EP-4737317-A1 - AIR SYSTEM WITH GENERATOR FOR CABIN PRESSURIZATION

EP4737317A1EP 4737317 A1EP4737317 A1EP 4737317A1EP-4737317-A1

Abstract

In some examples, a system includes a compressor configured to provide a compressed air flow to pressurize a compartment of a vehicle, such as an aircraft. The compressor is configured to provide the compressed air flow using a primary mechanical power provided by a motor assembly or a secondary mechanical power provided by a turbine assembly. The system is configured to cause the compressor to transition from using the primary mechanical power to using the secondary mechanical power when an input electrical power to the motor assembly is below a threshold. The system includes a generator assembly configured to provide an output electrical power using the secondary mechanical power.

Inventors

NYAMAGOUDAR, Vinayak M.
DESHPANDE, PRASHANT

Assignees

Honeywell International Inc.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260506
Application Date: 20251014

Claims (15)

A system comprising: a motor assembly configured to produce a primary mechanical power when the motor assembly receives an input electrical power from an electrical distribution system of a vehicle, a turbine assembly configured to couple to a vehicle body of the vehicle, wherein the turbine assembly includes a turbine configured to produce a secondary mechanical power when the turbine receives a ram air flow; a compressing element configured to compress an inlet air flow using at least one of the primary mechanical power or a first portion of the secondary mechanical power; a generator assembly configured to provide an output electrical power to the electrical distribution system when the generator assembly receives a second portion of the secondary mechanical power; and a clutching mechanism having a disengaged configuration and an engaged configuration, wherein the clutching mechanism is configured to limit a delivery of at least one of the first portion to the compressing element or the second portion to the generator assembly in the disengaged configuration and increase the delivery of the at least one of the first portion to the compressing element or the second portion to the generator assembly in the engaged configuration, and wherein the clutching mechanism is configured to transition from the disengaged configuration to the engaged configuration when the input electrical power decreases below a threshold.
The system of claim 1, wherein the motor assembly and the generator assembly comprise a motor-generator, wherein the motor-generator comprises a stator and a rotor configured to rotate relative to the stator, wherein the rotor is configured to produce the primary mechanical power when the stator receives the input electrical power, and wherein the stator is configured to produce the output electrical power when the rotor receives the second portion of the secondary mechanical power.
The system of claim 1 or 2, further comprising a control system configured to monitor the input electrical power and cause, in response to the input electrical power decreasing below the threshold, the clutching mechanism to transition from the disengaged configuration to the engaged configuration.
The system of any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the turbine assembly is configured to establish a deployed configuration and a stowed configuration, wherein the turbine is configured to receive the ram air flow when the turbine assembly is in the deployed configuration, and wherein the turbine assembly is configured to limit a receipt of the ram air flow by the turbine in the stowed configuration.
The system of claim 4, wherein the turbine assembly is configured to transition from the stowed configuration to the deployed configuration when the input electrical power decreases below the threshold.
The system of claim 5, wherein the turbine assembly includes a support member coupled to the turbine, and wherein the support member is configured to: position in a first position relative to the vehicle body and configured to position in a second position relative to the vehicle body, place the turbine assembly in the stowed configuration when the support member is in the second position and configured to place the turbine assembly in the deployed configuration when the support member is in the first position, and transition from the second position to the first position when the input electrical power provided by the electrical distribution system decreases below the threshold.
The system of any of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a generator controller configured to limit at least one of a voltage or a current provided from generator assembly to the electrical distribution system when the generator assembly provides the output electrical power.
The system of any of claims 1 to 7, further comprising a permanent magnet assembly comprising the generator assembly, wherein the permanent magnet assembly is configured to cause the generator assembly to provide the output electrical power when the generator assembly receives the second portion of the secondary mechanical power.
The system of claim 8, wherein the permanent magnet assembly further comprises the motor assembly, and wherein the permanent magnet assembly is configured to cause the motor assembly to produce the primary mechanical power when the motor assembly receives the input electrical power.
The system of any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the turbine is a ram air turbine including a plurality of blades coupled to a shaft, wherein the turbine is configured to cause the ram air flow to impact the plurality of blades when the turbine receives the ram air, and wherein the plurality of blades are configured to cause rotation of the shaft when the ram air flow impacts the plurality of blades.
The system of any of claims 1 to 10, further comprising a gear assembly, wherein the gear assembly is configured to receive at least the second portion of the secondary mechanical power from the turbine assembly as an input rotational power acting around a first axis, wherein the gear assembly is configured to transfer at least the second portion of the secondary mechanical power to the clutching mechanism as an output rotational power acting around a second axis, and wherein the second axis is angularly displaced from the first axis.
The system of any of claims 1 to 11, wherein the compressing element comprises a compressor configured to provide the inlet air flow compressed by the compressing element to a compartment supported by the vehicle.
The system of any of claims 1 to 12, further comprising: a control system configured to monitor a pressure in a compartment supported by the vehicle; and an outflow valve configured to issue a discharge air flow comprising the inlet air flow compressed by the compressing element from the compartment to an external environment surrounding the vehicle body, wherein the control system is configured to control a position of the outflow valve based on the pressure in the compartment.
A system comprising: a motor-generator comprising: a motor assembly configured to produce a primary mechanical power when the motor assembly receives an input electrical power from an electrical distribution system of a vehicle, and a generator assembly configured to provide an output electrical power to the electrical distribution system; a turbine assembly including a turbine, the turbine assembly configured to establish a deployed configuration relative to an aircraft body of an aircraft and establish a stowed configuration relative to the aircraft body, wherein the turbine is configured to receive a ram air flow and produce a secondary mechanical power using the ram air flow when the turbine assembly is in the deployed configuration, and wherein the turbine assembly is configured to limit a receipt of the ram air flow by the turbine when the turbine assembly is in the stowed configuration; a compressing element configured to compress an inlet air flow to provide a compressed air flow to a compartment of the vehicle, wherein the compressing element is configured to compress the inlet air flow using at least one of the primary mechanical power or a first portion of the secondary mechanical power, and wherein the generator assembly is configured to receive a second portion of the secondary mechanical power to provide the output electrical power; and a clutching mechanism having an engaged configuration and a disengaged configuration, wherein the clutching mechanism is configured to limit a delivery of the mechanical power from the turbine to the compressing element in the disengaged configuration and increase the delivery of the mechanical power from the turbine to the compressing element in the engaged configuration, wherein the clutching mechanism is configured to transition from the disengaged configuration to the engaged configuration when the input electrical power decreases below a threshold, and wherein the turbine assembly is configured to transition from the stowed configuration to the deployed configuration when the input electrical power decreases below the threshold.
A method, comprising: producing, using a motor assembly receiving an input electrical power from an electrical distribution system of a vehicle, a primary mechanical power; compressing, using a compressing element receiving the primary mechanical power, an inlet air flow, wherein the compressing element is configured to compress the inlet air flow using at least one of the primary mechanical power or a secondary mechanical power; producing, when the input electrical power decreases below a threshold, and by transitioning a clutching mechanism from a disengaged configuration to an engaged configuration, the secondary mechanical power using a turbine assembly; and causing the compressing element to compress the inlet air flow using a first portion of the secondary mechanical power and causing a generator assembly to provide an output electrical power to the electrical distribution system using a second portion of the secondary mechanical power, wherein the clutching mechanism is configured to limit a delivery of the secondary mechanical power from the turbine assembly to the compressing element and the generator assembly in the disengaged configuration and increase the delivery of the secondary mechanical power from the turbine assembly to the compressing element and the generator assembly in the engaged configuration.

