and,
• a shutoff valve coupled to the air flow path to enable the air flow path during ground operation of the aircraft and to disable the air flow path for flight operation of the aircraft;
• an aircraft interior air outflow valve for directing a second portion of the aircraft interior outflow air out of the aircraft;
• and,
• a valve control switch in an aircraft flight deck for enabling and disabling the shutoff valve;
• wherein the air compression inlet mixes the first portion of aircraft interior outflow air with aircraft exterior inflow air to form an air mixture, and further wherein the air mixture flows from the at least one air compression device to the air conditioning pack for conditioning, and then directly recirculates back into the aircraft interior.

A method for improving cooling efficiency in an aircraft, the method comprising:

• housing within a pack bay of the aircraft an air conditioning pack and an air compression device powered by a power source;
• directing via an air flow path a first portion of aircraft interior outflow air from an aircraft interior to the air compression device via an air compression device inlet, then to the air conditioning pack, and then directly back into the aircraft interior;
• directing a second portion of aircraft interior outflow air from the aircraft interior to outside of the aircraft;
• taking in aircraft exterior inflow air from outside the aircraft into the air compression device via the air compression device inlet;
• mixing in the air compression device inlet the first portion of aircraft interior outflow air with the aircraft exterior inflow air to form an air mixture;
• conditioning the air mixture with the air conditioning pack;
• directly recirculating the air mixture back into the aircraft interior;
• and,
• coupling a shutoff valve to the air flow path to enable the air flow path during ground operation and disable the air flow path for flight operation.

A method for improving ground cooling efficiency in an aircraft, the method comprising:

• housing within a pack bay of the aircraft an air conditioning pack and an air compression device powered by a power source;
• directing via at least one air flow path a first portion of aircraft interior outflow air from an aircraft interior to the air compression device via an air compression device inlet, then to the air conditioning pack, and then directly back into the aircraft interior;
• directing a second portion of aircraft interior outflow air from the aircraft interior to outside of the aircraft;
• taking in aircraft exterior inflow air from outside the aircraft into the air compression device via the air compression device inlet;
• mixing in the air compression device the first portion of the aircraft interior outflow air with the aircraft exterior inflow air to form an air mixture;
• conditioning the air mixture with the air conditioning pack;
• directly recirculating the air mixture back into the aircraft interior;
• coupling a shutoff valve to the air flow path to enable the air flow path during ground operation and disable the air flow path for flight operation;
• and,
• providing a valve control switch in an aircraft flight deck to enable or disable operation of the shutoff valve.