초록 ▼

A system and method is disclosed for providing a continuous supply of clean air at a desired temperature to the crew compartment of a vehicle when in an environment contaminated by nuclear, biological or chemical warfare agents. Exhaust gases from the vehicle\s engine is used to drive a first compre

A system and method is disclosed for providing a continuous supply of clean air at a desired temperature to the crew compartment of a vehicle when in an environment contaminated by nuclear, biological or chemical warfare agents. Exhaust gases from the vehicle\s engine is used to drive a first compressor which directs compressed and heated air to a precooler, an aftercooler, a heat exchanger and a pressure swing adsorption system which removes all known contaminates from the air providing clean output air. The clean air is expanded and cooled by a turboexpander which drives a secondary compressor and a coolant air compressor. A temperature controlled circuit is provided to control the temperature of the air throughout the circuit and in the crew compartment at the desired levels.

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 cooli

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 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; passing the contaminated air through a heat exchanger; 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; expanding and cooling the temperature of the clean output air before discharging a first portion of the clean cool output air into the crew compartment of the vehicle for use by the crew, and directing a second portion of the expanded and cooled output air through the heat exchanger for heating and subsequent mixing with the cool air for providing clean output air in the crew compartment at the desired temperature, and delivering clean heated purge air at a temperature greater than that of the contaminated air entering the pressure swing adsorption system for purging contaminates therefrom. A system for directing clean air at a desirable temperature to the crew compartment of a vehicle when in an environment of contaminated air comprising: first compressor means for compressing and raising the temperature of the contaminated air; precooler means for initially cooling the heated and compressed air for increasing the density of the air; second compressor means for again compressing the initially heated and compressed air; aftercooler means for again cooling the heated and compressed air for decreasing the temperature of the contaminated air to a temperature lower than that provided by said second compressor means; heat exchanger means for circulating the cooled contaminated air from said aftercooler means therethrough; pressure swing adsorption means for receiving the contaminated air from said heat exchanger means for providing clean output air with the contaminates removed therefrom; turboexpander means for cooling 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; and control means including a temperature responsive valve means and conduit means for controllably varying the flow of clean output air through the heat exchanger means into the crew compartment at the temperature desired by the crew in the compartment, said heat exchanger means receiving cool clean air from said turboexpander and directing a portion of said clean air through said pressure swing adsorption means at a higher temperature than that of the contaminated air entering said pressure swing adsorption system for purging contaminants from said pressure swing adsorption means.