Description

This application claims the benefit of Indian Provisional Patent Application No. 202411084619, filed November 5, 2024, and entitled "AIR SYSTEM WITH GENERATOR FOR CABIN PRESSURIZATION," the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to air supply systems, such as pressurized air supply systems on-board an aircraft. BACKGROUND Vehicles, such as aircraft, may include a pressurized air supply system to supply a vehicle with air and provide climate control (e.g., temperature and pressure) within one or more compartments of the vehicle. In the case of an aircraft, the pressurized air supply system may receive an air flow and condition the air flow prior to providing the air flow to the compartment. In examples, the pressurized air system cools the air flow and provides for recirculation among the compartments of the vehicle. In some examples, the pressurized air system may provide pressurization to the aircraft interior for the comfort and/or safety of passengers and crew. SUMMARY In examples, a system comprises a motor assembly configured to produce a primary mechanical power when the motor assembly receives an input electrical power from an electrical distribution system of a vehicle, a turbine assembly configured to couple to a vehicle body of the vehicle, wherein the turbine assembly includes a turbine configured to produce a secondary mechanical power when the turbine receives a ram air flow; a compressing element configured to compress an inlet air flow using at least one of the primary mechanical power or a first portion of the secondary mechanical power; a generator assembly configured to provide an output electrical power to the electrical distribution system when the generator assembly receives a second portion of the secondary mechanical power; and a clutching mechanism having a disengaged configuration and an engaged configuration, wherein the clutching mechanism is configured to limit a delivery of at least one of the first portion to the compressing element or the second portion to the generator assembly in the disengaged configuration and increase the delivery of the at least one of the first portion to the compressing element or the second portion to the generator assembly in the engaged configuration, and wherein the clutching mechanism is configured to transition from the disengaged configuration to the engaged configuration when the input electrical power decreases below a threshold. In examples, a system comprises a motor-generator comprising: a motor assembly configured to produce a primary mechanical power when the motor assembly receives an input electrical power from an electrical distribution system of a vehicle, and a generator assembly configured to provide an output electrical power to the electrical distribution system; a turbine assembly including a turbine, the turbine assembly configured to establish a deployed configuration relative to an aircraft body of an aircraft and establish a stowed configuration relative to the aircraft body, wherein the turbine is configured to receive a ram air flow and produce a secondary mechanical power using the ram air flow when the turbine assembly is in the deployed configuration, and wherein the turbine assembly is configured to limit a receipt of the ram air flow by the turbine when the turbine assembly is in the stowed configuration; a compressing element configured to compress an inlet air flow to provide a compressed air flow to a compartment of the vehicle, wherein the compressing element is configured to compress the inlet air flow using at least one of the primary mechanical power or a first portion of the secondary mechanical power, and wherein the generator assembly is configured to receive a second portion of the secondary mechanical power to provide the output electrical power; and a clutching mechanism having an engaged configuration and a disengaged configuration, wherein the clutching mechanism is configured to limit a delivery of the mechanical power from the turbine to the compressing element in the disengaged configuration and increase the delivery of the mechanical power from the turbine to the compressing element in the engaged configuration, wherein the clutching mechanism is configured to transition from the disengaged configuration to the engaged configuration when the input electrical power decreases below a threshold, and wherein the turbine assembly is configured to transition from the stowed configuration to the deployed configuration when the input electrical power decreases below the threshold. In examples, a method comprises producing, using a motor assembly receiving an input electrical power from an electrical distribution system of a vehicle, a primary mechanical power; compressing, using a compressing element receiving the primary mechanical power, an inlet air flow, wherein the compressing element is configured to compress the inlet air flow using