Method of servicing an aircraft cooling system and aircraft cooling system

Abstract

A method of servicing an aircraft cooling system comprises connecting a refilling container containing a two-phase refrigerant to a refrigerant connection provided in a cooling circuit of the cooling system, supplying refrigerant from the refilling container into the cooling circuit of the cooling system, and operating a condenser disposed in the cooling circuit so as to liquefy gaseous refrigerant flowing through the cooling circuit.

1 . A method of servicing an aircraft cooling system, the method comprising the steps:
 connecting a refilling container containing a two-phase refrigerant to a refrigerant connection provided in a cooling circuit of the cooling system,   supplying refrigerant from the refilling container into the cooling circuit of the cooling system, and   operating a condenser disposed in the cooling circuit so as to liquefy gaseous refrigerant flowing through the cooling circuit.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , including at least one of the steps of:
 preventing a reflow of refrigerant from the cooling circuit into the refilling container and   liquefying the refrigerant contained in the refilling container prior to the refrigerant being supplied into the cooling circuit of the cooling system.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , including at least one of the steps of:
 ceasing operation of the condenser when an amount of refrigerant in the cooling circuit has reached a predetermined maximum value and   interrupting the supply of refrigerant from the refilling container into the cooling circuit of the cooling system when a pressure in the cooling circuit has reached a predetermined value.   
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , including at least one of the steps of:
 outputting a first warning signal indicating a required supply of refrigerant into the cooling circuit when an amount of refrigerant in the cooling circuit falls below a predetermined warning value, and   outputting a second warning signal indicating a required supply of refrigerant into the cooling circuit when an amount of refrigerant in the cooling circuit falls below a predetermined minimum value, and   ceasing operation of the cooling system when an amount of refrigerant in the cooling circuit falls below the predetermined minimum value.   
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , including the step of dismounting a component disposed in the cooling circuit from the cooling circuit and engaging self-sealing couplings connecting the component to the cooling circuit to prevent refrigerant from exiting the cooling circuit. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , including the steps of, prior to dismounting a component disposed in the cooling circuit from the cooling circuit, one of:
 discharging refrigerant from the cooling circuit by releasing the refrigerant to the ambient, and   conveying refrigerant into a hermetically sealable accumulator disposed in the cooling circuit thereby collecting the refrigerant in a storage container.   
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein after discharging refrigerant from the cooling circuit and prior to reintroducing refrigerant into the cooling circuit, performing at least one of the additional steps of:
 evacuating the cooling circuit, and   operating the condenser of the cooling system so as to evaporate the refrigerant prior to entering the cooling circuit and to liquefy the gaseous refrigerant upon circulating through the cooling circuit, including the step of heating the storage container containing the refrigerant to support evaporation of the refrigerant in the storage container.   
     
     
         8 . An aircraft cooling system comprising:
 a cooling circuit allowing circulation of a two-phase refrigerant therethrough,   a refrigerant connection provided in the cooling circuit which, for servicing of the aircraft cooling system, is connectable to a refilling container containing the two-phase refrigerant, and   a control unit adapted to operate a condenser disposed in the cooling circuit so as to liquefy gaseous refrigerant flowing through the cooling circuit during the supply of refrigerant from the refilling container into the cooling circuit.   
     
     
         9 . The aircraft cooling system according to  claim 8 , wherein the refrigerant connection is configured so as to allow a flow of refrigerant from the refilling container into the cooling circuit, but to prevent a flow of refrigerant from the cooling circuit into the refilling container. 
     
     
         10 . The aircraft cooling system according to  claim 8 , further comprising at least one of:
 the control unit being adapted to cease operation of the condenser when an amount of refrigerant in the cooling circuit has reached a predetermined maximum value, and   the aircraft cooling system comprising means for interrupting the supply of refrigerant from the refilling container into the cooling circuit of the cooling system when a pressure in the cooling circuit has reached a predetermined value.   
     
     
         11 . The aircraft cooling system according to  claim 8 , further comprising at least one of:
 a warning signal output device which is adapted to output a first warning signal indicating a required supply of refrigerant into the cooling circuit when an amount of refrigerant in the cooling circuit falls below a predetermined warning value,   a warning signal device which is adapted to output a second warning signal indicating a required supply of refrigerant into the cooling circuit when an amount of refrigerant in the cooling circuit falls below a predetermined minimum value, and   the control unit being adapted to cease operation of the cooling system when an amount of refrigerant in the cooling circuit falls below the predetermined minimum value.   
     
     
         12 . The aircraft cooling system according to  claim 8 , further comprising at least one of:
 a component disposed in the cooling circuit is connected to the cooling circuit via self-sealing couplings which, upon dismounting the component from the cooling circuit, are adapted to prevent refrigerant from exiting the cooling circuit, and   a hermetically sealable accumulator disposed in the cooling circuit.   
     
     
         13 . The aircraft cooling system according to  claim 8 , wherein the control unit, upon reintroducing refrigerant into the cooling circuit when the cooling circuit, after discharging refrigerant from the cooling circuit, is evacuated, is adapted to operate the condenser of the cooling system so as to evaporate the refrigerant prior to entering the cooling circuit and to liquefy the gaseous refrigerant upon circulating through the cooling circuit. 
     
     
         14 . An arrangement comprising:
 an aircraft cooling system according to  claim 8 , and   a servicing unit for servicing the aircraft cooling system, the servicing unit comprising a first refrigerant connection adaptor adapted to be connected to the refrigerant connection of the cooling system so as to connect a refilling container containing a two-phase refrigerant to a cooling circuit of the cooling system.   
     
     
         15 . The arrangement according to  claim 14 , wherein the servicing unit further comprises at least one of:
 a condenser,   a conveying device,   means for interrupting the supply of refrigerant from the refilling container into the cooling circuit of the cooling system when a pressure in the cooling circuit has reached a predetermined value,   a second refrigerant connection adaptor adapted to be connected to the refrigerant connection of the cooling system,   an evacuation device for evacuating the cooling circuit of the cooling system after discharging refrigerant from the cooling circuit and prior to reintroducing refrigerant into the cooling circuit,   a storage container, and   a heater adapted to heat the storage container.