US 12,392,529 B2
Air distribution system and method including a thermocouple device
Ranjith G. Dass, Bangalore (IN); and Hafza K. Kurungattu Valappil, Bangalore (IN)
Assigned to The Boeing Company, Arlington, VA (US)
Filed by THE BOEING COMPANY, Chicago, IL (US)
Filed on Jun. 2, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/890,698.
Claims priority of application No. 202011015959 (IN), filed on Apr. 13, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0318036 A1, Oct. 14, 2021
Int. Cl. F25B 21/04 (2006.01); B64D 13/06 (2006.01)
CPC F25B 21/04 (2013.01) [B64D 13/06 (2013.01); B64D 2013/0655 (2013.01); F25B 2321/0251 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An air distribution system for an aircraft, the air distribution system comprising:
a source of air;
a plurality of air distribution subsystems, wherein each air distribution subsystem of the plurality of air distribution subsystems is associated with a corresponding zone of a plurality of zones of the aircraft, wherein each zone of the plurality of zones comprises a plurality of passenger seats, wherein each air distribution subsystem of the plurality of air distribution subsystems is configured to receive air from the source of air and provide conditioned air to the corresponding zone of the plurality of zones, wherein each air distribution subsystem of the plurality of air distribution subsystems comprises a plurality of air vents, and wherein each air vent of the plurality of air vents of a corresponding air distribution subsystem of the plurality of air distribution subsystems delivers a corresponding portion of the air to a corresponding single passenger seat of the plurality of passenger seats of the corresponding zone of the plurality of zones;
a plurality of thermocouple devices, wherein each thermocouple device of the plurality of thermocouple devices is configured to interact with the corresponding portion of the air delivered from a corresponding air vent of the plurality of air vents of a corresponding air distribution subsystem of the plurality of air distribution subsystems; and
a controller configured to separately control operation of the plurality of thermocouple devices in order to provide for individual temperature control of the corresponding portion of the air delivered to each single passenger seat of the plurality of passenger seats of each zone of the plurality of zones, wherein the controller is configured to control at least one of a polarity or a magnitude of a voltage applied to each thermocouple device of the plurality of a thermocouple devices.