Fast heating model for the aircraft cabin air

Abstract

Maintaining a suitable cabin air temperature distribution is essential for providing an acceptable thermal environment for passengers and crew. However, cabin air may be very cold for the first flight in winter morning. It could be difficult to heat quickly the cabin air and to maintain an acceptable temperature gradient before boarding with the existing environmental control system. This study developed numerical model for predicting the heating process that coupled airflow and heat transfer in a cabin. The model was validated by using the experimental data obtained from an MD-82 airliner. With the validated numerical model, this investigation proposed to use an electric blanket to heat cabin air quickly and to reduce the air temperature gradient.