Abstract: An air-cycle machine (ACM) air conditioning system and method, uses a turbocharger to cool cabin air through expansion. The ACM utilizes an unused, excess, compressed air output from another compressor. A compressor provides compressed air to the intake of an internal combustion engine. The unused, excess, compressed air output from another compressor is diverted to and compressed in an ACM compressor. The output of the ACM compressor is cooled in a heat exchanger and then input to an ACM turbine. The ACM turbine expands the output of the heat exchanger to produce expanded, cooled, cabin air. At least a portion of the expanded, cooled, cabin air can be used to cool an intake charge for the internal combustion engine and/or to cool a passenger cabin and/or other enclosed, refrigerated space.

Abstract: An air-cycle machine (ACM) air conditioning system and method, uses a turbocharger to cool cabin air through expansion. The ACM utilizes an unused, excess, compressed air output from another compressor. A compressor provides compressed air to the intake of an internal combustion engine. The unused, excess, compressed air output from another compressor is diverted to and compressed in an ACM compressor. The output of the ACM compressor is cooled in a heat exchanger and then input to an ACM turbine. The ACM turbine expands the output of the heat exchanger to produce expanded, cooled, cabin air. At least a portion of the expanded, cooled, cabin air can be used to cool an intake charge for the internal combustion engine and/or to cool a passenger cabin and/or other enclosed, refrigerated space.

Abstract: An air-cycle air conditioning system and method, using an automotive turbocharger as the core of the system, was designed and tested. Effects on engine performance were minimized while maximizing the possible cooling possible and also minimizing weight and space requirements. An unmodified automotive turbocharger was tested initially as a baseline in a Reversed-Brayton Cycle air cooling system. A second air-cycle machine, assembled from commercial turbocharger components chosen individually to optimize their performance for cooling purposes, was tested to improve the overall cycle efficiency. An optimized air-cycle air conditioning system was tested on an internal combustion engine to simulate more realistic operating conditions and performance.