Comparison of 1D and 3D thermal models of the nacelle ventilation system in a small airplane

Abstract

Purpose Insight in the temperature distribution on the internal and external surface of the nacelle is of great importance during the design phase of an aircraft. However, detailed information is not always needed. In a preliminary project stage or during parametric optimization, short analysis times are often more crucial than high accuracy. In such cases, the global insight in the temperature levels suffices to gain understanding of the relevance and influence of certain parameters. Nevertheless, estimating the maximum temperature for the most adverse conditions should also be done before a prototype is built. Therefore, this study aims to present and compare a simplified and an advanced methodology for the analysis of engine bay cooling and ventilation systems as well as heat transfer in the nacelle in a small airplane equipped with a turboprop engine in the tractor arrangement. Design/methodology/approach Both approaches included conductive, convective and radiative heat transfer in the engine bay of the small airplane I-23 as well as heat conduction in the nacelle made of material with anisotropic thermal conductivity. The one-dimensional (1D) model assumed that the nacelle with the air flow and engine was represented by a lumped thermal model in which heat was exchanged between the different lumped segments (the nodes) and the flowing air and engine. The three-dimensional (3D) model was based on the continuous control volume approach for heat, fluid flow and thermal radiation as well as on realizable k-ε turbulence model. Both models used commercial software. Findings The temperature distribution at the internal and external surface of the top nacelle was calculated. The 1D model predicted a temperature per node (per segment) while the 3D model was able to determine its values accurately and find the location of hot spots. Considering the complex geometry of the engine bay and nacelle and the assumed simplification, the obtained 1D and 3D results agreed quite well. Practical implications Both models will help in the development of new ventilation and cooling systems of the engine bay and nacelle as well as in the selection of materials for parts of the top cowling in the newly redesigned airplane I-23 equipped with a turboprop engine. In addition, the methodology presented in this paper might be applied in the development of other airplanes. Originality/value The 1D and 3D models of complex heat transfer inside the engine bay and in the nacelle of the newly re-designed airplane I-23 were elaborated and compared.