Optimum design of heat exchanger for environmental control system of an aircraft using entropy generation minimization (EGM) technique

Abstract

In this paper, the geometrical parameters of two heat exchangers in a typical commercial aircraft’s ECS system are designed using the Entropy Generation Minimization (EGM) design technique. The irreversibilities of all the thermodynamic devices in the system are incorporated in the numerical analysis to minimize the exergy destruction of the system. The ECS analysed was based on a bootstrap air cycle with two cooling streams; ram air and air bled from engine fan. The paper proposes optimum air conditions at each device in the system. Trends of varying numerous system parameters against entropy generation number are also investigated to provide the design direction.