Abstract: An environmental control system of an aircraft includes a plurality of inlets for receiving a plurality of mediums including a first medium, a second medium, and a third medium and an outlet for delivering a conditioned flow of the second medium to one or more loads of the aircraft. A ram air circuit includes a ram air shell having at least one heat exchanger positioned therein. At least one compressing device is arranged in fluid communication with the ram air circuit and the outlet. The at least one compressing device includes at least one compressor and at least one turbine operably coupled via a shaft. A heat exchanger is arranged in fluid communication with the at least one compressing device. The second medium output from the at least one compressing device is cooled by the third medium. The second medium is fresh air.

Abstract: An environmental control system includes a plurality of inlets for receiving a plurality of mediums including a first medium and a second medium and an outlet for delivering a conditioned form of the second medium to at least one load of the aircraft. A ram air circuit includes a ram air shell having at least one heat exchanger positioned therein and a dehumidification system is arranged in fluid communication with the ram air circuit. A compression device is arranged in fluid communication with the ram air circuit and the dehumidification system. The compression device includes a compressor and a plurality of turbines including a first turbine and a second turbine operably coupled by a shaft. An outlet of the first turbine is directly coupled to an inlet of the second turbine, such that the first medium is provided to the first turbine and the second turbine in series.

Abstract: An environmental control system of an aircraft includes a plurality of inlets for receiving a plurality of mediums including a first medium, a second medium, and a third medium and an outlet for delivering a conditioned flow of the second medium to one or more loads of the aircraft. At least one compressing device is arranged in in fluid communication with the plurality of inlets and the outlet. The at least one compressing device includes a four-wheel compressing device having a compressor and at least one turbine operably coupled via a shaft. In a first mode of operation, the compressor is driven by the first medium, and in a second mode of operation, the compressor is driven by the third medium.

Abstract: A compressing device for use in an environmental control system includes at least one turbine configured to provide energy by expanding one or more medium. The one or more mediums provided at an outlet of the at least one turbine form a heat sink within the environmental control system. A compressor is configured to receive energy from the one or more mediums expanded across the at least one turbine. During a first mode of the compressing device, energy derived from a first medium of the one or more mediums is used to compress a second medium at the compressor and during a second mode of the compressing device, energy derived from both the first medium and a third medium of the one or more mediums is used to compress a second medium at the compressor.

Abstract: An air cycle machine for an environmental control system for an aircraft includes at least one turbine configured to receive and extract work from a first medium and a third medium. A compressor is configured to compress a second medium and a shaft mechanically couples the at least one turbine and the compressor. A mixing point is located downstream of at least one turbine. A mixture of the first medium and the third medium generated at the mixing point is provided to another component of the environmental control system.

Abstract: A compressing device for use in an environmental control system includes at least one turbine configured to provide energy by expanding one or more mediums. The one or more mediums provided at an outlet of the at least one turbine form a heat sink within the environmental control system. A compressor is configured to receive energy from the one or more mediums expanded across the at least one turbine. During a first mode of the compressing device, energy derived from a first medium and a second medium of the one or more mediums is used to compress a second medium at the compressor. During a second mode of the compressing device, energy derived from the first medium, the second medium, and a third medium of the one or more mediums is used to compress the second medium at the compressor.

Abstract: An environmental control system of an aircraft includes a ram air circuit with a ram air shell having at least one heat exchanger positioned therein, a dehumidification system arranged in fluid communication with the ram air circuit, a compression device arranged in fluid communication with the ram air circuit and the at least one dehumidification system, and an expansion device arranged in fluid communication with the ram air circuit. At least one of the compression device and the expansion device is selectively operable to supplement the ram air within the ram air circuit to meet a demand of the aircraft.

Abstract: A method of operating an environmental control system of an aircraft includes providing a first medium to the environmental control system including a compressor and a turbine. The first medium is provided to the compressor and the turbine sequentially. A second medium is provided to the environmental control system. In a first mode of operation, the first medium and the second medium mix within the turbine and in a second mode of operation the second medium bypasses the turbine such that the first medium and the second medium mix downstream from the turbine.

Abstract: An environmental control system for providing a conditioned medium to one or more loads of an aircraft includes a compressing device including a compressor and a turbine operably coupled to the compressor. The turbine is arranged downstream from the compressor relative to a flow of first medium. At least one power turbine is operably coupled to the compressor. The at least one power turbine is configured to receive a flow of a second medium, and the flow of second medium includes a cabin discharge air.

