A CFD Analysis of Transverse Airflow Around the Exterior of an Aircraft Fuselage Inside a Large Enclosure

A model for predicting the airflow over the aircraft exterior with in a hangar is presented in this paper. The main reason behind this was to analyze the amount of air flowing over the aircraft at the time of painting, in order to dry the paint effectively and avoid possible hazardous effects on the people painting the aircraft. The air flow was supplied through the HVAC system in the hangar area. The HVAC system was available at the ceiling and air flows from the diffuser at the ceiling level. Grills were placed at the floor level in order to capture the air that flows down in the hangar area. The hangar area was split into three regions such that three aircrafts are placed for the purpose of painting. The three regions were separated with curtains between them which act as walls on the two sides for the aircraft at the center and walls on one side for aircrafts at the corner of the hangar area. A 2D model was simulated for the exterior airflow. Velocity of the air passing out of the diffuser was fixed at 0.56 m/s. The simulations were run at five different sections of the aircraft in order to simulate the airflow over the entire aircraft region on the exterior. The angle at which air flows from the diffuser is varied as 0°, 22.5°, 45°. This was performed in order to obtain the best possible angle at which air could be distributed in the hangar area, such that the aircraft is dried effectively at the time of painting. It was evident that the distribution of air along the aircraft exterior was more effective at diffuser angles of 0° and 22.5°. At 45° the airflow is directed away from the aircraft resulting in the circulation of air inside the hangar area.