Cooling system and method for cooling an aircraft device

1. Water dispenser system for supplying passengers on board an aircraft with cooled drinking water, the water dispenser system comprising:

an evaporator ( 14 ) in the form of a drinking water storage tank for receiving drinking water which is to be evaporated, wherein the evaporator ( 14 ) is connected to a drinking water supply line ( 64 ) for supplying drinking water to the evaporator ( 14 ) and to a drinking water tap ( 66 ) for withdrawing cooled drinking water from the evaporator ( 14 ),

a first adsorber ( 24 ) which contains a medium ( 28 ) for the adsorption of the drinking water which is evaporated in the evaporator ( 14 ),

a second adsorber ( 26 ) which contains a medium ( 28 ) for the adsorption of the drinking water which is evaporated in the evaporator ( 14 ), and

a control system ( 22 ) which is adapted to establish or to interrupt a fluid connection between the evaporator ( 14 ) and the first and/or the second adsorber(s) ( 24 , 26 ).

2. Water dispenser system according to claim 1 , characterised in that the first and/or the second adsorber(s) ( 24 , 26 ) are/is integrated into a refrigeration cycle or an energy supply system which provides the energy which is required for the regeneration of the first and/or second adsorber(s) ( 24 , 26 ).

3. Water dispenser system according to claim 1 , characterised in that the first and/or the second adsorber(s) ( 24 , 26 ) are/is connected to a fluid removal device ( 34 ) which is adapted to remove fluid (F) released during the regeneration of the first and/or the second adsorber(s) ( 24 , 26 ) from the first and/or the second adsorber(s) ( 24 , 26 ).

4. Water dispenser system according to claim 3 , characterised in that the fluid removal device ( 34 ) is connected to a cooler ( 46 ) which in turn is in fluid connection with a fluid inlet of the evaporator ( 14 ).

5. Water dispenser system according to claim 3 , characterised in that the fluid removal device ( 34 ) is connected to a waste water system of the aircraft.

6. Water dispenser system according to claim 4 , characterised in that the fluid removal device ( 34 ) is connected to a waste water system of the aircraft.

7. Water dispenser system according to claim 1 , characterised in that the drinking water storage tank is connected to a pressure regulating system ( 68 ) for regulating the pressure in the drinking water storage tank.

8. Method for dispensing cooled drinking water to passengers on board an aircraft, the method comprising:

supplying drinking water to an evaporator ( 14 ) in the form of a drinking water storage tank via a drinking water supply line ( 64 ),

evaporating a part of the drinking water received in the evaporator ( 14 ),

establishing a fluid connection between the evaporator ( 14 ) and a first adsorber ( 24 ), so that the drinking water which is evaporated in the evaporator ( 14 ) is adsorbed at a medium ( 28 ) which is contained in the first adsorber ( 24 ),

interrupting the fluid connection between the evaporator ( 14 ) and the first adsorber ( 24 ),

establishing a fluid connection between the evaporator ( 14 ) and a second adsorber ( 26 ), so that the drinking water which is evaporated in the evaporator ( 14 ) is adsorbed at a medium ( 28 ) which is contained in the second adsorber ( 26 ),

supplying regeneration energy to the first adsorber ( 24 ) while the evaporator ( 14 ) is connected to the second adsorber ( 26 ), and

withdrawing drinking water, which is cooled by refrigerating energy released by evaporating the part of the drinking water, from the evaporator ( 14 ) via a drinking water tap ( 66 ).

9. Method according to claim 8 , characterised in that a continuous cooling process is implemented through the alternating use of the first and second adsorber(s) ( 24 , 26 ).

10. Method according to claim 8 , characterised in that the energy which is required to regenerate the first and/or the second adsorber(s) ( 24 , 26 ) is provided by a refrigeration cycle or an energy source present in the aircraft, into which the first and/or the second adsorber(s) ( 24 , 26 ) are/is integrated.

11. Method according to claim 8 , characterised in that fluid (F) which is released during the regeneration of the first and/or the second adsorber(s) ( 24 , 26 ) is removed from the first and/or the second adsorber(s) ( 24 , 26 ) via a fluid removal device ( 34 ) which is connected to the first and/or the second adsorber(s) ( 24 , 26 ).

12. Method according to claim 11 , characterised in that the fluid (F) which is released during the regeneration of the first and/or the second adsorber(s) ( 24 , 26 ) is supplied via the fluid removal device ( 34 ) to a cooler ( 46 ) which in turn is in fluid connection with a fluid inlet of the evaporator ( 14 ).

13. Method according to claim 11 , characterised in that the fluid (F) which is released during the regeneration of the first and/or the second adsorber(s) ( 24 , 26 ) is supplied via the fluid removal device ( 34 ) to a waste water system of the aircraft.

14. Method according to claim 12 , characterised in that the fluid (F) which is released during the regeneration of the first and/or the second adsorber(s) ( 24 , 26 ) is supplied via the fluid removal device ( 34 ) to a waste water system of the aircraft.

15. Method according to claim 8 , characterised in that the pressure in the drinking water storage tank is regulated by means of a pressure regulating system ( 68 ) which is connected to the drinking water storage tank.

16. Method according to claim 8 , characterised in that the regeneration of the adsorbers ( 24 , 26 ) does not impair the cooling of the drinking water.