Automatic Environmental Control System for Electronic Equipment Platforms

Many advances in the electronics and electronics packaging industries have recently increased the heat load densities of electronic equipment. For older cargo aircraft which have been modified into electronic equipment platforms, the introduction of the higher heat load density boxes along with large variations in flight profiles and equipment duty cycles have rendered many low pressure bleed air environmental control systems incapable of providing sufficient cooling.

This paper describes an automatic environmental control system (AECS) which is designed to use the available ECS air supply more effectively and to conserve bleed air. The system gathers temperature sensor data and analyzes the cooling requirements of the aircraft. Valves, acting as variable orifices in the aircraft distribution ducting, are then positioned to provide air to the equipment with the greatest need.