Electrically Driven Environmental Control System

An environmental control system (ECS) being developed under the title of energy efficient environmental control system is described. The ECS is a closed-loop, electrically driven, vapor cycle system. The vapor cycle will have a compressor driven by a variable speed, high-voltage dc motor. The reasons for selecting this type of system are discussed here. Breadboard testing of a variable speed compressor to demonstrate the feasibility of such an approach has been completed. The testing results were used to develop a preliminary design of a prototype compressor. In future phases of the program, the prototype compressor will be developed; a prototype system will be constructed and laboratory tested; and finally the prototype system will be flight demonstrated.