Abstract:
A tandem inlet apparatus for use with a high speed mobile platform, for example a commercial or military aircraft. The tandem inlet apparatus includes a Pitot inlet for feeding air to a cabin air compressor (CAC) of an air conditioning pack carried on the mobile platform. A flush heat exchanger inlet is disposed forwardly of the Pitot inlet and longitudinally aligned with the Pitot inlet, for supplying cooling air to a heat exchanger of the air conditioning pack. By locating the heat exchanger inlet forwardly and longitudinally in line with the Pitot inlet, the heat exchanger inlet is able to effectively swallow a large portion of the boundary layer, which results in a thinner boundary layer at the inlet face of the Pitot inlet. This enables a smaller throat area Pitot inlet to be used, as well as a shorter diverter height to be employed with the Pitot inlet, while still realizing an improved recovery factor (RF) performance with the Pitot inlet. The reduced height Pitot inlet also enables drag to be reduced.
Abstract:
Passive removal of suction air for producing a laminar flow, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. One such method includes forming a laminar flow region over an external surface (143) of an aircraft (105) by drawing air through the external surface and into a plenum (142). The method can further include passively directing the air from the plenum overboard the aircraft. For example, the air can be passively directed to a region external to the aircraft having a static pressure lower than a static pressure in the plenum, as a result of the motion of the aircraft. Flows from different sections of the external surface can be combined in a common plenum, and the corresponding massflow rates can be controlled by the local porosity of the external surface.
Abstract:
Ram air inlets for use with aircraft environmental control systems and other aircraft and non-aircraft systems are described herein. In one embodiment, a ram air inlet (201) configured in accordance with the present invention includes an inlet lip (308) spaced apart from an inlet housing (310). An inlet door (210) is moveably attached to the inlet housing, and includes a first surface portion (312), a second surface portion (314), and a transition region (313) extending between the first and second surface portions. The first surface portion is moveably positioned at least approximately forward of the inlet lip. The second surface portion is fixed at an angle relative to the first surface portion, and is moveably positioned at least approximately aft of the inlet lip. The transition region is positioned at least approximately adjacent to the inlet lip to form an inlet opening therebetween. Movement of the inlet door in a first direction (351) reduces the size of the inlet opening to thereby decrease the flow of ram air through the inlet. Conversely, movement of the inlet door in a second direction (352) enlarges the inlet opening to increase the flow of ram air through the inlet.