Modeling and optimization of air distribution systems for commercial aircraft cabins using CFD techniques

Abstract

The high density and close proximity of passengers in the modern aircraft cabin exposes them to the risk of contracting airborne diseases such as flu, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), chickenpox and tuberculosis. Current aircraft personalised ventilation (PV) systems still cannot ensure a constant circulation of fresh humidified air around each passenger's breathing zone to shield them from airborne contaminants. It is proposed to investigate the use of PV systems in aircraft cabins using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) techniques. This would lead to better understanding and an improved microclimate around the breathing zone of each passenger. A comprehensive analysis framework based on the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) thermal comfort assessment models has been developed. The components of the framework consists of the age of air, predicted mean vote (PMV), predicted percentile dissatisfied (PPD), draught risk (PD), contaminant aerosol transport model and a humidity model. Three separate validations have been done to ensure the robustness of the CFD framework developed. Three case studies using novel PV designs have been assessed based on the analysis framework. The proposed framework developed in this analysis can be used for a unified methodology to evaluate ventilation and room climate control systems. Copyright © 2012 by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc. All rights reserved.