Patent Description:
Vehicles such as aircraft generally utilize either a combination of recycled cabin air and exterior air, or exterior air exclusively to maintain cabin air quality when the aircraft is in operation. During flight, aircraft often maintain high altitudes for extended periods of time and collect exterior air from such ambient environments throughout a substantial portion of the flight. At high altitudes, ambient air has substantially low moisture content. As such, when ambient air from such high altitudes is supplied to the cabin, the moisture content of the cabin air becomes and/or remains relatively low. Low moisture content in cabin air increases the potential for viral spread and decreases the comfort level for passengers and crew aboard the aircraft.

Utilizing a combination of recycled cabin air and exterior air, aircraft attempt to minimize the effects of low moisture content ambient air. However, such attempts do not completely mitigate the issues and can bring about additional consequences of increased viral and bacterial spread as compared to aircraft that utilize exterior air exclusively. With respect to aircraft that utilize exterior air exclusively, a predetermined amount of water can be brought aboard the aircraft to be incorporated into the cabin air throughout flight. Unfortunately, the amount of water necessary to maintain sufficient moisture content of the cabin air throughout the flight adds substantial weight to the aircraft and undue cost to its operation. <CIT> discloses an aircraft cabin humidification system for humidifying an air mass within said cabin, said system comprising: replacement means for ventilating said cabin with a ram air stream; means for exhausting at least a portion of said air from said cabin; removal means for at least partially removing moisture from said air exhausted from said cabin; recycle means for recycling at least a portion of said moisture from said exhausted air; and humidification means for humidifying said cabin by adding at least a portion of said recycled moisture to said cabin.

Accordingly, it is desirable to provide vehicles including humidification systems, humidification systems for vehicles, and methods for humidifying vehicle interiors that address one or more of the foregoing issues. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the various embodiments described herein will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background.

Various non-limiting embodiments of a vehicle, a humidification system for a vehicle having an interior containing interior air, and a method for humidifying an interior of a vehicle are provided herein.

In a first embodiment, a vehicle according to claim <NUM> is provided.

In another embodiment, a method according to claim <NUM> is provided.

The following Detailed Description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the various embodiments or the application and uses thereof. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any theory presented in the preceding background or the following detailed description.

The exemplary embodiments taught herein provide a vehicle, for example, an aircraft or the like. The vehicle includes a vehicle structure, such as, for example, an aircraft structure, fuselage, or the like, at least partially surrounding an interior containing interior air. The vehicle further includes a humidification system in fluid communication with a first air stream and the interior. In one example, the vehicle includes an engine that is coupled to the vehicle structure and the vehicle is configured to extract bleed air from the engine as extracted bleed air that forms at least a portion of the first air stream. The humidification system includes a humidifier that is configured to humidify the first air stream to form a humidified air stream. The humidified air stream is introduced into the interior.

The humidification system further includes a water recovery zone that is in fluid communication with the interior to receive the interior air. As used herein, the term "zone" refers to an area(s) including one or more equipment items and/or one or more sub-zones. Equipment items can include one or more heat exchangers, separators, reservoirs, tanks, vessels, heaters, coolers/chillers, pipes, ducts, pumps, compressors, valves, controllers, and the like. Additionally, an equipment item can further include one or more zones or sub-zones. The water recovery zone is configured to condense and separate water from the interior air. In one example, the humidifier is further configured to receive the condensed and separated water from the water recovery zone for humidifying the first air stream.

Advantageously, by configuring the humidifier to humidify the first air stream to form a humidified air stream that is fluidly communicated to the interior, the vehicle provides humidified air to the interior of the vehicle. Further, advantageously, by providing a water recovery zone that is in fluid communication with the interior to receive the interior air and that is configured to condense and separate water from the interior air, water is recovered from the interior air. Still further, advantageously, by configuring the humidifier to receive the condensed and separated water to humidify the first air stream provides recycled utilization of the water, thereby reducing or eliminating the need for carrying additional water aboard the vehicle for humidifying the interior of the vehicle.

