Prediction of the distribution of indoor air quality and comfort in aircraft cabins using computational fluid dynamics (CFD)

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis has been utilized by the aircraft industry to characterize the distribution of ventilation air in conventionally-configured commercial aircraft passenger cabins. The recent tendency is to increase recirculated air proportion, for operating efficiency. There are also emergent many new cabin interior designs with appurtenances. A principle consideration is assessment of cabin air quality, and comfort, for the aircraft Environmental Control System (ECS) operating in cruise mode at flight altitude, where the efficiency issue is of primary impact. This paper addresses the application potential of CFD to assist in determination, perhaps optimization, of a quality cabin interior environment for broad ranging cabin configuration variations.