Experimental and Numerical Study of Airflow Distribution in an Aircraft Cabin Mock-Up with a Gasper On

Abstract

Introduction

The study by You et al. (2016) investigates how personalized air outlets (gaspers) affect airflow patterns and thermal comfort in an aircraft cabin mock-up. The research combines experimental techniques (including Particle Image Velocimetry and thermal anemometry) with Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) using the RANS model with a k-ε turbulence model to simulate airflow.

Key Objectives:

1. Analyze how gaspers influence air velocity and turbulence in cabins.

2. Evaluate the thermal comfort of passengers in different locations.

3. Validate CFD models with experimental data.

4. Offer design recommendations for gasper positioning to optimize comfort and air quality.

Findings:

• Gaspers create localized high-velocity air jets, improving airflow mixing but also raising turbulence.

• Passengers directly under gaspers experience higher airflow and lower temperatures, which improves comfort but may also cause draft discomfort.

• Thermal comfort is uneven across the cabin, emphasizing the need for personalized ventilation.

Strengths of the Study:

• Combines experimental and numerical methods for comprehensive analysis.

• Demonstrates strong correlation between CFD and physical test data.

• Provides insights applicable beyond aircraft cabins, such as in offices, public transport, and healthcare spaces.

Limitations:

• Use of the k-ε model may not capture complex turbulence near gaspers; LES or hybrid models could improve accuracy.

• Assumes steady-state conditions, not accounting for real-life dynamics like passenger movement or door operations.

Implications:

• Gaspers can enhance air quality and passenger comfort, but require careful design to avoid discomfort from drafts.

• An integrated ventilation system combining centralized and personalized airflow may offer the best balance between comfort, health, and efficiency.

• Findings contribute to indoor air quality (IAQ) and thermal comfort research, supporting more sustainable, health-conscious cabin designs.

Recommendations for Future Research:

• Use advanced turbulence models (e.g., LES, DES).

• Include transient factors like passenger movement or environmental changes.

• Study health impacts of airflow distribution and energy efficiency of personalized systems.

• Conduct longitudinal studies on passenger well-being.

Conclusion

You et al.’s study (2016) helps advance the knowledge about the airflow distribution and thermal comfort of airplane cabins. Such experimental proof coupled with a numerical analysis as done in this study gives a clear understanding of the impact of the gaspers on the airflow and thermal comfort. The outcomes of this study can be relevant and correlated with the outcomes of other studies regarding specific systems of ventilation for occupants. Such research should under-consider the need to enhance the precision of the numerical models, estimate the chronic impacts of various ventilation solutions, and seek technology that will allow the create energy efficient aircraft environment with desired thermal comfort and air quality. The findings of this work will be beneficial to designers, engineers, and academics involved in the development and design of aircraft interiors that enhance passengers\' comfort and health. In conclusion, this paper presents a significant contribution to the knowledge enhancement in aircraft cabin ventilation and the result of the study will be useful for the designers, engineers and researchers engaged in the improvement of passenger comfort and air quality in the aircraft cabin.

References

[1] Bogdan, A., & Chludzinska, M. (2010). Assessment of thermal comfort using personalized ventilation. HVAC&R Research, 16(4), 529-542. [2] Cao, Q., Liu, M., Li, X., Lin, C. H., Wei, D., Ji, S., ... & Chen, Q. (2022). Influencing factors in the simulation of airflow and particle transportation in aircraft cabins by CFD. Building and environment, 207, 108413. [3] da Silva, M. G., Broday, E. E., & Ruivo, C. R. (2023). Indoor climate quality assessment in civil aircraft cabins: A field study. Thermal Science and Engineering Progress, 37, 101581. [4] Mayer, F., Fox, R., Space, D., Bezold, A., & Wargocki, P. (2022). Indoor air quality in commercial air transportation. In Handbook of Indoor Air Quality (pp. 2057-2094). Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore. [5] Mboreha, C. A., Jianhong, S., Yan, W., & Zhi, S. (2022). Airflow and contaminant transport in innovative personalized ventilation systems for aircraft cabins: A numerical study. Science and Technology for the Built Environment, 28(4), 557-574. [6] Mboreha, C. A., Jianhong, S., Yan, W., Zhi, S., & Yantai, Z. (2021). Investigation of thermal comfort on innovative personalized ventilation systems for aircraft cabins: A numerical study with computational fluid dynamics. Thermal Science and Engineering Progress, 26, 101081. [7] Melikov, A. K., Cermak, R., & Majer, M. (2002). Personalized ventilation: evaluation of different air terminal devices. Energy and buildings, 34(8), 829-836. [8] You, R., Chen, J., Shi, Z., Liu, W., Lin, C. H., Wei, D., & Chen, Q. (2016). Experimental and numerical study of airflow distribution in an aircraft cabin mock-up with a gasper on. Journal of building performance simulation, 9(5), 555-566.

Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Bishnujee Singh. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.