A microtube heat exchanger is disclosed, including two end plates with an array of holes or openings and an array of microtubes disposed in the array of openings between the two end plates. The heat exchanger can be used in environmental control systems, including systems for aerospace applications.

A locking spanner assembly for an aircraft is disclosed. A clasp can be secured to an anchor by urging the clasp onto the anchor. The anchor contacts a trigger which opens a gate assembly to release a locking member which locks to the anchor. A lever arm allows for release which resets the clasp.

A system for controlling idle speed and power draw includes a determination unit configured to determine a current available power value, a determination unit configured to determine a current power consumption value, a determination unit configured to determine a future power requirement variation value, a computation unit configured to calculate a future estimated total power requirement value, a computation unit configured to calculate a future estimated available power value, an optimization unit configured to determine an optimization result by comparing the estimated total power requirement value with a power value associated with an optimization criterion and a controller configured to send an order to adapt an idle speed of the engine, an order to adapt the estimated total power requirement or no order as a function of the optimization result.

An environmental control system of a vehicle includes a ram air circuit including a ram air shell having a ram air heat exchanger positioned therein, a dehumidification system arranged in fluid communication with the ram air circuit, a first compression device arranged in fluid communication with the dehumidification system, the first compression device including a first compressor, and a second compression device arranged in fluid communication with the ram air circuit. The second compression device includes a second compressor. A first medium is provided to the first compressor and to the second compressor in series.

A fuel tank inerting system is disclosed, comprising a fuel tank and an electrochemical cell comprising a cathode and an anode separated by a separator comprising an anion transfer medium. A cathode fluid flow path is in operative fluid communication with a catalyst at the cathode between a cathode fluid flow path inlet and a cathode fluid flow path outlet. An anode fluid flow path is in operative fluid communication with a catalyst at the anode, and includes an anode fluid flow path outlet. An electrical connected to a power source is arranged to provide a voltage difference between the anode and the cathode. An air source is in operative fluid communication with either or both of the cathode flow path inlet and the anode flow path inlet. An inert gas flow path is in operative fluid communication with the cathode flow path outlet and the fuel tank.

An aircraft environmental control system includes a bleed air input and a RAM air input, heat exchanger means for receiving bleed air from the bleed air input and RAM air from the RAM air input and using the RAM air to cool the bleed air, and ejector arranged to receive bleed air from the bleed air input at a nozzle shaped to reduce the pressure of the received bleed air such as to create a low pressure area in the ejector. The ejector has a port arranged such that ambient air is drawn into the ejector due to the low pressure area in the ejector. The ambient air is mixed with bleed air to provide mixed air that is further pressurised and conditioned and combined with the cooled bleed air provided to the aircraft.

An air cycle machine includes a housing, a scavenging turbine, and an ambient air fan. The housing has an exterior wall defining an overboard air inlet, an ambient air inlet, and an ambient air outlet. The scavenging turbine is arranged within the housing, is supported for rotation about a rotation axis, and is in fluid communication with the overboard air inlet. The ambient air fan is arranged within the housing, is supported for rotation about the rotation axis within the housing, and has a radially inner spoked portion and radially outer bladed portion. The bladed portion of the ambient air fan fluidly couples the ambient air inlet to the ambient air outlet and the spoked portion of the ambient air fan fluidly couples the scavenging turbine to the ambient air fan within the housing. Environmental control systems and fluid communication methods are also described.

An air cycle machine includes a housing having an exterior wall and an interior wall, a scavenging turbine supported for rotation within the housing, and an ambient air fan. The ambient air fan is supported for rotation within the housing and is operably associated with the scavenging turbine. The interior wall defines therethrough a turbine-fan port that fluidly couples the ambient air fan to the scavenging turbine for communication of an overboard air flow to an ambient air flow without external ducting. Environmental control systems and methods of flowing fluid through air cycle machines are also described.

A fuel tank inerting system is provided including an air flow comprising air from a first source having a first temperature and air from a second source having a second temperature. The second temperature is cooler than the first temperature. At least one separating module is configured to separate an inert gas from the air flow.

An environmental control system according to an example of the present disclosure includes a heat exchanger, a ram air duct operable to provide cooling ram air to the heat exchanger, and a water extractor operable to extract water from the ram air. The heat exchanger includes at least one nozzle operable to spray water from the water extractor into the ram air duct. An example heat exchanger and a method of making a heat exchanger are also disclosed.