Method for distributing oxygen-enriched air to aircraft passengers
Abstract
Procedure for distributing oxygen enriched air to passengers in an aircraft, in which passengers are provided with a first fraction of oxygen enriched air from an independent source of oxygen at a first pressure, during a phase of lowering the aircraft between a cruising altitude and a deviation situation altitude, and is produced, in an onboard separator, a second fraction of oxygen-enriched air with a content between 60 and 95% and at a second pressure, which is provided to passengers, at least in a phase of substantially stabilized flight of the aircraft, which develops in the vicinity of the deviation situation altitude, in which during the indicated descent phase, only the first fraction of enriched air is provided and during the substantially stabilized flight phase, only the second fraction of enriched air is provided.

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13 claims: 2 independent, 11 dependent
- 1ES 2 331 114 T3 REIVINDICACIONES 1. Procedimiento de distribución de aire enriquecido en oxígeno a los pasajeros de una aeronave, en el cual se proporciona a los pasajeros una primera fracción de aire enriquecido en oxígeno a partir de una fuente independiente de oxígeno a una primera presión, durante una fase de descenso de la aeronave entre una altitud de crucero y una altitud de situación de desviación, y se produce, en un separador embarcado, una segunda fracción de aire enriquecido en oxígeno con un contenido comprendido entre un 60 y un 95% y a una segunda presión, que se proporciona a los pasajeros, al menos en una fase de vuelo sensiblemente estabilizado de la aeronave, que se desarrolla en la proximidad de la altitud de situación de desviación, en la cual durante la indicada fase de descenso, se proporciona únicamente la primera fracción de aire enriquecido y durante la fase de vuelo sensiblemente estabilizado, se proporciona únicamente la segunda fracción de aire enriquecido.
- 2Procedimiento según la reivindicación 1, caracterizado porque la indicada segunda presión es inferior a la indicada primera presión.
- 3Procedimiento según la reivindicación 1 ó 2, caracterizado porque la altitud de situación de desviación es superior a los 5.500 metros.
- 4Procedimiento según una de las reivindicaciones 1 a 3, caracterizado porque la altitud de situación de desviación se encuentra comprendida entre los 6.000 y los 8.000 metros.
- 5Procedimiento según una de las reivindicaciones 1 a 4, caracterizado porque la segunda presión se encuentra comprendida entre 1,5 y 2,5 bares relativos.
- 6Procedimiento según la reivindicación 5, caracterizado porque se produce la indicada segunda fracción de aire enriquecido en un concentrador con tamices moleculares (2).
- 7Procedimiento según una de las reivindicaciones 1 a 6, caracterizado porque la primera presión es superior a 110 bares relativos.
- 8Procedimiento según una de las reivindicaciones anteriores, caracterizado porque, en la fase de vuelo a la altitud de situación de desviación, no se proporciona sustancialmente ya la primera fracción de aire enriquecido a los pasajeros.
- 9Procedimiento según una cualquiera de las reivindicaciones 1 a 8, caracterizado porque utiliza una instalación de distribución de aire enriquecido en oxígeno a los pasajeros de una aeronave, que comprende una fuente independiente (18) de una primera fracción de aire enriquecido en oxígeno a una primera presión, medios embarcados de producción (2) de una segunda fracción de aire enriquecido en oxígeno a una segunda presión, medios de suministro (20, 22, 23) de las primera y segunda fracciones de aire enriquecido en oxígeno a los pasajeros, y medios de distribución secuencial (14) de los caudales respectivos de las primera y segunda fracciones de aire enriquecido en oxígeno, a los medios de suministro (20, 22, 23), comprendiendo estos medios de distribución una primera entrada conectada con la fuente independiente (18), y una segunda entrada conectada con los medios de producción (2), una salida conectada a los medios de suministro (20-23), y una válvula de tres vías (14), comprendiendo la instalación medios, sensibles a la presión, de control (26) de los medios de distribución (14) comprendiendo los indicados medios de control un captador de altitud (26) y/o un captador de presión que coopera con un medio de accionamiento conformado para accionar la válvula (14) para proporcionar, en un primer tiempo, únicamente la primera fracción de aire enriquecido durante una fase de bajada entre una altitud de crucero y una altitud de situación de desviación, y luego para proporcionar, en una segunda fase, únicamente la segunda fracción de aire enriquecido durante una fase de vuelo sensiblemente estabilizada en la proximidad de la altitud de situación de desviación.
