A Hierarchical and Extendable, Component-Based Simulation Tool for Aircraft Thermal Management Systems

The requirements for thermal management on tactical aircraft systems have reached a level at which integrated system design must be considered early in the aircraft design process. An integrated propulsion, power and thermal modeling and simulation design approach is necessary for reduced size, weight and power requirements. At the same time, there is an urgent need for capabilities that enable analysis of existing system performance in mission-specific configurations. The increasing complexity and transient behavior of subsystems during missions becomes an important aspect in this regard. There is a direct requirement for a system-modeling tool that can measure system data in various fluid/thermal loops to characterize subsystem and overall system behavior and performance. In order to optimize the overall system, identification and characterization of less efficient subsystems becomes a principal requirement to maximize the overall system performance. CFD Research has teamed up with Wright State University to develop an approach that combines system modeling with multidisciplinary optimization approaches to provide a powerful aircraft system-of-systems design and simulation tool for increasing overall aircraft energy efficiency. A DoD-open source tool will be delivered to the Navy at the end of the effort.