As such, advantageously, the total water weight necessary for humidifying the interior is reduced or eliminated compared to other approaches, thereby saving weight and reducing fuel consumption to operate the vehicle. Further, the humidity level of the interior air is improved (e.g., increased), thereby decreasing the potential for viral spread and increasing the comfort level for passengers and crew aboard the vehicle.

<FIG> illustrates a schematic view of a vehicle <NUM> including an air conditioning system <NUM> with a humidification system <NUM> in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. The vehicle <NUM> includes a vehicle structure <NUM> at least partially surrounding an interior <NUM> of the vehicle <NUM> and containing interior air <NUM>. As illustrated, the vehicle <NUM> is an aircraft and the vehicle structure <NUM> is an aircraft structure such as, for example, a fuselage. The interior <NUM> may include one or more interior areas <NUM> such as a cabin area, a lavatory area, a cockpit area, and/or the like.

The vehicle <NUM> includes an engine <NUM> coupled to the vehicle structure <NUM> and in fluid communication with the air conditioning system <NUM>. As illustrated, the vehicle <NUM> includes a singular engine <NUM>, but it is to be understood that various alternate embodiments of the vehicle <NUM> include a plurality of engines such as two, three, or more engines. The engine <NUM> is, for example, a turbine engine such as, for example, a turbofan engine. The engine <NUM> includes one or more compressors <NUM> and takes in ambient air <NUM> and pressurizes and combusts at least a portion of the ambient air <NUM> with fuel in a burner to drive one or more turbines to produce thrust <NUM> that propels the vehicle <NUM> in a general forward direction <NUM>.

In an exemplary embodiment, bleed air is extracted from the engine <NUM> via line <NUM> and/or line <NUM> and fluidly communicated to the air conditioning system <NUM> via lines <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. The bleed air may be extracted from any of various compressor stage ports of the compressor(s) <NUM> of the engine <NUM>. For example, bleed air extracted via line <NUM> corresponds to a lower compressor stage while bleed air extracted via line <NUM> corresponds to a higher compressor stage. When extracted, the bleed air is at increased pressure and temperature compared to the ambient air <NUM>. For example, at an altitude of about <NUM> meters (<NUM><NUM> feet), the ambient air <NUM> is at a temperature of about -<NUM> (-<NUM>°F) and a pressure of about <NUM> kPa (<NUM> psia) and the extracted bleed air <NUM> has a temperature of from about <NUM> (<NUM>°F) to about <NUM> (<NUM>°F) and a pressure of from about <NUM> kPa (<NUM> psig) to about <NUM> kPa (<NUM> psig) when extracted from a low stage of the compressor <NUM> and a temperature of from about <NUM> (<NUM>°F) to about <NUM> (<NUM>°F) and a pressure of from about <NUM> kPa (<NUM> psig) to about <NUM> kPa (<NUM> psig) when extracted from a high stage of the compressor <NUM>.

As discussed above, bleed air is extracted either from a lower compressor stage via line <NUM> or a higher compressor stage via line <NUM>. In an exemplary embodiment, a check valve <NUM> moderates the flow of the extracted bleed air when extracted via line <NUM> and a control valve <NUM> moderates the flow of the extracted bleed air when extracted via line <NUM>. The check valve <NUM> also prevents reverse flow between the higher compressor stage and the lower compressor stage. In an exemplary embodiment, bleed air from the higher compressor stage may be routed from the engine <NUM> via line <NUM> that includes the control valve <NUM> for regulating the flow rate of bleed air from the engine <NUM> for operating cases where lower stage extraction via line <NUM> would be insufficient for bleed air system demand. Bleed air extracted via line <NUM> and/or bleed air extracted via line <NUM> is routed to a heat exchanger <NUM> via line <NUM>. A control valve <NUM> regulates the pressure of bleed air to the heat exchanger <NUM> via line <NUM>. In an exemplary embodiment, the regulated pressure from the control valve <NUM> to line <NUM> is in the range of <NUM>-<NUM> kPa (<NUM>-<NUM> psig).

