Project Title: Contaminant Transport
Anticipated Outcome: Advanced computational models of the transport of contaminants within airliner cabins will enable improved environmental control system designs, new cabin air quality sensing systems and will also provide for epidemiological studies of disease transmission in aircraft. In addition, The data from this research will enable the FAA and the aerospace industry to ensure that airworthiness, operational and certification regulations concerning ventilation requirements (FAR 25.831, 121.219 and 125.117) are appropriate for modern aircraft.
Project Summary: Air flows in airliner cabins can be accurately determined by computational solution of the well-known governing equations that describe transport phenomena. However, the complexity of airliner cabins and the high air flows utilized generate significant turbulence that necessitates coupling the theoretical solutions with real-world experimental data to yield reliable predictions. ACER researchers have developed novel computational algorithms to predict airflows in airliner cabins and have validated the models with experimental data from high-fidelity experimental mock-ups of cabins. The improved understanding of airflows and the computational tools is providing an ability to quantitatively predict the distribution of both unintentional contaminants as well as intentionally applied disinfectants needed to return aircraft to service after a severe contamination incident. It is expected that the models could also be used to further enhance air quality and thermal performance in cabins plus improve overall aircraft energy efficiency.
Research Team:
Yan Chen, Purdue University
Byron Jones, Kansas State University
Recent Scientific Papers and Technical Reports:"Experimental and numerical investigation of airflow and contaminant transport in an airliner cabin mockup," Zhang, Zhao; Chen, Xi; Mazumdar, Sagnik; Zhang, Tengfei; Chen, Qingyan, Building and Environment, Vol 44, No 1 (2009) pp 85-94.
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"Novel air distribution systems for commercial aircraft cabins," Zhang, Tengfei; Chen, Qingyan (Yan), Building and Environment, Vol 42, No 4 (2007) pp 1675-1684.
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"Optimal sensor placement for airborne contaminant detection in an aircraft cabin," Zhang, Tengfei; Chen, Qingyan; Lin, Chao-Hsin, HVAC and R Research, Vol 13, No 5 (2007) pp. 683-696.
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