Thermal Management System Concept with an Autonomous Air-Cooled System 2014-01-2213

Electrical power management is a key technology in the AEA (All-Electric Aircraft) system, which manages the supply and demand of the electrical power in the entire aircraft system. However, the AEA system requires more than electrical power management alone. Adequate thermal management is also required, because the heat generated by aircraft systems and components increases with progressive system electrification, despite limited heat-sink capability in the aircraft. Since heat dissipation from power electronics such as electric motors, motor controllers and rectifiers, which are widely introduced into the AEA, becomes a key issue, an efficient cooling system architecture should be considered along with the AEA system concept.

The more-electric architecture for the aircraft has been developed; mainly targeting reduced fuel burn and CO₂ emissions from the aircraft, as well as leveraging ease of maintenance with electric/electronic components. The AEA should pursue more efficient and eco-friendlier systems, which are easier to maintain than those of conventional aircraft/MEA (More-Electric Aircraft), to enhance benefits for passengers and operators. Given the crucial role of thermal management to construct the AEA, in this paper the authors discuss the AEA thermal management concept, which comprises the three key technologies relating to sub-systems in thermal management; energy-saving for the ECS (Environmental Control System) by introducing a VCS (Vapor Cycle System), replacing a liquid-cooling system for large power electronics with forced-air cooling, and increasing the fuel heat-sink capability by the MEE (More-Electric Engine) electric-fuel system, which limits rise in fuel temperature.