Process and apparatus for power-and air conditioning-fresh air generation in aircraft

Claim 1

A process of supplying power and air-conditioned fresh air in an aircraft comprising means forming an aircraft tail section, an auxiliary power unit within the tail section, an air-conditioning compressor arranged to be driven by said auxiliary power unit, an air intake for fresh air connected to the air-conditioning compressor, said auxiliary power unit including a turbine, a diffuser connected to the auxiliary power unit for supplying air thereto, an exhaust nozzle connected to the auxiliary power unit for discharging exhaust out of the tail section, a heat exchanger in heat transfer relation with the exhaust nozzle, means for supplying boundary layer suction air from the aircraft wings to at least the diffuser, and comprising the steps of directing exhaust air from at least one of the aircraft cabin and the boundary layer suction to the air intake and mixing the exhaust air from at least one of the aircraft cabin and the boundary layer with fresh air from the air intake at a location upstream from the auxiliary power unit, aspirating a part of the fresh air from the air intake and supplying the aspirated air to the air-conditioning compressor and driving the air-conditioning compressor by means of the auxiliary power unit, supplying at least a part of the air from the boundary layer suction and mixing such air with fresh air from the air intake and compressing the air mixture in the air-conditioning compressor, withdrawing the air mixture from the air-conditioning compressor and conveying it to the aircraft cabin, providing the air-conditioning compressor with a first stage and further stages, supplying compressed fresh air from the air intake to one of the first stage and the turbine of the auxiliary power unit after passage through the further stages, and supplying the further stages of the air-conditioning compressor with one of exhaust air and a mixture of exhaust air and fresh air.

Claim 12

A device for supplying power and air-conditioned fresh air in an aircraft, comprising means forming an aircraft tail section having an outlet end, an auxiliary power unit positioned within said tail section, an air-conditioning compressor located within said tail section and arranged to be driven by said auxiliary power unit with said auxiliary power unit being located between said air-conditioning compressor and the outlet end of said tail section, an air intake located in said tail section spaced from the outlet end thereof and having a first end for receiving fresh air from the exterior of said tail section and a second end located at said auxiliary power unit, said auxiliary power unit including a turbine, the second end of said air intake forms a diffuser connected to said auxiliary power unit for supplying air thereto, an exhaust nozzle at the outlet end of said tail section and connected to said auxiliary power unit for discharging exhaust from the tail section, a heat exchanger located within said tail section in heat transfer relation with said exhaust nozzle, means for supplying boundary layer suction air from the aircraft wing to said air intake, a guide tube located within said tail section and having a first end for receiving exhaust air from the aircraft cabin and exhaust air from the boundary layer suction and a second end opening into said air intake adjacent the first end thereof, and the second end of said air intake forms a diffuser for mixing the air within the air intake before it is introduced into said auxiliary power unit, a supply duct within said tail section having a first end in communication with said air intake and a second end in communication with said air-conditioning compressor for aspirating air from the air intake and conducting the aspirated air to the air-conditioning compressor, the first end of said supply duct arranged to receive exhaust air from said guide tube, and the second end of said supply duct forming a diffuser for mixing the air flowing through the supply duct before it enters the air-conditioning compressor, conduit means connected to said air-conditioning compressor for receiving outlet flow therefrom for conveying such outlet flow to the aircraft cabin, said air-conditioning compressor having a first stage and further stages, said turbine of said auxiliary power unit comprising a first stage and further stages, and said first stage and further stages of at least one of said air-conditioning compressor and said turbine of said auxiliary power unit arranged to receive air for flow through said means from said air-conditioning compressor and said turbine of the auxiliary power unit for use in air-conditioning the aircraft.

Claim 13

A device for supplying power and air-conditioned fresh air in an aircraft, comprising means forming an aircraft tail section having an outlet end, an auxiliary power unit positioned within said tail section, an air-conditioning compressor located within said tail section and arranged to be driven by said auxiliary power unit with said auxiliary power unit being located between said air-conditioning compressor and the outlet end of said tail section, an air intake located in said tail section spaced from the outlet end thereof and having a first end for receiving fresh air from the exterior of said tail section and a second end located at said auxiliary power unit, said auxiliary power unit including a turbine, the second end of said air intake forms a diffuser connected to said auxiliary power unit for supplying air thereto, an exhaust nozzle at the outlet end of said tail section and connected to said auxiliary power unit for discharging exhaust from the tail section, a heat exchanger located within said tail section in heat transfer relation with said exhaust nozzle, means for supplying boundary layer suction air from the aircraft wing to said air intake, a guide tube located within said tail section and having a first end for receiving exhaust air from the aircraft cabin and exhaust air from the boundary layer suction and a second end opening into said air intake adjacent the first end thereof, and the second end of said air intake forms a diffuser for mixing the air within the air intake before it is introduced into said auxiliary power unit, a supply duct within said tail section having a first end in communication with said air intake and a second end in communication with said air-conditioning compressor for aspirating air from the air intake and conducting the aspirated air to the air-conditioning compressor, the first end of said supply duct arranged to receive exhaust air from said guide tube, and the second end of said supply duct forming a diffuser for mixing the air flowing through the supply duct before it enters the air-conditioning compressor, conduit means connected to said air-conditioning compressor for receiving outlet flow therefrom for conveying such outlet flow to the aircraft cabin, said air-conditioning compressor having a first stage and further stages, said turbine of said auxiliary power unit comprising a first stage and further stages, and said first stage and further stages of at least one of said air-conditioning compressor and said turbine of said auxiliary power unit arranged to receive air for flow through said means from said air-conditioning compressor and said turbine of the auxiliary power unit for use in air-conditioning the aircraft.