Motor driven cabin air compressor with variable diffuser

Abstract

An air cycle machine is provided and includes a compressor section having a variable area diffuser, a turbine section having an inlet nozzle with a variable size, a motor to drive the compressor and a common rotating shaft on which the compressor section, the turbine section and the motor are mounted, the turbine section driving rotation of the shaft to drive the compressor section with the motor.

1 . An air cycle machine, comprising:
 a compressor section having a variable area diffuser;   a turbine section having an inlet nozzle with a variable size;   a motor to drive the compressor; and   a common rotating shaft on which the compressor section, the turbine section and the motor are mounted,   the turbine section driving rotation of the shaft to drive the compressor section with the motor.   
     
     
         2 . The air cycle machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the compressor section, the turbine section and the motor are each supported on air bearings. 
     
     
         3 . The air cycle machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the variable size of the inlet nozzle is set according to operation of a predefined number of packs. 
     
     
         4 . The air cycle machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the motor comprises an integrally cooled motor. 
     
     
         5 . The air cycle machine according to  claim 4 , further comprising a heat exchanger coupled to the motor. 
     
     
         6 . The air cycle machine according to  claim 5 , wherein a first cooling flow is tapped from an inlet of the compressor section and exited downstream form the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         7 . The air cycle machine according to  claim 5 , wherein a second cooling flow is tapped from an outlet of the compressor section for air bearing cooling. 
     
     
         8 . An air cycle machine, comprising:
 a compressor section having a variable area diffuser to compress inlet air;   a turbine section having an inlet nozzle with a variable size to receive the compressed air from the compressor section and to expand the air for use in an aircraft cabin;   a motor to drive the compressor; and   a common rotating shaft on which the compressor section, the turbine section and the motor are operably mounted,   the turbine section driving rotation of the shaft to provide additional drive power to the compressor section along with that of the motor.   
     
     
         9 . The air cycle machine according to  claim 8 , wherein the compressor section, the turbine section and the motor are each supported on air bearings. 
     
     
         10 . The air cycle machine according to  claim 8 , wherein the variable size of the inlet nozzle is set according to operation of a predefined number of packs. 
     
     
         11 . The air cycle machine according to  claim 8 , wherein the motor comprises an integrally cooled motor. 
     
     
         12 . The air cycle machine according to  claim 11 , further comprising a heat exchanger coupled to the motor. 
     
     
         13 . The air cycle machine according to  claim 12 , wherein a first cooling flow is tapped from an inlet of the compressor section and exited downstream form the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         14 . The air cycle machine according to  claim 12 , wherein a second cooling flow is tapped from an outlet of the compressor section for air bearing cooling. 
     
     
         15 . An air cycle machine for use in a RAM engine in an aircraft, comprising:
 a compressor section having a variable area diffuser to compress RAM inlet air;   a turbine section having an inlet nozzle with a variable size to receive the compressed air from the compressor section and to expand the air for use in a cabin of the aircraft;   a motor to drive the compressor; and   a common rotating shaft on which the compressor section, the turbine section and the motor are operably mounted,   the turbine section driving rotation of the shaft to provide additional drive power to the compressor section along with that of the motor.   
     
     
         16 . The air cycle machine according to  claim 15 , wherein the compressor section, the turbine section and the motor are each supported on air bearings. 
     
     
         17 . The air cycle machine according to  claim 15 , wherein the variable size of the inlet nozzle is set according to operation of a predefined number of packs. 
     
     
         18 . The air cycle machine according to  claim 15 , wherein the motor comprises an integrally cooled motor. 
     
     
         19 . The air cycle machine according to  claim 18 , further comprising a heat exchanger coupled to the motor. 
     
     
         20 . The air cycle machine according to  claim 19 , wherein a first cooling flow is tapped from an inlet of the compressor section and exited downstream form the heat exchanger and a second cooling flow is tapped from an outlet of the compressor section for air bearing cooling.