System and method for aircraft cabin atmospheric composition control

摘要

Method and arrangement for adjusting nitrogen and oxygen concentrations within regions of an aircraft. The method includes separating nitrogen from ambient air onboard an aircraft thereby establishing a high-concentration nitrogen supply and then dispensing high-concentration nitrogen from the supply to a fire-susceptible, non-habitable region of the aircraft where the high-concentration nitrogen is reservoired thereby decreasing the capability for the atmosphere therein to support combustion. Oxygen is also separated from the ambient air thereby establishing a high-concentration oxygen supply that is dispensed to an occupant cabin of the aircraft thereby increasing the level of oxygen concentration within the cabin to a level greater than the naturally occurring concentration of oxygen at the experienced internal cabin pressure. When it is determined that reduced oxygen concentration is required in the occupant cabin, the reservoired high-concentration nitrogen is moved into the passenger cabin diluting the oxygen-elevated environment.

主权项

1. A method for controlling a degree of oxygen/nitrogen shift of incoming air in response to a partial pressure of oxygen in areas of an aircraft, said method comprising:
separating oxygen from ambient air onboard the aircraft to establish a high-concentration oxygen supply and separating nitrogen from the ambient air onboard the aircraft to establish a high-concentration nitrogen supply; determining that an increased oxygen concentration is desired in an occupant cabin, and dispensing an oxygen flow from the high-concentration oxygen supply to the occupant cabin of the aircraft to increase a level of oxygen concentration within the occupant cabin to a level greater than a naturally-occurring partial pressure of oxygen at an experienced internal cabin pressure; dispensing a nitrogen flow from the high-concentration nitrogen supply to a fire-susceptible, internal non-habitable region of the aircraft to decrease a capability for an atmosphere therein to support combustion; and determining that reduced oxygen concentration is desired in the occupant cabin; and dispensing into the occupant cabin nitrogen from the high-concentration nitrogen supply, thereby diluting the oxygen concentration in the occupant cabin.