Aircycle Environmental Control

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Air-cycle environmental control systems and methods for automotive applications Abstract An air-cycle air conditioning system and method, using an automotive turbocharger as the core of the system, was designed and tested. Effects on engine performance were minimized while maximizing the possible cooling possible and also minimizing weight and space requirements. An unmodified automotive turbocharger was tested initially as a baseline in a Reversed-Brayton Cycle air cooling system. A second air-cycle machine, assembled from commercial turbocharger components chosen individually to optimize their performance for cooling purposes, was tested to improve the overall cycle efficiency. An optimized air-cycle air conditioning system was tested on an internal combustion engine to simulate more realistic operating conditions and performance. ​Detailed Description The present invention fills the needs by providing an air cycle machine and a method for operating an air cycle machine. It should be appreciated that the present invention can be implemented in numerous ways, including as a process, an apparatus, a system, computer readable media, or a device. One embodiment provides a method of producing cooled air. The method includes delivering a second portion of a compressed air charge to an air cycle machine, further compressing the second portion of the compressed air charge in an air cycle machine compressor, cooling the further compressed air charge, expanding the cooled, further compressed air charge in an air cycle machine turbine and outputting an expanded, cooled air charge from the air cycle machine turbine. Delivering the second portion of the compressed air charge can include generating the second portion of the compressed air charge in a first compressor. Delivering the first portion of the compressed air charge from the first compressor to the intake of the internal combustion engine can also include cooling at least one of the first portion of the compressed air charge or the second portion of the compressed air charge. Another embodiment provides an air cycle machine. The air cycle machine includes a first compressor, a first heat exchanger, an air cycle machine compressor, a second heat exchanger and an air cycle machine turbine. Summary A method of producing cooled air comprising: delivering a second portion of a compressed air charge to an air cycle machine further compressing the second portion of the compressed air charge in an air cycle machine compressor cooling the further compressed air charge expanding the cooled, further compressed air charge in an air cycle machine turbine outputting an expanded, cooled air charge from the air cycle machine turbine. An air cycle machine comprising: a first compressor having a first compressor input and a first compressor output a first heat exchanger a first coolant circuit a first cooling circuit having a first cooling circuit input and a first cooling circuit output, the first cooling circuit input coupled to the first compressor output an air cycle machine compressor having a second compressor input and a second compressor output, the second compressor input coupled to the first cooling circuit output a second heat exchanger including: a second coolant circuit; and a second cooling circuit having a second cooling circuit input and a second cooling circuit output, the second cooling circuit input coupled to the second compressor output; and an air cycle machine turbine mechanically coupled to the air cycle machine compressor, the air cycle machine turbine having a second turbine input and a second turbine output, the second turbine input coupled to the second cooling circuit output.