In an exemplary embodiment, the heat exchanger <NUM> is a single pass cross flow plate/fin stack heat exchanger <NUM>. The heat exchanger <NUM> provides the air conditioning system <NUM> with the extracted bleed air at a regulated temperature and pressure. For example, the extracted bleed air communicated via line <NUM> to the heat exchanger <NUM> is cooled by the heat exchanger <NUM> to a temperature of about <NUM> (<NUM>°F) under normal dual engine bleed operation, or <NUM> (<NUM>°F) during certain single engine bleed conditions and is then passed along to the air conditioning system via line <NUM>. In an exemplary embodiment, the engine <NUM> includes a fan <NUM> and engine fan air is extracted via line <NUM> and fluidly communicated to the heat exchanger <NUM> for cooling the extracted bleed air. The heat exchanger <NUM> may be operably coupled to a control valve <NUM> that regulates the flow rate of engine fan air through the heat exchanger <NUM> with the exchanged fan air being exhausted overboard. Additionally, and in accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the heat exchanger <NUM> may include additional valves, controls, and or sensors to assist in regulating the temperature and pressure of the extracted bleed air for fluid communication to the air conditioning system <NUM>.

The air conditioning system <NUM> includes an environmental control system <NUM>, manifolds <NUM> and <NUM>, a vehicle supply duct <NUM>, the humidification system <NUM>, a vehicle exhaust duct <NUM>, and a valve <NUM> that are in fluid communication. As discussed above, the extracted bleed air is fluidly communicated from the engine <NUM> to the air conditioning system via lines <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. In an exemplary embodiment, a portion of the extracted bleed air advanced from the heat exchanger <NUM> via line <NUM> is received by the environmental control system <NUM> and another portion of the extracted bleed air advanced from the heat exchanger <NUM> is received by the manifold <NUM> via line <NUM>. The environmental control system <NUM> includes an ozone converter, heat exchanger(s), control valve(s), control sensor(s), and/or refrigeration cycle(s) that are cooperatively configured to purify, cool and depressurize the extracted bleed air advanced to the environmental control system <NUM> via line <NUM> to form purified, cooled, depressurized air that is passed along to the manifold <NUM> via line <NUM>. For example, the purified, cooled, depressurized air advanced to the manifold <NUM> via line <NUM> is purified, cooled, and depressurized by the environmental control system <NUM> to a temperature of from about -<NUM> (<NUM>°F) to about <NUM> (<NUM>°F) and to a pressure of about <NUM> kPa (<NUM> psia) provided to the manifold <NUM>. In an exemplary embodiment, the environmental control system <NUM> is configured to receive ambient air <NUM> via line <NUM> for cooling and/or depressurizing the extracted bleed air. The ambient air <NUM> advanced to the environmental control system <NUM> via line <NUM> is then exhausted back out of the vehicle <NUM> via line <NUM>.

The manifold <NUM> and the manifold <NUM> are cooperatively configured to supply the extracted bleed air via line <NUM> and the purified, cooled, depressurized air via line <NUM>, respectively, that are mixed or combined together downstream to form a mixed air stream at line <NUM> and advanced therefrom to the vehicle supply duct <NUM>. In an exemplary embodiment, along line <NUM> is a control valve <NUM> that regulates the flow rate of extracted bleed air out of the manifold <NUM> for controlling the temperature of the mixed air stream (combined with the cold stream <NUM>) along line <NUM>. In an exemplary embodiment, the mixed air stream has a temperature of from about -<NUM> (<NUM>°F) to about <NUM> (<NUM>°F) and a pressure of from about <NUM> kPa (<NUM> psia) to about <NUM> kPa (<NUM> psia).

