Aerodynamic Enhancements due to the Use of Distributed Electric Propulsion

Abstract

To reduce the carbon emissions and noise produced by airplanes, aircraft manufacturers are looking at new technologies to comply with regulations and to improve performance. One alternative is using DEP (Distributed Electric Propulsion), which significantly enhances aircraft performance by coupling propulsion and air dynamics by distributing adequately designed propellers along a lifting surface. The benefit of this system is that electric motor and energy storage technologies have improved in power-to-weight ratio and increased in electric engine efficiencies and battery density over the past 30 years, resulting in an extremely quiet system and zero vehicle emissions. This study aims to produce a valid method to predict the effects of utilizing CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) on the design of DEP in aircraft to design a more efficient and improved aircraft performance by analyzing two geometries, one with DEP with the propellers modelled as actuator disks, and the other without DEP, using steady CFD. The exploration and examination of DEP will change the aerodynamics of an aircraft by knowing how they respond to lift and drag, which are vital factors when flying. Keywords ⎯ Angle of Attack (AOA), Distributed Electric Propulsion (DEP), Drag Coefficient (CD), Lift Coefficient (CL).