Advancements in Helicopter Thermal Management: Achieving Optimal Performance Through System Parameter Optimization

نویسندگان

1 Department of Flight and Engineering, Imam Ali University, Tehran, Iran

2 School of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Khaje Nasir Toosi,Tehran, Iran

doi
10.5829/ijee.2026.17.02.02
چکیده

This study investigates the thermodynamic performance and optimization of a helicopter's thermal management system. Utilizing MATLAB and a genetic algorithm, the research identifies optimal parameters to enhance system efficiency. The optimization results reveal an overall system efficiency of 51.04 %, and overall power output of 987.9 kW. Key constraints, including maintaining the fuel temperature below 341 K and ensuring an air-fuel ratio above 30, were successfully met. A parametric study was conducted to evaluate the performance of air flow rate, fuel flow rate, bleed-to-total air ratio, and fuel intake-to-storage ratio on system performance. Results show that increasing air flow rate reduces efficiency and power output while raising fuel temperature, whereas higher fuel flow rate improves efficiency, increases power output, and lowers fuel temperature. Adjusting the bleed-to-total air ratio and fuel intake-to-storage ratio demonstrated significant improvements in power output and efficiency, although with a rise in fuel temperature. This research highlights the importance of optimizing thermal parameters to meet the stringent requirements of helicopter systems. The findings provide valuable insights for enhancing energy efficiency and thermal management in aviation, with implications for improving operational reliability and reducing environmental impact. Future work should focus on dynamic thermal load analyses.