Abstract: A power generation system includes a ram channel and a fuel cell. The fuel cell includes a compressor, a fuel cell cathode coupled to receive compressed air from the compressor, and a fuel cell return line having a first end coupled to receive compressed air from the fuel cell and a second end coupled to provide the compressed air to the ram channel.

Abstract: In some examples, a data processing system can be configured to mount on a vehicle and configured to receive sensor data from a sensor on the vehicle, wherein the sensor data indicates a contamination level of a supply air for the vehicle; receive context data from another system on the vehicle; and generate a recommended maintenance item to be performed on the vehicle based on the sensor data and further based on the context data.

Abstract: In some examples, a computing device is configured to monitor an air quality of a vehicle cabin by at least receiving, from a plurality of remote sensors distributed throughout the cabin, signals indicative of one or more air quality parameters for air in the cabin. Based on the received signals, the computing device can determine if values for the one or more air quality parameters are indicative of an air quality event and generate an output in response to such a determination. The output may include, for example, an audio or visual indication of the air quality event or a signal to control another system of the aircraft to take action to remedy the air quality event.

Abstract: A method of measuring a gas concentration is described. The method comprises illuminating, with a light source, a volume of space that includes a gas and measuring, with a detector, a first illumination level of the volume of space. The method further comprises determining, via a processor, a gas concentration in the volume of space based on the measured first illumination level, where the volume of space is configured to be in fluid communication with a gas recirculation flow path including a catalyst, the catalyst configured to substantially remove the gas from the volume of space.

Abstract: A system includes a concentration sensor, a flow sensor, and a controller. The concentration sensor is configured to measure a concentration of a contaminant in a cabin of an aircraft. The flow sensor is configured to measure a flow rate of air into the cabin. The controller is configured to determine whether a concentration measurement of the contaminant in the cabin exceeds a first concentration threshold. The controller is configured to, in response to determining that the concentration measurement does not exceed the first concentration threshold, control the flow rate of air into the cabin based on a flow rate setpoint. The controller is configured to, in response to determining that the concentration measurement exceeds the first concentration threshold, control the flow rate of air into the cabin based on a flow rate setpoint and a correction factor that is based on a flow sensor tolerance.

Abstract: In some examples, a data processing system can be configured to mount on a vehicle and configured to receive sensor data from a sensor on the vehicle, wherein the sensor data indicates a contamination level of a supply air for the vehicle; receive context data from another system on the vehicle; and generate a recommended maintenance item to be performed on the vehicle based on the sensor data and further based on the context data.

Abstract: An aircraft contaminant removal system includes one or more membrane separators configured to absorb a contaminant from a cabin air stream into a liquid sorbent, desorb the contaminant from the liquid sorbent, discharge the contaminant in a contaminant stream, and return clean air back to the cabin. In some examples, the contaminant removal system includes a membrane scrubber-separator and a membrane stripper-separator, while in other examples, the contaminant removal system may include a single membrane separator configured to operate in a scrubbing mode and a stripping mode. The contaminant removal system may include a humidity management system configured to maintain a humidity of the clean air stream or water concentration of the liquid sorbent using one or more water sources of the aircraft or a thermal management system configured to maintain a temperature of the liquid sorbent using one or more heat exchangers fluidically coupled to an aircraft air stream.

Abstract: In some examples, a computing device is configured to monitor an air quality of a vehicle cabin by at least receiving, from a plurality of remote sensors distributed throughout the cabin, signals indicative of one or more air quality parameters for air in the cabin. Based on the received signals, the computing device can determine if values for the one or more air quality parameters are indicative of an air quality event and generate an output in response to such a determination. The output may include, for example, an audio or visual indication of the air quality event or a signal to control another system of the aircraft to take action to remedy the air quality event.

Abstract: A method of measuring a gas concentration is described. The method comprises illuminating, with a light source, a volume of space that includes a gas and measuring, with a detector, a first illumination level of the volume of space. The method further comprises determining, via a processor, a gas concentration in the volume of space based on the measured first illumination level, where the volume of space is configured to be in fluid communication with a gas recirculation flow path including a catalyst, the catalyst configured to substantially remove the gas from the volume of space.

Abstract: A system includes a concentration sensor, a flow sensor, and a controller. The concentration sensor is configured to measure a concentration of a contaminant in a cabin of an aircraft. The flow sensor is configured to measure a flow rate of air into the cabin. The controller is configured to determine whether a concentration measurement of the contaminant in the cabin exceeds a first concentration threshold. The controller is configured to, in response to determining that the concentration measurement does not exceed the first concentration threshold, control the flow rate of air into the cabin based on a flow rate setpoint. The controller is configured to, in response to determining that the concentration measurement exceeds the first concentration threshold, control the flow rate of air into the cabin based on a flow rate setpoint and a correction factor that is based on a flow sensor tolerance.

