A component oriented modelling approach for aircraft air conditioning and pressurisation control system design

The common industrial practice considers static analysis and design for distributed piping system while leaving the solution of problem arising from plant dynamic behaviour to designer experiences and/or to "ad-hoc" developed dynamic simulation models. In this paper, we describe a design methodology which can potentially increase performances, safety and shorten time to market development cycle of distributed piping systems and relevant controls. More specifically, the plant modelling, control and automation know-how and tools were reconsidered in order to develop a control oriented modelling tool (FluiDyS) that allows a rapid and easy dynamic modelling and control algorithm design of even highly complex distributed piping systems. The modelling approach consists in developing standard state space mathematical models, suitably defined and associated to particular elementary "physical components" whose composition allows simulating generic distributed piping systems. This approach guarantees great modelling flexibility, scalability and modularity. An application to Aircraft Air Conditioning and Pressurisation System (ACPS) is finally presented, which shows the effectiveness of such tool when dealing with combined process/control performance optimisation problem and control system design and tuning.