Patent ID: 6099617
Filing Date: 2000-08-08
Classification: B60H,B64D,F05B,F24F,F41H,Y02T

Abstract:
A method for providing clean air conditioned air to an environment, the air being derived from a source of compressed air which is communicated to an air cycle machine having a compressor, a turbine and a load heat exchanger, the method comprising pressurizing air in the compressor, communicating pressurized air to the turbine to expand and cool the air and communicating expanded cooled air to the load heat exchanger, the method further comprising the step of removing contaminants from the air during the step of communicating air to the turbine by passing it from the compressor to the turbine via a pressure swing adsorbtion system comprising at least two filter beds, operated such that, at any one time, at least one such filter bed is on stream and fed with the contaminated air and at least one other such filter bed is off stream and being purged with de-pressurized clean air, the system being cycled to reverse the role of each filter bed periodically, and the de-pressurized clean air for purging being derived from air expanded by the turbine and passed through the load heat exchanger, the air for purging being heated by heat exchange with clean air passing from the pressure swing adsorbtion system to the turbine before entering the pressure swing adsorbtion system to purge it.