Abstract: An aircraft contaminant removal system includes one or more membrane separators configured to absorb a contaminant from a cabin air stream into a liquid sorbent, desorb the contaminant from the liquid sorbent, discharge the contaminant in a contaminant stream, and return clean air back to the cabin. In some examples, the contaminant removal system includes a membrane scrubber-separator and a membrane stripper-separator, while in other examples, the contaminant removal system may include a single membrane separator configured to operate in a scrubbing mode and a stripping mode. The contaminant removal system may include a humidity management system configured to maintain a humidity of the clean air stream or water concentration of the liquid sorbent using one or more water sources of the aircraft or a thermal management system configured to maintain a temperature of the liquid sorbent using one or more heat exchangers fluidically coupled to an aircraft air stream.

Abstract: There is provided an aeronautic vehicle including a first engine capable of providing propulsion and pressurising air and an environmental control system. The environmental control system includes an electrically powered compressor capable of pressurising air and a first pressurised air powered environmental control system pack. The environmental control system is configurable to provide pressurised air from the first engine to the first environmental control system pack, and the environmental control system is configurable to a ground configuration in which pressurised air is provided from the electrically powered compressor to the first environmental control system pack. There is also provided an environmental control system for an aeronautic vehicle and a method of operating an environmental control system of an aeronautic vehicle.

Abstract: An environmental control system (ECS) includes an air conditioning pack that receives outside air; a regenerative treatment subsystem, wherein the treatment subsystem includes a treatment bed configured to cycle between an adsorption phase and a desorption phase; and a fan that receives recirculated air from the environment and moves the recirculated air to a mixing manifold.

Abstract: An environmental control system includes a pair of parallel operating environmental air compressors (EACs) that receive a first outside air, wherein each EAC includes a respective EAC compressor and EAC turbine. A first regenerative heat exchanger is downstream of the EAC compressors and upstream of the EAC turbines, wherein the first regenerative heat exchanger receives environmental air from an enclosure for occupants. A primary heat exchanger is downstream of the first regenerative heat exchanger, wherein the primary heat exchanger receives a second outside air. An air cycle machine (ACM) is downstream of the primary heat exchanger. A condenser is downstream of the ACM, wherein a conditioned air exits the condenser and into the enclosure. A water extractor is downstream of the condenser. A reheater is downstream of the water extractor and upstream of the ACM. A secondary heat exchanger is downstream of the ACM, wherein the secondary heat exchanger receives the second outside air.

Abstract: A heat exchanger assembly includes a main heat exchanger that receives a main hot air; a secondary heat exchanger operatively adjacent to the main heat exchanger; wherein the secondary heat exchanger receives a secondary hot air; wherein the main hot air and the secondary hot air are from two different, direct air sources; wherein a hot air channel of only one of the main and the secondary heat exchangers includes a catalytic coating; and a temperature control that controls the temperature of only one of the main hot air and the secondary hot air into the hot air channel.

Abstract: An environmental control system (ECS) includes an air cycle machine (ACM), a condenser downstream of the ACM, a reheater between the condenser and the ACM, a primary heat exchanger upstream of the reheater, a first regulated flow path between the condenser and a first environment outside of the ECS, a second regulated flow path between a second environment to be conditioned and the reheater, and a third regulated flow path between the primary heat exchanger and the reheater.

Abstract: A heat exchanger assembly includes a main heat exchanger that receives a main hot air; a secondary heat exchanger operatively adjacent to the main heat exchanger; wherein the secondary heat exchanger receives a secondary hot air; wherein the main hot air and the secondary hot air are from two different, direct air sources; wherein a hot air channel of only one of the main and the secondary heat exchangers includes a catalytic coating; and a temperature control that controls the temperature of only one of the main hot air and the secondary hot air into the hot air channel.

Abstract: An environmental control system includes a pair of parallel operating environmental air compressors (EACs) that receive a first outside air, wherein each EAC includes a respective EAC compressor and EAC turbine. A first regenerative heat exchanger is downstream of the EAC compressors and upstream of the EAC turbines, wherein the first regenerative heat exchanger receives environmental air from an enclosure for occupants. A primary heat exchanger is downstream of the first regenerative heat exchanger, wherein the primary heat exchanger receives a second outside air. An air cycle machine (ACM) is downstream of the primary heat exchanger. A condenser is downstream of the ACM, wherein a conditioned air exits the condenser and into the enclosure. A water extractor is downstream of the condenser. A reheater is downstream of the water extractor and upstream of the ACM. A secondary heat exchanger is downstream of the ACM, wherein the secondary heat exchanger receives the second outside air.

Abstract: An environmental control system (ECS) includes an air conditioning pack that receives outside air; a regenerative treatment subsystem, wherein the treatment subsystem includes a treatment bed configured to cycle between an adsorption phase and a desorption phase; and a fan that receives recirculated air from the environment and moves the recirculated air to a mixing manifold.

Abstract: There is provided an aeronautic vehicle including a first engine capable of providing propulsion and pressurising air and an environmental control system. The environmental control system includes an electrically powered compressor capable of pressurising air and a first pressurised air powered environmental control system pack. The environmental control system is configurable to provide pressurised air from the first engine to the first environmental control system pack, and the environmental control system is configurable to a ground configuration in which pressurised air is provided from the electrically powered compressor to the first environmental control system pack. There is also provided an environmental control system for an aeronautic vehicle and a method of operating an environmental control system of an aeronautic vehicle.