An aviation oxygen supply system based on a mechanical ventilation model

At high altitudes, an Aviation Oxygen Supply System (AOSS) protects pilots from low pressure and hypoxia by continuously providing oxygen corresponding to the pilots’ dynamic respiratory properties. An AOSS mainly consists of oxygen supercharging machines which are used in a high-altitude flight cabin to supply pressurized oxygen to pilots. Therefore, it is of great significance to study the airflow dynamic characteristics of an AOSS for safe, continuous, and efficient oxygen supply. In this paper, an AOSS is firstly simplified and considered as a mechanical ventilation system. Then, its corresponding mathematical model is constructed. Next, to verify the mathematical model, a prototype AOSS with a lung simulator is proposed for an experimental study. Afterwards, to build a foundation for the optimization of the AOSS, the airflow dynamic characteristics of an aircraft are analyzed, and the effects of key parameters on the respiration system are researched. Through experimental and simulation studies, it can be concluded that the mathematical model is effective. Subsequently, for stability during the respiration process, we consider setting the equivalent throttling areas of the inspiration and expiration pipelines smaller within certain limits; additionally, an excessively high oxygen supply pressure will disturb smooth airflow, and in a low-pressure environment, the pressure can be 84 cmH2O lower than the standard atmospheric pressure. This research can be referred to in the design of an oxygen supply system and the study on optimization of airflow dynamic characteristics