Configuration Studies of Aircraft Environmental Control System Using Exergy Analysis of Compact Heat Exchangers for Multi-disciplinary Optimization

Abstract

Traditionally the performance of an aircraft environmental control system (ECS) is evaluated through energy balance and the weight of the system components is optimised to meet the strength and performance requirements. The simulation models developed both with off-the-shelf software and inhouse developed codes are all of this category. It is necessary to optimise the ECS system configuration from the entropy generation point of view to identify precisely the components that contribute to the maximum destruction of the exergy. This paper details the procedure to perform the multi-disciplinary optimization through simulation at configuration studies stage during the design of the ECS system from fundamentals. This is not yet embedded in the commercial simulation software that are available for ECS system simulation and design. The procedure presented herein would be useful to all ECS designers to modify and develop the model that suits their requirements. It would also be useful to the ECS designers to evaluate the existing designs to see the scope for improvement.