As illustrated, the humidification system <NUM> includes a humidifier <NUM> and a water recovery zone <NUM> that will be discussed in further detail below. The humidification system <NUM> is in fluid communication with at least one of the mixed air stream of line <NUM> and the purified, cooled, depressurized air stream of line <NUM>. Additionally, the humidification system <NUM> is in fluid communication with the interior <NUM> as will be discussed in further detail below. In an exemplary embodiment, the humidifier <NUM> is configured to humidify the mixed air stream via line <NUM> to form a humidified air stream. In an alternate embodiment, the humidifier <NUM> is configured to humidify the extracted bleed air at line <NUM> via line <NUM>. As such, the humidifier <NUM> is in fluid communication with and humidifies either the extracted bleed air before it is combined with the purified, cooled, depressurized air, or the mixed air stream after combining the extracted bleed air and the purified, cooled, depressurized air. Regardless of which of these air streams the humidifier <NUM> humidifies, it is to be understood that the air stream received by the vehicle supply duct <NUM> via line <NUM> has been humidified by the humidifier <NUM>. In an exemplary embodiment, the humidifier <NUM> is configured to vaporize, spray, atomize, evaporate, and/or steam water to humidify the respective air stream via line <NUM> or <NUM>.

The vehicle supply duct <NUM> is disposed in the interior <NUM> of the vehicle <NUM> and, as discussed above, is configured to receive the humidified air stream via line <NUM>. The humidified air stream is advanced into the interior <NUM> from the vehicle supply duct <NUM> (indicated by single-headed arrows <NUM>). As such, the vehicle supply duct <NUM> is configured to introduce the humidified air stream to the interior air <NUM> of the interior <NUM>. When the humidified air stream is introduced to the interior air <NUM>, the humidified air stream mixes with the interior air <NUM> to regulate, modify, increase, replenish, and/or maintain the moisture level of the interior air <NUM>.

The vehicle <NUM> further includes a vehicle exhaust duct <NUM> that is disposed in the interior <NUM> and that is configured to receive a portion of the interior air <NUM> from the interior <NUM>. The vehicle exhaust duct <NUM> is in fluid communication with the valve <NUM> via lines <NUM> and <NUM>. As such, the valve <NUM> is in fluid communication with the interior <NUM> through the exhaust duct <NUM>. In an exemplary embodiment, the valve <NUM> is configured to exhaust a portion of the interior air <NUM> out of the vehicle, for example, to control pressure of the interior air <NUM> remaining in the interior <NUM>.

The vehicle exhaust duct <NUM> is in fluid communication with the water recovery zone <NUM> of the humidification system <NUM> via lines <NUM> and <NUM>. In an exemplary embodiment, the water recovery zone <NUM> includes a heat exchanger <NUM>, a water separator <NUM>, a water reservoir <NUM>, and a pump <NUM> that are in fluid communication. The vehicle exhaust duct <NUM> withdraws a portion of interior air <NUM> from the interior <NUM> and supplies it to the heat exchanger <NUM> via lines <NUM> and <NUM>. As such, the water recovery zone <NUM> is in fluid communication with the interior <NUM> to receive interior air <NUM> through the vehicle exhaust duct <NUM> via lines <NUM> and <NUM>.

The heat exchanger <NUM> is configured to cool the portion of the interior air <NUM> that is supplied to the heat exchanger <NUM> via line <NUM> to form a cooled air stream. In an exemplary embodiment, the temperature of the cooled air stream formed by the heat exchanger <NUM> is maintained above the freezing point of water at the corresponding pressure to prevent and/or suppress water vapor present in the cooled air stream from forming ice crystals. For example, the heat exchanger <NUM> cools the received interior air <NUM> to form the cooled air stream at a temperature of from about <NUM> (<NUM>°F) to about <NUM> (<NUM>°F) and the pressure is maintained at about <NUM> kPa (<NUM> psia) to about <NUM> kPa (<NUM> psia). The heat exchanger <NUM> is further configured to receive ambient air <NUM> via line <NUM> for cooling the portion of the interior air <NUM> supplied to the heat exchanger via line <NUM>. In an exemplary embodiment, the portion of the interior air <NUM> supplied to the heat exchanger <NUM> via line <NUM> is cooled by indirect heat exchange with the ambient air <NUM> supplied to the heat exchanger <NUM> via line <NUM>. In one example, line <NUM> includes a control valve <NUM> that regulates the flow rate of ambient air <NUM> fluidly communicated to the heat exchanger <NUM> for cooling. The heat exchanger <NUM> is in fluid communication with the valve <NUM> via line <NUM> and the valve <NUM> is configured to exhaust the ambient air <NUM> back out of the vehicle <NUM> after indirect heat exchange with the portion of the interior air <NUM> communicated to the heat exchanger <NUM> via line <NUM>. The heat exchanger <NUM> is also in fluid communication with the water separator <NUM> to supply the water separator <NUM> with the cooled air stream via line <NUM>.

