Abstract: Future high-performance helicopters will face critical challenges in improving energy utilization and suppressing infrared radiation characteristics. To solve these two problems cooperatively, it is necessary to explore the coupling mechanism of thermal management and infrared radiation characteristics and establish the coupling analysis method from the vehicle level. The infrared radiation characteristics of the whole helicopter are affected by both external factors (such as rotor downwash flow, forward flight flow, and environment) and thermal management optimization methods (such as the working state of each subsystem component, the arrangement of heat exchangers, and the design of infrared suppressors). Therefore, the thermal management and infrared suppression of helicopters are strongly coupled and must be considered cooperatively. According to the structural characteristics, the system working principle, and energy balance of the helicopter, this paper analyzes the heat balance relationship and thermal management framework of helicopters, and establishes the coupled heat transfer computational model with the system components and the external environment as the internal and the external boundary condition, respectively, based on the relationship of heat/mass flow, collection, transmission, storage, and heat transfer. Through heat regulation and management, a thermal management optimization method is proposed to ensure safe and efficient work of each system, thereby improving the energy utilization and optimizing the infrared radiation characteristics. The model and method can provide method support for the design of integrated thermal management scheme and infrared suppression method of helicopters.

Key words: helicopters, thermal management, temperature distribution, infrared radiation, analysis and optimization