Emergency power system for an aircraft

摘要

The present invention relates to an emergency power system for an aircraft having at least one fuel cell unit for producing electric power, wherein the fuel cell unit is cooled via at least one cooling circuit which includes at least one heat exchanger, and wherein the heat exchanger is connected to at least one air distribution system of the aircraft cabin so that exhaust air heated by the heat exchanger in the operation of the emergency power system can be distributed via the air distribution system in the aircraft cabin.

主权项

1. A method of providing electric power to an aircraft in an emergency comprising the steps of
operating an emergency power system for the aircraft such that electric energy is provided to the aircraft in an emergency upon breakdown or failure of a main power system of the aircraft, wherein the emergency power system comprises at least one fuel cell unit for generating the electrical energy, connecting the fuel cell unit by at least one air distribution system of the aircraft to a cabin of the aircraft, in emergency operation of the emergency power system, exhausting heated air generated by the fuel cell unit over the air distribution system and distributing said heated air into the aircraft cabin for internal cooling of the fuel cell unit in a pressure mode and withdrawing air from the aircraft cabin in a suction mode, selectively additionally cooling the fuel cell unit during said emergency operation in said pressure mode and said suction mode by at least one separate cooling circuit comprising at least one heat exchanger receiving the air from the aircraft cabin, cooling the heated air generated by the fuel cell by the heat exchanger, and exhausting the heated air generated by the heat exchanger downstream of the heat exchanger over the air distribution system and distributing the heated air into the aircraft cabin for internal cooling of the fuel cell unit.