- 10Procedimiento según la reivindicación 9, caracterizado porque la instalación comprende un descompresor de presión entre la fuente independiente (18) y los medios de distribución (14).
- 11Procedimiento según una de las reivindicaciones 9 a 10, caracterizado porque los medios de producción comprenden un concentrador con tamices moleculares (2).
- 12Procedimiento según una de las reivindicaciones 9 a 11, caracterizado porque la fuente independiente comprende botellas de oxígeno presurizado (18).
- 13Procedimiento según una de las reivindicaciones 9 a 12, caracterizado porque la instalación comprende un regulador de presión (24) entre los medios de distribución (14) y los medios de suministro (20, 23).
Independent claims13
33 paragraphs in 3 sections, as filed
ES 2 331 114 T3
DESCRIPTION
Procedure for distributing oxygen-enriched air to the passengers of an aircraft.
The present invention relates to a method for distributing oxygen-enriched air to the passengers of an aircraft, more particularly of a commercial airliner.
In an accidental depressurization of the cabin of an airplane, produced at high altitude, the occupants (passengers and crew) must quickly inhale an air enriched in oxygen, in order to avoid a state of hypoxia, due to the brutal decrease in pressure partial oxygen.
In this connection, it is known to provide independent means, which make it possible to provide an oxygen-enriched air. It can be high pressure cylinders, in which pure oxygen is stored. As an alternative, the latter can be produced by means of chemical oxygen generators.
The distribution of oxygen to the passengers, from the means of supply, occurs through masks. The latter allow a mixture between distributed oxygen and ambient air. This distribution stops when the aircraft reaches a low altitude of approximately 3,000 meters, which is reached in approximately 15 minutes from a cruising altitude of approximately 12,500 meters.
However, this known solution involves some drawbacks. In particular, given that, in the event of depressurization, the aircraft must necessarily return to a relatively low altitude, close to 3,000 meters, it is essential to carry an additional amount of fuel in the tanks. Indeed, the consumption of the aircraft increases at this low altitude, due to the greater air resistance. It is easily conceived that carrying this supplementary fuel contributes to the overload of the apparatus, in a significant way.
US-A-4,651,728 (Boeing) describes a multi-source system for supplying oxygen to a jet fighter jet pilot with an ejection seat.
Document EP-A-827,907 (Airbus), which constitutes the most similar state of the art, describes a process for distributing enriched air by means of an independent source of oxygen and an on-board concentrator of air enriched in oxygen that feeds various downstream circuits, for the crew and passengers.
Document WO-A-02/04076 (HNG), published on January 17, 2002, describes a battery of separators that provide oxygen to passenger and crew masks, eventually completed with small oxygen reservoirs.
The invention aims to put into practice a process for distributing air enriched in oxygen, which makes it possible to alleviate the disadvantages of the known solution mentioned above.
In this respect, the invention has as its object a method for distributing oxygen-enriched air to the passengers of an aircraft according to claim 1.
The invention makes it possible to achieve the aforementioned objectives.
Indeed, according to the invention, the on-board separator can produce oxygen-enriched air, from a source of compressed air in the aircraft, for a very long time. The passengers can thus even be fed with air enriched in oxygen, not only during the time of the descent, but also during the flight of deviation situation itself.
It is thus easily conceived that the altitude of the deviation situation can, for this reason, be notably higher than that adopted in the prior art. Thanks to the method of the invention, it is thus possible to foresee deviation situation flights that are located at altitudes higher than 5,500 meters, advantageously between 6,000 and 8,000 meters, allowing to cross most of the mountainous massifs of the globe. By way of comparison, with the method that implements the prior art solution, a deviation location altitude would require supply means, such as bottles or generators, the bulkiness and mass of which would be unacceptable.
