The Boeing Company

Paul A Gifford

Andre G Brasseur

Charles A Fieldson

Gregory L Campbell

The present invention provides a temperature control system for an aircraft ventilation system that couples with existing aircraft upstream ventilation system architecture and downstream ventilation system architecture. The temperature control system includes an air duct arranged to receive a volume of ventilation air from the upstream ventilation system architecture and transfer the volume of air to the downstream ventilation system architecture. At least one heater is interposed within the duct and is arranged to heat the ventilation air. Additionally, at least one temperature sensor that is in thermodynamic communication with the volume of air within the duct is located downstream from the at least one heater and is arranged to determine an actual temperature of the ventilation air. A controller is in electrical communication with the at least one heater and the at least one temperature sensor. The controller is programmed with a predetermined range of temperatures above the freezing point of water. The controller is arranged to control the heater responsive to a comparison of the actual temperature of the ventilation air to the predetermined range of temperatures. The controller maintains the actual ventilation air temperature within the predetermined range of temperatures such that formation of ice is minimized in the aircraft ventilation system.

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Bellevue, WA, United States of America

Paul A Gifford