초록 ▼

A method is described for providing clean air at desired temperature to an environment. Incoming air possibly contaminated with nuclear biological and chemical contaminants is compressed. The compressed air is cooled in a first heat exchanger. The cooled air from the first heat exchanger is compress

A method is described for providing clean air at desired temperature to an environment. Incoming air possibly contaminated with nuclear biological and chemical contaminants is compressed. The compressed air is cooled in a first heat exchanger. The cooled air from the first heat exchanger is compressed in a secondary compressor. Compressed air from the secondary compressor is cooled in a second heat exchanger. Cooled air from the secondary heat exchanger is directed through a regenerative pressure swing absorption system to provide clean output air with the contaminants removed therefrom. This cleaned air is expanded in a turbine coupled to the secondary compressor, whereby to recover energy from the cleaned air to drive the secondary compressor. The expanded cleaned air from the turbine is utilized to condition air in the environment. The regenerative pressure swing absorption system is purged with air derived from the expanded clean air. This purging air is first warmed by heat exchange either with waste heat derived from the step of compressing the incoming air or by heat exchange with clean air exiting the regenerative pressure swing absorption system.

대표청구항 ▼

[ I claim:] [1.] A method for providing clean air conditioned air to an environment, the air being derived from a source of compressed air which is communicated to an air cycle machine having a compressor, a turbine and a load heat exchanger, the method comprising pressurizing air in the compressor,

[ I claim:] [1.] A method for providing clean air conditioned air to an environment, the air being derived from a source of compressed air which is communicated to an air cycle machine having a compressor, a turbine and a load heat exchanger, the method comprising pressurizing air in the compressor, communicating pressurized air to the turbine to expand and cool the air and communicating expanded cooled air to the load heat exchanger, the method further comprising the step of removing contaminants from the air during the step of communicating air to the turbine by passing it from the compressor to the turbine via a pressure swing adsorbtion system comprising at least two filter beds, operated such that, at any one time, at least one such filter bed is on stream and fed with the contaminated air and at least one other such filter bed is off stream and being purged with de-pressurized clean air, the system being cycled to reverse the role of each filter bed periodically, and the de-pressurized clean air for purging being derived from air expanded by the turbine and passed through the load heat exchanger, the air for purging being heated by heat exchange with clean air passing from the pressure swing adsorbtion system to the turbine before entering the pressure swing adsorbtion system to purge it.