The water separator <NUM> is configured to receive the cooled air stream via line <NUM> and condense and separate water from the cooled air stream and form a cooled, dehumidified air stream. In an exemplary embodiment, the water separator <NUM> is a centrifugal water separator or the like. The water condensed and separated from the cooled air stream is fluidly communicated to the water reservoir <NUM> via line <NUM> and the cooled, dehumidified air stream is fluidly communicated to the valve <NUM> via line <NUM>. As illustrated, the valve <NUM> exhausts the cooled, dehumidified air stream back out of the vehicle <NUM>.

The water reservoir <NUM> is configured to receive the condensed and separated water from the water separator <NUM> via line <NUM>. Additionally, the water reservoir <NUM> is configured to hold the condensed and separated water and, optionally, to hold additional water if needed. In an exemplary embodiment, the water reservoir <NUM> includes an ultraviolet (UV) light source that is configured to generate UV light for treating the water in the water reservoir <NUM>. For example, the UV light source may be disposed adjacent to and/or in direct contact with the water in the water reservoir <NUM> and/or in line <NUM> for treating the water in the water reservoir <NUM>. In an exemplary embodiment, the UV light acts as a disinfection treatment that kills and/or inactivates microorganisms that may be present in the water prior to delivery to pump <NUM>.

The water reservoir <NUM> is in fluid communication with the pump <NUM> via line <NUM> to provide water to the pump <NUM>. The pump <NUM> advances water to the humidifier <NUM> via line <NUM>. As such, the pump <NUM> provides the humidifier <NUM> with pressurized water for forming the humidified air stream discussed above.

Referring to <FIG>, a vehicle <NUM> is similar configured to the vehicle <NUM> including an air conditioning system <NUM> with a humidification system <NUM> but with the exception that the vehicle <NUM> has multiple engines <NUM> and <NUM>. In an exemplary embodiment, the engine <NUM> is similarly configured to the engine <NUM> discussed above and bleed air is extracted from the engine <NUM> either via line <NUM> or via line <NUM> and is advanced to the vehicle <NUM> and air conditioning system via lines <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. A check valve <NUM> moderates the flow of the extracted bleed air when extracted via line <NUM> and a control valve <NUM> moderates the flow of the extracted bleed air when extracted via line <NUM>. The check valve <NUM> also prevents reverse flow between the higher compressor stage and the lower compressor stage. In an exemplary embodiment, bleed air from the higher compressor stage may be routed from the engine <NUM> via line <NUM> that includes the control valve <NUM> for regulating the flow rate of bleed air from the engine <NUM> for operating cases where lower stage extraction via line <NUM> would be insufficient for bleed air system demand. Bleed air extracted via line <NUM> and/or bleed air extracted via line <NUM> is routed to a heat exchanger <NUM> via line <NUM>. A control valve <NUM> regulates the pressure of bleed air to the heat exchanger <NUM> via line <NUM>. In an exemplary embodiment, the regulated pressure from the control valve <NUM> to line <NUM> is in the range of <NUM>-<NUM> kPa (<NUM>-<NUM> psig).

