Optimised Cockpit Heat Load Analysis using Skin Temperature Predicted by CFD and Validation by Thermal Mapping to Improve the Performance of Fighter Aircraft

Paresh Gupta; S. P. S. Rajput

doi:10.14429/dsj.65.7200

Paresh Gupta Aircraft Upgrade Research and Design Centre, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, Nasik
S. P. S. Rajput Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology, Bhopal

DOI: https://doi.org/10.14429/dsj.65.7200

Keywords: Environmental control system, computational fluid dynamics, cockpit heat load analyses

Abstract

Designing of optimum environmental control system (ECS) plays a major role for increasing performance of fighter aircraft depending upon requirement of engine bleed air for running of ECS. Accurate estimation of cockpit skin temperature for obtaining optimised cockpit heat load helps in estimation of engine bleed air for ECS. Present research evolved a methodology for comparing the theoretically calculated skin temperature with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis to obtain optimum skin temperature. Results are validated by flight tests under critical flight conditions using thermal crayons. Based on which the optimized heat load and bleed air requirements has been computed. Uncertainty analysis of skin temperature measurement for thermal crayons have been undertaken. The results indicate that the theoretical skin temperature is -26.70 per cent as that of CFD estimated skin temperature. Optimized average cockpit heat load at critical flight profiles is 0.74 times the theoretical cockpit heat load, leading to reduction of bleed air requirement by 26 per cent as compared to theoretical. Due to this literature survey has pridicted the increase in performance parameters like increase in bleed air pressure by 78 per cent, increase in thrust by 60 per cent, and decrease in specific fuel consumption (SFC) by 40 per cent to improve the endurance of aircraft. The research has generated governing equations for variation of cockpit heat loads w.r.t aircraft skin temperatures.

Defence Science Journal, Vol. 65, No. 1, January 2015, pp.12-24, DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.14429/dsj.65.7200

Author Biographies

Paresh Gupta, Aircraft Upgrade Research and Design Centre, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, Nasik

Mr Paresh Gupta has completed his MSc in Aerospace Vehicle Design from Cranfield University, U UK, in 2008. Presently, pursuing PhD from Maulana Azad N National I Institute of Technology, Bhopal. He is presently working as Senior Manager (Design) at Aircraft U Upgrade Research and Design Centre, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Nasik. He has approximately 14 years of experience in Design and development of Environmental Control System (ECS) of fighter aircraft and presently working as Group Leader of ECS and Fire Fighting Group. He is a recipient of many awards including SODET Award (2011-12) in Gold category for ECS upgrade of MiG 27 aircraft, SODET Award (2013-14) in Bronze category for ECS upgrade of Project Eye Shadow, DARE, DRDO Award for significant contribution of ECS upgrade.

S. P. S. Rajput, Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology, Bhopal

Dr S.P.S. Rajput has completed ME (Thermal engineering) in 1992 and PhD in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning in 2004. He is presently working as Professor at Maulana Azad N National I Institute of Technology, Bhopal. He has approximately 23 years of teaching and research experience in field of Refrigeration and Air Conditioning system. He has guided 44 M.Tech students. Under his guidance eight PhDs have been awarded and six are under progress. He has published 35 research papers at various international journals and 24 papers at international conferences.