Furthermore, the quantity of safety fuel, which should be provided in the tanks of the aircraft, is thereby substantially reduced thanks to the invention. Indeed, the deviation situation altitude allowed by the invention induces a notable decrease in fuel consumption in relation to the prior art, which needs to reach a much lower altitude. The reduction of this additional quantity of fuel therefore ensures a corresponding decrease in the weight of the aircraft, as well as in its consumption. On the other hand, this reduction in the volume of fuel shipped allows the admission of occupants or additional luggage, which is advantageous in economic terms.
Since the invention allows high deviation location altitudes, it allows, as mentioned above, airlines to consider new routes, flying over mountainous regions. A possibility
This type of service is advantageous, insofar as it even induces a reduction in the duration of the flights. It should be remembered that the routes, to which reference has been made previously, are so far prohibited, when they are located above areas whose altitude is higher than the altitude of the deviation situation allowed in this prior art.
Lastly, the invention makes it possible to avoid any massive transport of gaseous oxygen cylinders or oversized on-board oxygen generators. This guarantees a reduction in the weight of the apparatus, and considerably reduces the risks of explosion in fires produced on board.
The method according to the invention can use an installation of air enriched in oxygen to the passengers of an aircraft according to claims 9 to 13.
The invention will be described below, with reference to the attached single figure, given solely by way of non-limiting example, this figure being a schematic view illustrating an embodiment of an oxygen-enriched air distribution installation according to the invention .
The distribution installation, represented in this figure, comprises an oxygen separator or concentrator of a known type, designated as a whole by reference 2. This concentrator, which allows a separation of the oxygen and nitrogen contained in the air, typically uses sieves molecular compounds, particularly zeolites, of a type known per se. This concentrator provides at the outlet an oxygen-enriched air with an oxygen content advantageously between 60 and 95%, typically between 80 and 93%, at a low pressure typically comprised between 1.5 and 2.5 relative bars. .
This concentrator 2 is connected, by means of a duct 4, provided with a filter 6, with a source of compressed air 7, internal to an aircraft. A source of this type is, for example, formed by the conditioning circuit of the aircraft, or else also by a tap on the compressor stages of the reactors.
The concentrator 2 comprises an outlet conduit 8, through which nitrogen-enriched air circulates, as well as a conduit 10, through which oxygen-enriched air circulates. This duct 10 is provided with a sensor 12, which makes it possible to control the oxygen content of the enriched air through which it circulates.
In the embodiment shown, the conduit 10 opens into a three-way valve 14, on the other hand placed in communication, by means of a conduit 16, with a battery of gas bottles 18. The latter ensure, in a conventional way, pure oxygen storage under high pressure greater than 110 relative bars, typically between 120 and 150 bars. They can be supplemented, if necessary, by means of chemical oxygen generators, not shown, also of known type. The conduit 16 comprises at least one regulator / decompressor (not shown) to supply the conduit 20 with oxygen under a reduced pressure, less than 3 relative bars.
The outlet of the three-way valve 14 is constituted by a distribution duct 20, which runs through the cabin of the aircraft and is divided into several branches 22, each of which is suitable for supplying an oxygen mask 23 for a passenger. This duct 20 is equipped with a pressure regulator 24, which makes it possible to evenly distribute the quantity of air distributed in the set of derivations 22.
Finally, an altitude sensor 26 is provided, which cooperates with an actuation means (not shown), which makes it possible to actuate valve 14, by means of conduit 28. As a variant, this altitude sensor can be replaced or duplicated by a pressure sensor.
The operation of the installation, described above, will be explained below.
At cruising altitude, for example close to 12,500, the conduit 20 is not fed, neither by the concentrator 2, at rest, nor by the bottles 18.
