Cabin air compressor with integral heat exchanger
An environmental control system of a vehicle includes a compressor having a compressor inlet configured to receive a first medium and a compressor outlet. A compressed first medium is provided at the compressor outlet. A conduit is configured to receive a second medium and a heat exchanger is mounted to the compressor. The heat exchanger is fluidly connected to a portion of the compressor and to the conduit.
1 . An environmental control system of a vehicle comprising:
a compressor having a compressor housing including a compressor inlet configured to receive a first medium, and a compressor outlet, wherein a compressed first medium is provided at the compressor outlet, a rotating portion arranged within the compressor housing, and a volute formed within the compressor housing;
a conduit configured to receive a second medium; and
a heat exchanger mounted to the compressor housing at a location between the compressor outlet and one of the rotating portion and the volute, wherein the heat exchanger is fluidly connected to a portion of the compressor and to the conduit.
2 . The environmental control system of claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger is integrally formed with the compressor housing.
3 . The environmental control system of claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger further comprises a plate and at least one fin extending from the plate.
4 . The environmental control system of claim 3 , wherein the at least one fin includes a plurality of first fins, the plurality of first fins being arranged within the compressor housing.
5 . The environmental control system of claim 4 , wherein the at least one fin further comprises a plurality of second fins, the plurality of second fins being arranged within the conduit.
6 . The environmental control system of claim 3 , wherein the at least one fin includes a plurality of second fins, the plurality of second fins being arranged within the conduit.
7 . The environmental control system of claim 1 , wherein the compressor is part of a cabin air compressor.
8 . The environmental control system of claim 1 , wherein the compressor is part of a thermodynamic device.
9 . The environmental control system of claim 1 , wherein the first medium is fresh air.
10 . The environmental control system of claim 1 , wherein the second medium is cabin air.
11 . The environmental control system of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle is an aircraft.
12 . A method of operating an environmental control system of a vehicle comprising:
compressing a first medium at a compressor to form a compressed first medium;
extracting energy from a second medium at a turbine; and
heating the second medium within a heat exchanger using the compressed first medium, wherein the heating the second medium occurs prior to the extracting energy from the second medium, the compressor having a compressor housing, a rotating portion arranged within the compressor housing, and a volute formed within the compressor housing, the heat exchanger being mounted to the compressor housing at a location between the compressor outlet and one of the rotating portion and the volute.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the first medium is fresh air.
14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the second medium is cabin air.
15 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising providing the compressed first medium to an environmental control system pack, the environmental control system pack being located downstream from the compressor relative to a flow of the first medium.
16 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising providing the first medium to an environmental control system pack, wherein the compressor is part of the environmental control system pack.
17 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the vehicle is an aircraft.
18 . An environmental control system of a vehicle comprising:
a compressor having a compressor housing including a compressor inlet configured to receive a first medium, and a compressor outlet, wherein a compressed first medium is provided at the compressor outlet;
a conduit configured to receive a second medium; and
a heat exchanger integrally formed with the compressor housing, wherein the heat exchanger is fluidly connected to a portion of the compressor and to the conduit.