Heat Loss In Small Aircraft
Heat Loss In Small Aircraft
(OP)
We have some small aircraft used for surveying that are getting too cold for our operators in winter weather (-15°C). We are looking for ways to seal the holes we cut through the fuselages for our sensors. The aircraft are fairly old, and the seals for the various doors are not all that good. One of our aircraft is a Piper Aztec, which has little or no heating capability, even if we do seal the everything effectively.
Does anybody have a good idea of how much heat is lost through the aircraft skin?
At some point, I am going to try to work out a fancy sensor mount with a sealed skirt around it. I want to ensure this is going to accomplish something.
Does anybody have a good idea of how much heat is lost through the aircraft skin?
At some point, I am going to try to work out a fancy sensor mount with a sealed skirt around it. I want to ensure this is going to accomplish something.
JHG





RE: Heat Loss In Small Aircraft
The rest is just maths!
Cheers
Greg Locock
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RE: Heat Loss In Small Aircraft
I tried that. It works out to around 15KW.
I have just worked out an air boundary layer due to 10mm insulation, and I am getting around 170W. The insulation itself conducts heat, and there is a boundary layer outside, so this is all quite crude. Does this match anybody's practical experience?
RE: Heat Loss In Small Aircraft
But a car is better insulated than a plane, and the airspeed is less.
Cheers
Greg Locock
New here? Try reading these, they might help FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?
RE: Heat Loss In Small Aircraft
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
RE: Heat Loss In Small Aircraft
If the heater is not working, These folks can get you a nice new one.
http://www.aircraftheater.com/
B.E.
RE: Heat Loss In Small Aircraft
Inadequate.
Also, the -15°C is the thermometer on my front porch. The aircraft can be up at 10,000ft.
RE: Heat Loss In Small Aircraft
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
RE: Heat Loss In Small Aircraft
Around 20"x10". On one aircraft, they have sealed around most of the hole. The other aircraft appears to have a 1/2" gap between the floor and the mount plate on top of the hole. Most of our sensors are shock mounted, which requires a built-in flexible gap in our structure.
RE: Heat Loss In Small Aircraft
After that, apply a small piece of black electrical tape to every interior surface of the cabin, go aloft, and record their temperatures with an infrared heat gun. Coolest large surfaces would benefit from more insulation.
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
RE: Heat Loss In Small Aircraft
Mike has pretty well covered the bases. The cabin air heater does not have a very high volume of air output, and holes in the structure will overcome it pretty quickly.
A source for additional insulation is Aircraft spruce in the States or Canada
http
There are other companies listed in Trade-A-Plane.
One thing I have done for camera mounts in bellies of aircraft, is to use 4" polyurethane mattress foam and custom cut a gasket to fit around the camera.
Hope this helps.
B.E.
RE: Heat Loss In Small Aircraft
If the insulation doesn't cut it any way to try and duct some of what warm air there is to the camera?
Or, if you can afford the mass, how about a hot water botel
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