Integrated Thermal Management of Advanced Aircraft

The principal objective of the proposed effort is to enhance the Vehicle Integrated Thermal Management Analysis Code (VITMAC) to include an optimization scheme, at the component and system levels, that will provide an optimum thermal design ensuring minimum weight while satisfying cooling requirements. Additiionally, VITMAC will be coupled with an engine performance code to obtain better estimates of engine thermal loads. For example, for hypersonic aircraft, the engine (ramjet, scramjet, or dual-mode) heat load is the major source of heat to be managed; this proposed effort will provide the designer with a tool to optimize the engine thermal management system, while ensuring acceptable operating temperatures.