Calculation of Temperature and Energy Losses in PCA Ducting

Temperature and energy losses in Ground Support Equipment (GSE) Pre-Conditioned Air (PCA) flexible ducting have a significant effect on the overall performance the PCA system. Providing the right size (diameter) and sufficiently insulated ducting is essential for the success of the system to adequately cool or heat an aircraft. Traditional HVAC temperature loss and energy loss estimating methods or rules of thumb are difficult to apply due to the specialized nature of the ducting and its application. Using fundamental heat transfer and general energy loss principles, custom tools were developed to model and predict these losses. Empirical testing has been used to verify the predictions. Having these tools enables the correct selection of duct size, length, and type for the particular needs of the PCA system.