In a depressurization accident, a signal is typically sent to the pilot. The latter then initiates the immediate opening of the bottles 18, in order to feed the duct 20 with enriched air, from the duct 16 and through the three-way valve 14. This guarantees the immediate distribution to the passengers of a first fraction of oxygen-rich air, through shunts 22, terminated by oxygen masks 23.
On the other hand, the pilot simultaneously starts up the oxygen concentrator 2, which requires a start-up time of a few minutes. Since, during this start-up, the three-way valve is brought into communication only with the conduit 16, and not with the conduit 10, it is necessary to provide an outlet for evacuating the air initially produced by the concentrator. Such an evacuation (not shown in the figure) can be located in the three-way valve 14, or upstream of it, in the supply line 10.
When the intermediate altitude of the planned deviation situation is reached, typically above 5,000 meters, advantageously between 6,000 and 8,000 meters, the sensor 26 causes the three-way valve 14 to tilt, which then puts the conduit in communication. 20 with concentrator 2, via conduit 10. In this way, the masks receive, through the supply conduit 20 and its bypass 22, a second fraction of oxygen-enriched air, provided by the concentrator 2.
ES 2 331 114 T3
The second fraction of air has a high oxygen content, between 60 and 95%, advantageously between 80 and 93%. This oxygen-enriched air is diluted with ambient air at mask level 23, on inspiration by the occupants, to restore suitable oxygen contents according to the altitude of the flight in a deviation situation (between 26% for an altitude of 5,500 meters and 40% for an altitude of 8,000 meters), which avoids having to provide significant flows at the outlet of the concentrator.
Once the masks 23 have been supplied with oxygen by the concentrator, the flight is capable of continuing at the previously chosen deviation situation altitude for a time limited only by the kerosene autonomy of the aircraft.
Contents3
1 sheet
Sheet 1
19 members in 11 offices
Priority claims3
| Document | Office | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0104569 | France | A | |
| 027013760104569 | – | – | – |
| FR20010004569 | – | – | – |
Members19
| Document | Office | Kind | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US2002144679A1 | United States of America | A1 | |
| FR2823180A1 | France | A1 | |
| CA2440861A1 | Canada | A1 | |
| WO02081306A1 | World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) | A1 | |
| FR2823180B1 | France | B1 | |
| EP1377502A1 | European Patent Office (EPO) | A1 | |
| US6701923B2 | United States of America | B2 | |
| BR0208403A | Brazil | A | |
| US2004099271A1 | United States of America | A1 | |
| JP2004523327A | Japan | A | |
| CN1549785A | China | A | |
| US6948498B2 | United States of America | B2 | |
| JP4173008B2 | Japan | B2 | |
| CN100445168C | China | C | |
| EP1377502B1 | European Patent Office (EPO) | B1 | |
| AT438564T | Austria | T | |
| ATE438564T1 | Austria | T1 | |
| DE60233213D1 | Germany | D1 | |
| ES2331114T3This record | Spain | T3 |
Numbers
- Publication, DOCDB
- 2331114
- Publication, EPODOC
- ES2331114T
- Application
- 2701376
- Application, DOCDB
- 02701376
- Application, EPODOC
- ES20020701376T
Titles2
- Spanish
- PROCEDIMIENTO DE DISTRIBUCION DE AIRE ENRIQUECIDO EN OXIGENO A LOS PASAJEROS DE UNA AERONAVE.
- English
- PROCEDURE FOR DISTRIBUTION OF ENRICHED AIR IN OXYGEN TO PASSENGERS OF AN AIRCRAFT.
Classification
- CPC, 13
- B64D13/00
- A62B7/14
- B01D53/0446
- B01D53/047
- B01D2253/108
- B01D2256/12
- B01D2257/102
- B01D2259/4533
- B01D2259/4575
- B64D11/00
- B64D2231/02
- Y02T50/50
- Y02T50/40
- IPC, 7
- B64D11 00
- A61M15 00
- A61M16 00
- A62B7 14
- B01D53 04
- B01D53 047
- B64D13 00