Abstract: Example bleed air and engine starter systems are described herein that employ a shaft-driven compressor to start an aircraft engine and/or to supply pressurized air to one or more systems of an aircraft. An example compressor includes a housing and an impeller disposed within a cavity of the housing. The impeller is operatively coupled to a drive shaft. The compressor includes a first port in the housing to direct onto the impeller to rotate the impeller when the compressor is operating in a first mode. In the first mode, the impeller is to drive the drive shaft. The compressor also includes a second port in the housing oriented to provide air to the impeller when the impeller is operating in a second mode. In the second mode, the drive shaft is to rotate the impeller to draw the air from the first port and increase a pressure of the air.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to increase a payload capacity of an aircraft are disclosed herein. An example method includes receiving a selection via a control display unit to employ a fluid delivery system during takeoff of an aircraft. The fluid delivery system includes a tank disposed on the aircraft. The example method also includes automatically controlling, via a fluid management system including a processor, a flow of the water from the tank during takeoff in response to the selection. The water is to cool an engine heat source of the aircraft.

Abstract: Example bleed air and engine starter systems are described herein that employ a shaft-driven compressor to start an aircraft engine and/or to supply pressurized air to one or more systems of an aircraft. An example compressor includes a housing and an impeller disposed within a cavity of the housing. The impeller is operatively coupled to a drive shaft. The compressor includes a first port in the housing to direct onto the impeller to rotate the impeller when the compressor is operating in a first mode. In the first mode, the impeller is to drive the drive shaft. The compressor also includes a second port in the housing oriented to provide air to the impeller when the impeller is operating in a second mode. In the second mode, the drive shaft is to rotate the impeller to draw the air from the first port and increase a pressure of the air.

Abstract: The heat transfer capacity of a cross-flow heat exchanger can be increased by changing or graduating the density of the fins that form a row of hot passages in the direction normal to those fins. In accordance with some embodiments, the fin density in each row of hot passages is lower in a first region near the cold air inlets than it is in a second region located between the first region and the cold air outlets. This has the beneficial effect of increasing the rate of flow of hot air through hot passages adjacent or near to the cold air inlets of the heat exchanger, i.e., where the temperature of the cold air is coldest. As cold air flows along each cold passage, the cold air is heating up, becoming less capable of cooling the hot air in the adjacent hot passages as it gets closer to the cold air outlets. In addition or alternatively, the cold passages may have a non-uniform fin density that increases heat transfer capacity.

Abstract: A fan air modulating valve (FAMV) employs a pair of doors rotatably attached at the fan bypass air exit of a precooler. An actuator engages the doors for simultaneous rotation through a range of motion from a first closed position to a second open position, wherein trailing edges of said doors sealingly engage an exit plenum extending from the precooler in the first closed position and fan bypass air flow is modulated by positioning the doors within the range of motion between the first and second positions.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to increase a payload capacity of an aircraft are disclosed herein. An example method includes receiving a selection via a control display unit to employ a fluid delivery system during takeoff of an aircraft. The fluid delivery system includes a tank disposed on the aircraft. The example method also includes automatically controlling, via a fluid management system including a processor, a flow of the water from the tank during takeoff in response to the selection. The water is to cool an engine heat source of the aircraft.

Abstract: The heat transfer capacity of a cross-flow heat exchanger can be increased by changing or graduating the density of the fins that form a row of hot passages in the direction normal to those fins. In accordance with some embodiments, the fin density in each row of hot passages is lower in a first region near the cold air inlets than it is in a second region located between the first region and the cold air outlets. This has the beneficial effect of increasing the rate of flow of hot air through hot passages adjacent or near to the cold air inlets of the heat exchanger, i.e., where the temperature of the cold air is coldest. As cold air flows along each cold passage, the cold air is heating up, becoming less capable of cooling the hot air in the adjacent hot passages as it gets closer to the cold air outlets. In addition or alternatively, the cold passages may have a non-uniform fin density that increases heat transfer capacity.