Absorption cooling for aircraft trolleys and compartments

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to improved cooling systems and methods for use on aircraft trolleys and compartments. The systems use absorptive cooling with thermal conductive plates strategically positioned in order to keep trolleys and their contents cooled.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cooling system for a trolley positioned in a galley bay, the galley bay having one or more stowage areas for trolleys, comprising:
 (a) a waste heat source;   (b) an absorptive cooler;   (c) a cooling fluid circuit; and   (d) at least one thermal conductive plate positioned on at least one wall of the stowage area of the galley bay,   wherein waste heat from the waste heat source is delivered to the absorptive cooler which uses the waste heat to drive the cooler,   wherein the cooling fluid circuit delivers cooled fluid to the at least one thermal conductive plate, and   wherein the at least one thermal conductive plate delivers cooling to a trolley.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a trolley is positioned in the stowage area of the galley bay and wherein the trolley comprises a thermal conductive plate positioned on its back wall to contact the at least one thermal conductive plate on the wall of the stowage area. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the stowage area comprises a top wall, a back wall, and a divider wall panel, wherein a thermal conductive plate is positioned on the top wall, the back wall, and the divider wall panel. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the cooling system is used on board a passenger transport vehicle. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the cooling system is used on board an aircraft. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the waste heat source comprises a fuel cell. 
     
     
         7 . A method for cooling a galley trolley stowage area, comprising
 (a) delivering heat from a heat source to an absorptive cooler;   (b) delivering cooled fluid from the absorptive cooler through a cooling fluid circuit to at least one thermal conductive plate positioned on a wall of the galley trolley stowage area.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one thermal conductive plate is positioned on a back wall of a galley monument. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising positioning a trolley against the back wall of the galley monument, wherein the trolley comprises a thermal conductive plate positioned on its back wall such that it contacts the at least one thermal conductive plate on the back wall of the galley monument. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising a plurality of thermal plates positioned on walls of the galley trolley stowage area, such that the thermal plates create a cooling environment for a trolley positioned in the trolley stowage area. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of thermal plates are positioned on a top wall of the galley monument and a divider wall panel of the galley monument.