Method and apparatus for aircraft galley cooling

Abstract

Described in this application for patent is a novel method and apparatus for providing cooling to an aircraft galley. The aircraft galley is cooled by means of a central aircraft cooling line, including a phase change cooling system and a ram air heat exchanger.

1 . A method for cooling the galley of in an aircraft:
 providing a preferred cooling line temperature;   providing a cooling line including:
 a coolant; 
 a heat source; 
 a phase change cooler; and 
 a heat exchanger in thermal communication with an air source; 
   drawing heat from said heat source with said coolant;   transferring said coolant to said heat exchanger;   transferring said heat from said coolant to said air source;   determining an output temperature of said coolant as it exits said heat exchanger; and   engaging said phase change cooler if said output temperature is higher than said preferred temperature.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said air source is an atmosphere outside of the aircraft. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein said heat source is a heat exchanger in thermal communication with a galley. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein said air source comprises a ram air source. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein said cooling line further includes a bypass line. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein said cooling line further includes a diverter valve for diverting a first portion of said coolant through said bypass line and a second portion of said coolant through said heat exchanger, and wherein said first and second portions are combined after said second portion passes through said heat exchanger. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein said preferred cooling line temperature comprises a range between a minimum preferred temperature and a maximum preferred temperature. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  further including the step of adjusting the diverter valve to maintain said preferred temperature. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus for aircraft galley cooling comprising:
 a central cooling line including:
 a phase change cooling system, 
 a ram heat exchanger in thermal communication with an atmosphere including an output temperature, and 
 a galley heat exchanger; 
   a preferred temperature for said central cooling line; and   a galley monument in thermal communication with said galley heat exchanger;   wherein said phase change cooling system is disengaged if said output temperature is less than or equal to said preferred temperature.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  further comprising a fan adjacent said galley heat exchanger, said fan for aiding thermal communication between said galley heat exchanger and said galley monument. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein said central cooling line further includes a coolant. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  further comprising a bypass line for diverting said coolant around said ram heat exchanger. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12  further comprising a diverter valve for transferring all or a portion of said coolant through said bypass line. 
     
     
         14 . A method of regulating temperature in a central aircraft cooling line comprising the steps of:
 providing a phase change cooling system in thermal communication with said central aircraft cooling line;   providing a heat exchanger in thermal communication with an exterior of said aircraft and said central aircraft cooling line;   determining a heat loss through said heat exchanger;   selectively engaging or disengaging said phase change cooling system depending on said heat loss.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising a heat source. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising the step of determining a heat gain through said heat source. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising determining a net heat gain based on said heat loss and said heat gain. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said phase change cooling system comprises a plurality of refrigerators. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising the step of engaging one or more of said plurality of refrigerators if said net heat gain is positive. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising the step of diverting a portion of said coolant around said heat exchanger if said net heat gain is negative.