Optimization of Cabin Air Distribution in the Airbus A320 Using Computational Fluid Dynamics and Response Surface Methodology

 Cabin air distribution in narrow-body aircraft must provide adequate mixing without producing excessive draught or leaving weakly ventilated pockets near seats and sidewalls. This study optimized the airflow response of an Airbus A320 economy-class cabin section using CFD coupled with Response Surface Methodology. A 24-run design varied inlet velocity (0.20-0.60 m/s), inlet temperature (20.0-25.0 °C), seat spacing (0.70-0.90 m) and mesh refinement (100,000-150,000 cells). The average cabin velocity ranged from 0.10 to 0.27 m/s, while maximum cabin temperature ranged from 22.7 to 28.0 °C. ANOVA showed that inlet velocity dominated the velocity response (F = 5122.59, p < 0.0001), with seat spacing also significant (F = 21.52, p = 0.0035). The fitted velocity model was highly consistent with the CFD results (R² = 0.9991; RMSE = 0.0019 m/s). Multi-response desirability predicted an operating point at 0.201 m/s inlet velocity, 20.595 °C inlet temperature, 0.709 m seat spacing and 150,000 cells, giving a predicted average velocity of 0.099 m/s and maximum temperature of 24.275 °C. Velocity contours showed where low-speed pockets tended to appear, but no cell-counted low-velocity area or volume fraction was computed. The predicted setting is therefore reported as a candidate for confirmatory CFD and detailed full-cabin evaluation, not as a final ECS operating prescription.