Air supply system and method

Abstract

An air supply system of an atmosphere control system is provided. The air supply system may incorporate features to condition an air stream before the air stream is directed toward an air separation device. A temperature of the air stream to the air separation device may be reduced to help condense moisture in the air stream. The air stream with the lowered temperature may be directed through a moisture removal device to help remove moisture in the air stream. The air stream may also be directed through a particle removal device to help remove particles in the air stream. The air stream may be directed through a heat recovery device to regulate the temperature of the air stream before being directed to the air separation device.

1 . An air supply system, comprising:
 a first heat exchanger;   a second heat exchanger; and   a moisture reduction device;   wherein the first heat exchanger is configured to lower a temperature of an air stream supplied to the air supply system,   the moisture reduction device is configured to remove moisture in the air stream after the air stream is directed out of the first heat exchanger; and   the second heat exchanger is configured to raise the temperature of the air stream after the air stream is directed out of the moisture reduction device.   
     
     
         2 . The air supply system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a particle reduction device, wherein the particle reduction device is configured to remove particles in the air stream after the air stream is directed out of the moisture reduction device.   
     
     
         3 . The air supply system of  claim 1 , wherein an air stream to the air supply system is provided by an air compressor. 
     
     
         4 . The air supply system of  claim 1 , wherein the first heat exchanger is configured to form a heat exchange relationship with a cold part of a refrigeration system. 
     
     
         5 . The air supply system of  claim 4 , wherein the first heat exchanger is configured to form the heat exchange relationship with an evaporator of the refrigeration system. 
     
     
         6 . The air supply system of  claim 1 , wherein the first heat exchanger is configured to be positioned inside a temperature controlled storage unit. 
     
     
         7 . The air supply system of  claim 5 , wherein the first heat exchanger is configured to be positioned in an airflow inside the temperature controlled storage unit. 
     
     
         8 . The air supply system of  claim 1 , wherein the second heat exchanger is configured to form a heat exchange relationship with a hot part of a refrigeration system. 
     
     
         9 . The air supply system of  claim 1 , wherein the second heat exchanger is configured to form a heat exchange relationship with a condenser of the refrigeration system. 
     
     
         10 . The air supply system of  claim 3 , wherein the second heat exchanger is configured to form a heat exchange relationship with an air stream compressed by the air compressor. 
     
     
         11 . The air supply system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first temperature sensor configured to measure a first temperature of the air stream directed out of the first heat exchanger; and   a second temperature sensor configured to measure a second temperature of the air stream directed out of the second heat exchanger,   wherein the air supply system is configured so that the first temperature and the second temperature meet desired values.   
     
     
         12 . The air supply system of  claim 1 , wherein the air stream directed out of the second heat exchanger is directed to an air separation device, wherein the air separation device removes carbon dioxide from the air stream and includes at least one of a pressure swing membrane, a cryogenic distillation device, a sorption device, and a catalytic conversion device. 
     
     
         13 . A transport unit, comprising:
 a transport refrigeration unit;   an air supply system, comprising:
 a first heat exchanger; 
 a second heat exchanger; and 
 a moisture reduction device; 
 wherein the first heat exchanger is configured to lower a temperature of an air stream supplied to the air supply system, 
 the moisture reduction device is configured to remove moisture in the air stream after the air stream is directed out of the first heat exchanger; and 
 the second heat exchanger is configured to raise the temperature of the air stream after the air stream is directed out of the moisture reduction device; and 
   an air separation device, wherein the air stream form the air supply system is directed to the air separation device.   
     
     
         14 . The transport unit of  claim 13 , wherein the transport refrigeration unit further comprising an evaporator,
 wherein the first heat exchanger is configured to form a heat exchange relationship with the evaporator of the transport refrigeration unit.   
     
     
         15 . The transport unit of  claim 13 , further comprising a cargo space,
 wherein the first heat exchanger is configured to be positioned inside the cargo space of the transport unit.   
     
     
         16 . The transport unit of  claim 13 , wherein the transport refrigeration unit further comprises a condenser, wherein the second heat exchanger is configured to form a heat exchange relationship with the condenser of the transport refrigeration unit. 
     
     
         17 . The transport unit of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a compressor configured to provide the air stream to the air supply system, wherein the second heat exchanger is configured to form a heat exchange relationship with the air stream provided by the air compressor.   
     
     
         18 . A method of conditioning an air stream for an air separation device, comprising:
 providing an air stream;   lowering a temperature of the air stream;   removing moisture from the air stream with the lowered temperature; and   increasing the temperature of the air stream after removing moisture from the air stream.   
     
     
         19 . The method of conditioning the air stream of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 removing particles from the air stream after removing moisture from the air stream.   
     
     
         20 . The method of conditioning the air stream of  claim 16 , wherein lowering the temperature of the air stream includes forming a heat exchange relationship with an evaporator of a transport refrigeration unit. 
     
     
         21 . The transport unit of  claim 13 , wherein the air separation device removes carbon dioxide from the air stream and includes at least one of a pressure swing membrane, a cryogenic distillation device, a sorption device, and a catalytic conversion device. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising removing carbon dioxide from the air stream using at least one of a pressure swing membrane, a cryogenic distillation device, a sorption device, and a catalytic conversion device.