Session: 01-02: Conceptual Design and Optimization I

Submission Number: 177441

Coupled Performance Optimization and Analysis for the Precooler-Flow Duct Assembly in Precooled Engines 

The precooler serves as a core functional component in air-breathing precooled engines, responsible for cooling high-temperature air upstream of the compressor. The design of its upstream and downstream flow channels significantly influences its actual performance, yet no relevant optimization studies have been reported in the open literature. In this paper, parametric modeling of the flow channels associated with the precoolers—including both the baseline single precooler and the variable-diameter dual-parallel precooler—was established based on cubic Bézier curves. Under Mach 5 flight condition, correlation analysis and multi-objective optimization of the flow channel design parameters were performed, aiming to minimize the compressor inlet air total temperature and maximize the air total pressure recovery coefficient. Finally, the optimization results were analyzed by matching the intake and engine operating conditions. The results indicate that the design parameters of the outer wall surface in the upstream flow channel exhibit the highest correlation with both performance metrics, and the overall wall curvature shows a positive correlation with them. For the variable-diameter dual-parallel precoolers, the obtained Pareto front spans approximately 30% of that of the baseline precooler, demonstrating stronger performance robustness. Furthermore, provided that the overall air total pressure recovery coefficient of the precooler-flow channel assembly remains above the critical threshold required to maintain the intake in a supercritical state, maximizing heat exchange efficiency—i.e., bringing it close to the low-dimensional ideal performance of the precoolers—should be the primary design criterion for the flow channels. In the present case study, with the low-dimensional design value of coolant mass flow rate as the baseline, the design scheme with maximum heat exchange efficiency achieves a 6.4% reduction in coolant consumption compared to the scheme with the highest total pressure recovery coefficient.

Presenting Author: Kun He Research Institute of Aero-Engine, Beihang University

Presenting Author Biography: Kun He, male, from China, is currently pursuing his Ph.D. at Research Institute of Aero-Engine, Beihang University. His research focuses on the coupled flow and heat transfer in the combined intake-precoolers-compression system of air-breathing precooled engines.

Authors:

Kun He Research Institute of Aero-Engine, Beihang University
Yifan Wang Research Institute of Aero-Engine, Beihang University
Huoxing Liu Research Institute of Aero-Engine, Beihang University
Yusen Xu Research Institute of Aero-Engine, Beihang University