An aircraft air conditioning system comprising an ambient air line, for ambient air to flow through, connected to supply ambient air to a mixer of the aircraft air conditioning system. An ambient air compressor is arranged in the ambient air line for compressing the ambient air flowing there through. A refrigerating apparatus comprises a refrigerant circuit for a refrigerant to flow through, including a refrigerant compressor arranged in the refrigerant circuit. The refrigerant circuit is coupled thermally to the ambient air line to transfer heat from the ambient air to the refrigerant before the ambient air is supplied to the mixer. A cabin exhaust air turbine is connected to a cabin exhaust air line, is coupled to the ambient air compressor arranged in the ambient air line, and is configured to expand the cabin exhaust air flowing through the cabin exhaust air line and to drive the ambient air compressor.

A thermal energy storage unit is disclosed. The system comprising: a tube having at least one inlet and at least one outlet for a first fluid; a plurality of plate-shaped or box-shaped capsules having a second fluid therein, wherein the plurality of capsules is arranged inside the tube to form a plurality of stacks of capsules; wherein: the first fluid is a heat transfer fluid for exchanging heat with the second fluid; the second fluid is a phase-change medium; wherein a plurality of defined narrow flow paths for the first fluid is provided between the capsules. The defined flow paths increase the efficiency of the system.

An improved Bernoulli heat pump, wherein the intake section of a Venturi tube is structured so that when the refrigerant flows from the intake section into and through most of the middle (narrow) section, its flow is essentially laminar. Additionally, a second, bi-phase, component is added to the flowing gaseous refrigerant. Part of the bi-phase component evaporates, reaching super saturation, which state is maintained in the middle section, owing to the laminar flow, increasing heat absorption.

The invention relates to an electric compressor control device comprising a low-voltage domain. The low-voltage domain comprises a first control unit set up to process control commands for the control of the electric compressor, and a first voltage supply set up to supply the first control unit and connected to a low-voltage source. The low-voltage domain comprises furthermore a high-voltage domain. The high-voltage domain comprises a second control unit set up to control a power output stage, wherein the power output state inverts a dc voltage from a high-voltage source into an ac voltage in order to supply a motor of the electric compressor with the ac voltage. The high-voltage domain comprises furthermore a second voltage supply set up to supply the second control unit and connected to the high-voltage source.

Air conditioning system for an aircraft cabin, comprising a primary exchanger (14) configured to cool bleed air (12) from at least one compressor of the aircraft, a pre-compressor (18), an intermediate exchanger (20), a main compressor (22) configured to compress said pre-compressed bleed air, a main exchanger (28) configured to cool the compressed bleed air, and a water extraction loop, characterized in that it comprises a duct (108) for recovering at least part of the air from the cabin after it has passed through the cabin, and recovered air circulation ducts configured so that the recovered air successively passes through: a secondary exchanger (34), the recovered air forming a first cold source for cooling the bleed air again, a heat exchanger (20), the recovered air forming a second cold source for cooling the bleed air, an energy recovery turbine (48), the recovered air forming a source of energy.

A thermal energy storage unit is disclosed. The system comprising: a tube having at least one inlet and at least one outlet for a first fluid; a plurality of plate-shaped or box-shaped capsules having a second fluid therein, wherein the plurality of capsules is arranged inside the tube to form a plurality of stacks of capsules; wherein: the first fluid is a heat transfer fluid for exchanging heat with the second fluid; the second fluid is a phase-change medium; wherein a plurality of defined narrow flow paths for the first fluid is provided between the capsules. The defined flow paths increase the efficiency of the system.

An air cycle machine includes a housing, a duct, a bypass valve, and a plug. The duct extends from and connects two different portions of the housing and includes a first port and a second port. The first port is attached to the first inlet of the housing. The second duct is attached to the second inlet of the housing. The bypass valve is inserted into one of the first port and second port of the duct. The plug is inserted into the other of the first port and second port that the bypass valve is not inserted into. Both the first port and the second port are capable of receiving and forming a sealing interface with both of the bypass valve and the plug.

Two-stage vortex tube assemblies including an internal vortex generation chamber for generating a main vortex and a compressed air inlet having a tangential outlet port for creating a pre-vortex in an inflow of compressed air in a direction of flow of the main vortex. The two-stage vortex assemblies may be utilized in low pressure and low flow applications such as seat climatization, local heating or cooling, etc. Further disclosed are seat constructions and seat climatization systems utilizing a two-stage vortex tube as a single source for heating or cooling.

A method of monitoring an air cycle machine including driving a rotary shaft of an air cycle machine, disconnecting a driving source to allow the rotary shaft to slow the rotary shaft, and monitoring a shutdown cycle of the rotary shaft.

A radial diffuser includes an inlet section, outlet section, diffuser wall, and movable diffuser hub. The inlet section has a cylindrical shape and a circular cross section. The diffuser wall includes an inner surface defining a fluid flow path which is non-linear, and includes a convex curved section and a concave curved section. The convex curved section is adjacent to the inlet section and has a convex curvature. The concave curved section is adjacent to the outlet section and has a concave curvature. The movable diffuser hub is configured to move with respect to a central flow axis relative to the diffuser wall and can thereby alter a fluid flow through the radial diffuser.