Abstract: An environmental control system of an aircraft includes a ram air circuit including a ram air shell having at least one heat exchanger positioned therein, at least one dehumidification system arranged in fluid communication with the ram air circuit, a compressing device arranged in fluid communication with the ram air circuit and the dehumidification system, and an expansion device separate from the compressing device and arranged in fluid communication with the ram air circuit and the at least one dehumidification system. The environmental control system receives a flow of a first medium and a flow of a second medium. The environmental control system is operable in a plurality of modes and in a first mode, a flow of the first medium is provided to the compressing device and the expansion device in series.

Abstract: An environmental control system of an aircraft includes a compressing device having a compressor configured to receive a flow of a first medium and a turbine configured to receive the flow of the first medium from the compressor and a flow of a second medium. The turbine is arranged downstream from the compressor along a flow path of the first medium. A dehumidification system is arranged in fluid communication with the turbine and a bypass valve is operable configured to divert the flow of the first medium around the turbine and at least a portion of the dehumidification system.

Abstract: An environmental control system (ECS) of an aircraft includes an inlet for a first medium, an outlet for the first medium, an air cycle machine including a compressor, a turbine, and a shaft operably coupling the compressor and the turbine, and a plurality of heat exchangers arranged in fluid communication with the air cycle machine. A first heat exchanger of the plurality of heat exchangers is arranged directly downstream from the turbine and heat is transferred to the first medium within the first heat exchanger. A water extractor is arranged directly downstream from the first heat exchanger and a flow path connects the air cycle machine, the plurality of heat exchangers, and the water extractor with the inlet and the outlet.

Abstract: An environmental control system of an aircraft includes a ram air circuit including a ram air shell having a heat exchanger positioned therein and a dehumidification system arranged in fluid communication with the ram air circuit. A plurality of expansion devices is arranged in fluid communication with the ram air circuit and the dehumidification system. At least one of the expansion devices is a simple cycle expansion device.

Abstract: An environmental control system of an aircraft includes a ram air circuit including a ram air shell having at least one heat exchanger positioned therein, a dehumidification system arranged in fluid communication with the ram air circuit, and a compression device arranged in fluid communication with the ram air circuit and the dehumidification system. The compression device includes a compressor, a turbine, and a fan coupled by a shaft, wherein the fan is operable to move ram air through the ram air circuit and the turbine includes a first inlet for receiving a first flow of medium and a second inlet for receiving a second flow of medium.

Abstract: An environmental control system of an aircraft includes a ram air circuit including a ram air shell having at least one heat exchanger positioned therein, a dehumidification system arranged in fluid communication with the ram air circuit, and a compressing device arranged in fluid communication with the ram air circuit and the dehumidification system. The compression device includes a compressor and a first turbine coupled to one another via a shaft. During operation of the first turbine, work is extracted from a first medium within the first turbine to power the compressor. At an outlet of the first turbine, a temperature of the first medium is above freezing and at least a portion of the moisture within the first medium is condensed.

Abstract: A system is provided. The system includes a first medium at a first pressure, a second medium at a second pressure, and a medium conditioning sub-system. The medium conditioning sub-system includes a compressor, a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, and a turbine. The turbine receives the first medium and the second medium.

Abstract: A fuel tank inerting system of an aircraft includes a first air flow provided from a first source having a first temperature and a second air flow including cabin outflow air having a second temperature. The first temperature is greater than the second temperature. A fuel tank inerting heat exchanger is arranged in fluid communication with both the first air flow and the second air flow. At least one air separating module is configured to separate an inert gas from the first air flow output from the fuel tank inerting heat exchanger.

Abstract: An environmental control system of an aircraft includes a compressing device having a compressor configured to receive a first flow of a medium and a turbine configured to receive the first flow of the medium and a distinct second flow of the medium. A dehumidification system is arranged in fluid communication with the turbine. A valve is configured to divert the second flow around the turbine and an inlet port is arranged in fluid communication with the compressor, the turbine, and the dehumidification system.

Abstract: An air cycle machine for an environmental control system for an aircraft is provided. The air cycle machine includes a compressor configured to compress a first medium, a turbine configured to receive second medium, a mixing point downstream of the compressor and downstream of the turbine; and a shaft mechanically coupling the compressor and the turbine.

Abstract: A system is provided. The system includes an inlet providing a first medium; an inlet providing a second medium; a compressing device including a compressor and a turbine; a motor operating on an input power that is less than or equal to 0.5 kilowatts per pound per minute of the first medium compressed; and at least one heat exchanger located downstream of the compressor. The compressing device is in communication with the inlet providing the first medium. The turbine is downstream of the compressor. An outlet of the at least one heat exchanger is in fluid communication with an inlet of the compressor and an inlet of the turbine.