Experimental survey of environmental conditions on different air distribution architectures in the study of thermal comfort in aircraft cabin

• Grant number: 11/08121-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2011
• End date: January 31, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Mechanical Engineering - Thermal Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Arlindo Tribess
• Grantee: Daniel Douteiro Carrion
• Host Institution: Escola Politécnica (EP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The air distribution system is one of the most important components of the environmental control system in the correct distribution of conditioned air to provide health and comfort in cabins. Aircraft cabins have a greater density of occupation, a more complex geometry and a lower rate of air exchange compared to buildings. Because of this, it is much more complicated to design a healthy and comfortable commercial aircraft cabin. In the present work measurements of environmental variables will be carried out in order to study experimental airflow conditions and local discomfort conditions due to stratification of temperature and draught, considering different air distribution architectures. The studies will be developed in an instrumented mock-up installed in the laboratory of thermal comfort of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at USP. Heated manikins will be used to simulate the presence of people. This research plan is an ongoing research on "Experimental thermal comfort" project PICTA - EMBRAER / FAPESP, "Comfort and cabin design" (FAPESP Grant 2006/52570-1) and the study of "Conditions of airflow and thermal comfort in an aircraft cabin", referring to Danilo de Moura Master Degree (FAPESP Grant 2006/05131-2. The undergraduate student will develop their activities concurrently with the development of the Masters work of Douglas Fabichak Junior (DTI/CNPq. Schollarship).