Improving Cabin Thermal Comfort by Controlling Equivalent Temperature

Document Number: 2009-01-3265

Date Published: November 2009

Author(s):
Allen Curran - ThermoAnalytics Inc.
Scott Peck - ThermoAnalytics Inc.
Tony Schwenn - ThermoAnalytics Inc.
Mark Hepokoski - ThermoAnalytics Inc.

Abstract:
An aircraft environmental control system (ECS) is commonly designed for a cabin that has been divided into several thermal control zones; each zone has an air flow network that pulls cabin air over an isolated thermocouple. This single point measurement is used by the ECS to control the air temperature and hence the thermal environment for each zone. The thermal environment of a confined space subjected to asymmetric thermal loads can be more fully characterized, and subsequently better controlled, by determining its "equivalent temperature." This paper describes methodology for measuring and controlling cabin equivalent temperature. The merits of controlling a cabin thermal zone based on its equivalent temperature are demonstrated by comparing thermal comfort, as predicted by a "virtual thermal manikin," for both air-temperature and equivalent-temperature control strategies.

File Size: 90K
Product Status: In Stock

See other papers presented at SAE 2009 AeroTech Congress & Exhibition, November 2009, Seattle, WA, USA, Session: Environment - Aircraft ECS & Cabin Environment (Part 1 of 2)

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