Advanced Heat Exchanger (HEX) Scaling Methodologies for High-Performance Aircraft

A Heat Exchanger analytical tool is proposed for rapid thermal analysis and design optimization of advanced heat exchangers. The numerical model incorporates a user-friendly interface capable of modeling the details of the heat load calculation throughout the heat exchanger, including the details of the coolant flow network. The tool is comprised of a Thermal Model to calculate heat flux and wall temperatures for various heat exchangers; a Flow Model to calculate the coolant pressures and temperatures; a Structural/Weight/Cost Model to calculate the minimum HEX thickness and corresponding weight and cost; an Optimizer Model to optimize the heat exchanger design for thermal performance, cost, and weight, and a Properties Model to provide built-in libraries of material and coolant properties. Heat exchanger characterization and scaling laws are incorporated into each of the models through application of fundamental physical equations. The Phase I effort will develop the basic tool, integrating the scaling laws and cost model for a plate-fin heat exchanger. The models will be integrated into a module for incorporation into Simulink. The Phase II effort will further develop the tool by adding a library of heat exchanger types, transient thermal analysis capability, and detailed flow model and will provide validation data.