Framework for integrated dynamic thermal simulation of future civil transport aircraft

Abstract

The development of increasingly more electric systems and ultra high bypass ratio turbofan engines for civil transport aircraft is projected to bring forth critical challenges regarding thermal management. To address these, it is required that the thermal behavior of the complete propulsion-airframe unit is studied in an integrated manner. To this purpose, a simulation framework for performing integrated thermal and performance analyses of the engines, airframe, and airframe systems, is presented. The framework was specifically devised to test novel integrated thermal management solutions for future civil aircraft. In this paper, the discussion focuses mainly on the thermal modeling of the wing and fuel. A highly flexible approach for creating wing thermal models by means of assembling generic thermal compartments is introduced. To demonstrate some of the capabilities, a case study is provided that involves thermal analysis of a single-aisle airplane with ultra high bypass ratio engines. Results are provided for fuel temperatures across flights in standard, hot, and cold days and for different airframe materials. Engine heat sink temperatures and input power to the engine gearboxes, both important parameters needed to design thermal management systems, are also presented.

Aircraft thermal management: Practices, technology, system architectures, future challenges, and opportunities

“…Bulk one-dimensional transient models 𝜌𝐶 𝑝 𝑉 𝑑𝑇 𝑑𝑡 = ∑ 𝑄 ̇𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑠 [14], [82], [106], [133], [134], [147]- [149] Finite volume one-dimensional transient models…”

“…• Effects on overall aircraft efficiency. The addition of a thermal management system may reduce the overall energy efficiency of the aircraft [14] -even to the extent that any gains in efficiency provided by electrification are completely eliminated. • Changes in onboard fuel.…”

“…Part of the scope of UHBR Thermals was to establish a comprehensive integrated dynamic aircraft thermal management simulation framework. This framework, which was developed by Cranfield University, in partnership with Meggitt PLC, was implemented in Simulink and enabled the aircraft level performance effects of integrated thermal management systems to be explored [14].…”

“…For civil transport aircraft, the increase of electrically powered subsystems, the imminent implementation of ultra-high bypass geared turbofan engines, as well as the possible advent of electrified propulsion, are also expected to bring forth significant increases in on board waste heat loads [14]- [18]. As with military aircraft, this increase in heat loads also coincides with a growing use of composite materials for airframe structures and subsequent diminished heat sink capacity.…”

A Review of Concepts, Benefits, and Challenges for Future Electrical Propulsion-Based Aircraft

“…The ESAero developed propriety tool, PANTHER, incorporates the TMS module as part of the propulsion system and aircraft sizing process with due consideration in the performance trade-off for the TMS and the electrical system components [28]. Heerdeen et al [243] proposed a novel thermal architecture of utilizing the wing surface area as means to exhaust the heat with use of fuel and atmospheric air as the potential heat sinks. The study performed a thermal analysis with a compartment-based wing thermal model for a future ultra-high bypass ratio turbofan engine and established a strong relationship between the engine heat sink temperatures in sizing of the thermal system.…”