Design the right aircraft: Thermal management strategies using simulation

Guest Speaker: Airbus Helicopters

Benoit Genot: Hydraulic and Flight Control Engineer

Jean-Baptiste Lopez-Velasco: Thermal Management Expert

Recent improvements in integrated aircraft simulation models have enabled an analysis of integrated system performance, including the thermal balance at an aircraft level. This advancement on aircraft thermal management enables engineering teams to make critical decisions on aircraft architectures earlier in the design process.

These advancements are needed to address emerging trends in aircraft design including aircraft systems electrification, electric-hybrid propulsion and the use of advanced composites. The ability to derive insight in the thermal balance needs across an entire aircraft mission requires detailed understanding of complex system interactions. In the context of ECS system design, successful aircraft integrators will need to leverage novel heat rejection strategies to ensure system safety and passenger comfort.

With the aid of early-stage aircraft thermal management simulation engineers can evaluate strategies to maintain heat-balance of an aircraft program including:

• Fuel as a heat sink
• Balancing attributes for ECS Design
• Evaluation of global aircraft thermal management