Modeling Airflow Inside an Aircraft Interior With Multiple Inlets and Outlets

A model for predicting the airflow inside an aircraft interior is presented in this paper. The objective was to optimize the amount of air flowing inside the aircraft at the time of painting, in order to dry the paint effectively and to minimize hazardous effects on the painting crew. The hangar area was split into three regions such that three aircrafts were placed for the purpose of painting. The three regions were separated with curtains between them which acted as separators between the aircraft. A 3D model of the aircraft fuselage with its openings was developed. The fuselage has two pilot doors, two escape hatches and two rear doors on each side of the aircraft. There are two dog houses at the bottom of the aircraft as doors to cargo section of the aircraft. Air flowing over the aircraft on the exterior is forced through into the aircraft through these eight openings provided. Air is forced out through the dog houses. The analysis was carried out for seven different scenarios in which the pilot and rear doors were chosen to be closed randomly. Two major constraints to maintain a minimum velocity of 100fpm (0.51 m/sec) throughout the inside of the aircraft and 12000 cfm (5.64 m³/sec) of air at each exit (dog houses). A minimum of 12000 cfm (5.64 m³/sec) at each exit was available in all scenarios, but the minimum requirement of 100 fpm (0.51 m/sec) was satisfactorily achieved only in which all the doors were open.