A fast calculation approach for thermal distribution of aircraft piston pumps based on finite difference method

• Developed a rapid thermal analysis method using the finite difference approach. • Precisely simulated heat sources such as friction and oil leakage in the pump. • Validated by experimental data, the simulation results showed high accuracy and reduces the time by over 90% compared to traditional methods. Thermal distribution in both solid and fluid domains critically affects piston-pump performance and service life. Traditional thermal analysis methods typically employ time-consuming finite element simulations. This paper proposes a rapid temperature-solving methodology based on the finite difference method, programmatically implemented for practical application. The principal advantage of this methodology resides in its substantially enhanced computational efficiency. Compared with conventional finite element approaches, the proposed method reduces the simulation duration to approximately 10% of that required by traditional algorithms under identical operational conditions. The developed methodology enables efficient and accurate simulation of critical heat generation mechanisms in piston pumps, including frictional heating and fluid leakage phenomena, while simultaneously providing comprehensive temperature distributions across pump components. The methodology demonstrates particular suitability for real-time thermal analysis under dynamic operating conditions, exhibiting rapid responsiveness to parameter variations such as flow rate and rotational speed, thereby fulfilling the critical requirement for expedited feedback in engineering thermal analysis. To validate the methodology, finite difference simulation results were rigorously compared with experimental data obtained from standardized test bench measurements. The results confirm the methodology's reliability and computational effectiveness in practical engineering applications, with observed temperature distribution discrepancies constrained within ±5%. This methodology provides an effective analytical tool for real-time thermal monitoring and optimization design of piston pumps, offering novel solutions to enhance both the operational performance and service longevity of hydraulic systems.