초록 ▼

A system and method provides a continuous supply of clean air at a desired temperature to the crew members of a combat vehicle when in an environment contaminated by nuclear, biological or chemical warfare agents. The contaminated air is initially compressed by energy received from the exhaust gases

A system and method provides a continuous supply of clean air at a desired temperature to the crew members of a combat vehicle when in an environment contaminated by nuclear, biological or chemical warfare agents. The contaminated air is initially compressed by energy received from the exhaust gases from a combustion power unit of the vehicle, the initially compressed air is then cooled to increase its density and is then compressed and cooled a second time before being passed through a pressure swing adsorbent system which continuously removes all known contaminants from the air, and is then expanded and changed in temperature to provide clean air at a desired temperature to personnel within the vehicle. The energy released from the air during expansion is used to compress the air the second time thereby providing a very energy efficient system.

대표청구항 ▼

A method of directing clean air at a desirable temperature to the crew compartment of a vehicle when in an environment of contaminated air comprising the steps of: initially compressing and raising the temperature of the contaminated air; subjecting the heated and compressed air to an initial coolin

A method of directing clean air at a desirable temperature to the crew compartment of a vehicle when in an environment of contaminated air comprising the steps of: initially compressing and raising the temperature of the contaminated air; subjecting the heated and compressed air to an initial cooling step for increasing the density of the air; compressing the initially heated and compressed air; subjecting the heated and compressed air to a secondary cooling step for decreasing the temperature of the contaminated air to a temperature lower than that at said initial compression step; directing the contaminated air received from said secondary cooling step through a regenerative pressure swing adsorption system for providing clean output air with the contaminants removed therefrom; and expanding and controlling the temperature of the clean output air before discharging the clean output air into the crew compartment of the vehicle for use by the crew. A system for providing clean air to the personnel compartment of a vehicle when in an environment of contaminated air comprising: first compressor means for compressing and raising the pressure of the contaminated air; first cooling means for cooling the heated and compressed air to increase the density of the air; second compressor means for again compressing the initialloyl compressed air for raising the pressure thereof above that provided by said first compressor means; second cooling means for lowering the temperature of the contaminated air below that of the air discharged from said second compressor means; regenerable adsorption means for receiving the contaminated air from said second cooling means for providing clean output air with the contaminates removed therefrom; means or expanding the clean output air thereby recovering energy from the air being cooled before discharging the cleaned and cooled output air into the personnel compartment of the vehicle, said energy received from expansion of the air being used to drive a component on the vehicle thereby providing an energy efficient system; regenerable particulate filter means for receiving and prefiltering the contaminated air and directing the prefiltered air to said first compressor means; a combustion powered means in the vehicle; and a turbocharger operatively connected to said combustion power means and including an expansion turbine; said first compressor means including an air compression turbine operatively connected to said expansion turbine and receiving intake air from said particulate filter means; said combustion powered means directing exhaust gases into said expansion turbine for driving said first compression turbine for compressing and raising the pressure of the contaminated but prefiltered air, first conduit means for directing a major portion of the air into said combustion power means, and second conduit means for directing a minor portion of said prefiltered air into said first cooling means.