In an exemplary embodiment, the heat exchanger <NUM> is a single pass cross flow heat exchanger <NUM>. The heat exchanger <NUM> provides the air conditioning system <NUM> with the extracted bleed air at a regulated temperature. For example, the extracted bleed air communicated via line <NUM> to the heat exchanger <NUM> is cooled by the heat exchanger <NUM> to a temperature of about <NUM> (<NUM>°F) and a pressure of about <NUM>-<NUM> kPa (<NUM>-<NUM> psig) and is then communicated to the air conditioning system via line <NUM>. In an exemplary embodiment, the engine <NUM> includes a fan <NUM> and engine fan air is extracted via line <NUM> and fluidly communicated to the heat exchanger <NUM> for cooling the extracted bleed air. The heat exchanger may further include a control valve <NUM> that regulates the flow rate of engine fan air through the heat exchanger <NUM>. Fan air from control valve <NUM> is then exhausted out of the vehicle <NUM> to the ambient environment. Additionally, and in accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the heat exchanger may include additional valves, controls, and or sensors to assist in regulating the temperature and pressure of the extracted bleed air for fluid communication to the air conditioning system <NUM>.

The air conditioning system <NUM> is similarly configured to the air conditioning system <NUM> but with the exception that the air conditioning system <NUM> further includes an additional environmental control system <NUM>. As discussed above, the extracted bleed air is fluidly communicated from the engine <NUM> to the air conditioning system via lines <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. In an exemplary embodiment, a portion of the extracted bleed air communicated from the heat exchanger <NUM> via line <NUM> is received by the environmental control system <NUM> and another portion of the extracted bleed air communicated from the heat exchanger <NUM> is received by the manifold <NUM> via line <NUM>. The environmental control system <NUM> includes an ozone converter, heat exchanger(s), control valve(s), control sensor(s), and/or refrigeration cycle(s) that are cooperatively configured to purify, cool and depressurize the extracted bleed air communicated to the environmental control system <NUM> via line <NUM> to form purified, cooled, depressurized air that is communicated to the manifold <NUM> via line <NUM>. For example, the purified cooled, depressurized air communicated to the manifold <NUM> via line <NUM> is cooled and depressurized by the environmental control system <NUM> to a temperature of from about -<NUM> (<NUM>°F) to about <NUM> (<NUM>°F) and to a pressure of about <NUM> kPa (<NUM> psia). In an exemplary embodiment, the environmental control system <NUM> is configured to receive ambient air <NUM> via line <NUM> for cooling the extracted bleed air. The ambient air <NUM> communicated to the environmental control system <NUM> via line <NUM> is then exhausted back out of the vehicle <NUM> via line <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, a method <NUM> for humidifying an interior of a vehicle in accordance with an exemplary embodiment is provided. The method <NUM> includes humidifying (STEP <NUM>) a first air stream with a humidifier to form a humidified air stream. The humidified air stream is fluidly communicated (STEP <NUM>) to interior of the vehicle. The interior air is fluidly communicated (STEP <NUM>) to a water recovery zone. Water is condensed and separated (STEP <NUM>) from the interior air with the water recovery zone. The water is fluidly communicated (STEP <NUM>) from the water recovery zone to the humidifier.

Claim 1:
A vehicle (<NUM>) comprising:
a vehicle structure (<NUM>) at least partially surrounding an interior (<NUM>), the interior containing interior air (<NUM>); and,
a humidification system (<NUM>) configured to be in fluid communication with a first air stream and the interior (<NUM>), the humidification system comprising:
a humidifier (<NUM>) configured to humidify the first air stream to form a humidified air stream that is fluidly communicated to the interior; and
a water recovery zone (<NUM>) configured to receive the interior air and to condense and separate water from the interior air, the water recovery zone configured to be in fluid communication with the humidifier and to provide the water to the humidifier,
wherein said vehicle further comprises a valve (<NUM>) that is in fluid communication with the interior and that is configured to exhaust a first portion of the interior air out of the vehicle to control pressure of the interior air remaining in the interior; and wherein
the water recovery zone (<NUM>) comprises a heat exchanger (<NUM>) that is configured to receive the interior air and ambient air from outside the vehicle, the heat exchanger being further configured to cool a second portion of the interior air to form a cooled air stream via indirect heat exchange between the second portion of the interior air and the ambient air.