Raskolnikov
Well-Known Member
How does aerodynamic cooling work?
I came across this question on an interview gouge for a regional airline.
I've searched several FAA books and the words "aerodynamic cooling" came up only one time, in Aviation Weather, ch 10. I couldn't find it an any other FAA source.
From Aviation Weather, ch 10: "Aerodynamic cooling can lower temperature of an airfoil to 0° C even though the ambient temperature is a few degrees warmer."
Can anyone explain how aerodynamic cooling works?
A solid surface can lose heat through radiation, conduction (convection with air), or evaporation. A gas can also lose heat adiabatically.
So is the air losing heat adiabatically, then taking heat from the aircraft skin through convection?
Is it the reduced pressure on the upper surface of the wing? If that's it, can aerodynamic cooling affect areas of the aircraft skin not on the airfoil?
Anybody have a good reference for this?
I've come across a few internet articles and blogs that attribute aerodynamic cooling to a "wind chill effect" from increased airflow around the aircraft. But I thought wind chill was just an effect that makes us feel colder, and didn't actually lower skin temperature. In fact, this should increase temperature slightly due to friction. It's why the space shuttle needed a heat shield, not a wind chill effect shield.
I came across this question on an interview gouge for a regional airline.
I've searched several FAA books and the words "aerodynamic cooling" came up only one time, in Aviation Weather, ch 10. I couldn't find it an any other FAA source.
From Aviation Weather, ch 10: "Aerodynamic cooling can lower temperature of an airfoil to 0° C even though the ambient temperature is a few degrees warmer."
Can anyone explain how aerodynamic cooling works?
A solid surface can lose heat through radiation, conduction (convection with air), or evaporation. A gas can also lose heat adiabatically.
So is the air losing heat adiabatically, then taking heat from the aircraft skin through convection?
Is it the reduced pressure on the upper surface of the wing? If that's it, can aerodynamic cooling affect areas of the aircraft skin not on the airfoil?
Anybody have a good reference for this?
I've come across a few internet articles and blogs that attribute aerodynamic cooling to a "wind chill effect" from increased airflow around the aircraft. But I thought wind chill was just an effect that makes us feel colder, and didn't actually lower skin temperature. In fact, this should increase temperature slightly due to friction. It's why the space shuttle needed a heat shield, not a wind chill effect shield.
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