Integrated Aerodynamic Benefits of Distributed Propulsion

Wick, Andrew; Hooker, John R.; Zeune, Cale

doi:10.2514/6.2015-1500

Cited by 60 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…In order to capture and verify the analytical aerodynamic buildup conducted in early concept studies, a full 3D CFD study was performed. The motivation to conduct initial ECO-150R CFD studies was borne out of the results from an AFRL funded propulsion-airframe integration study by Lockheed Martin in which cruise aerodynamic improvements of 8% were found with inboard profile sections similar to that of the ECO-150 design 5 .…”

Section: A Cfd-motivated Wing Reshapingmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Aeropropulsive Interaction and Thermal System Integration within the ECO-150: A Turboelectric Distributed Propulsion Airliner with Conventional Electric Machines

Schiltgen

Freeman

2016

16th AIAA Aviation Technology, Integration, and Operations Conference

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The ECO-150 is a 150 passenger Environmentally COnscious tube-and-wing regional airliner concept which is characterized by a turboelectric distributed propulsion (TeDP) system embedded within the inboard section of the wing. Since 2008, the ECO-150 concept has served to promote a more complete understanding of TeDP performance, integration, design requirements, and system complexities. Early versions of the ECO-150 claimed superconducting electronics cooled by onboard liquid hydrogen (LH 2 ); however, the infrastructure requirements of such a system are far out of reach for near-term technology. In this most recent investigation, the ECO-150R was equipped with conventional electric machines suitable for NASA's N+2 timeframe. A recirculating liquid thermal management system (TMS) with ram air heat exchangers was integrated into the design to support the electric machines. Additionally, three-dimensional CFD analysis of the aircraft guided a redesign of the inboard wing and validated prior lower-order estimates for aero-propulsive efficiency and high lift performance. Component integration exercises within the updated configuration illuminated unexpected yet solvable packaging challenges. Mission performance analysis showed the ECO-150R concept to be at least as efficient as a currently operating airliner despite systematically conservative assumptions for the mass and efficiency of the advanced technologies and several unclaimed opportunities for design optimization. Ultimately, the research discussed in this paper strengthened the credibility of the ECO-150 concept and confirmed the feasibility of TeDP systems with conventional electric machines. Nomenclatureaircraft total drag, lb f L = aircraft total lift, lb f M = Mach number T = aircraft total thrust, lb f TOFL = takeoff field length, ft TSFC = thrust specific fuel consumption, lb m /lb f /hr ∆T = difference in temperature, °R

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Section: A Cfd-motivated Wing Reshapingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…3. Incorporate the results/lessons learned from the recent AFRL propulsion-airframe integration (PAI) studies 5 . Conduct similar CFD analysis to verify the aerodynamic assumptions for the ECO-150 split wing, and feed those results back directly into the conceptual re-design process.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Aeropropulsive Interaction and Thermal System Integration within the ECO-150: A Turboelectric Distributed Propulsion Airliner with Conventional Electric Machines

Schiltgen

Freeman

2016

16th AIAA Aviation Technology, Integration, and Operations Conference

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“…Distributed propulsion is termed for the approach in which the propulsors are distributed effectively across the aircraft body for enhancement of the aero-propulsion integration benefits [47,48]. By adopting such mechanism, the propulsors become an integral part in improving the overall vehicle efficiency.…”

Section: Distributed Electric Propulsion System Design-benefits and Cmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Review of Concepts, Benefits, and Challenges for Future Electrical Propulsion-Based Aircraft

2020

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Electrification of the propulsion system has opened the door to a new paradigm of propulsion system configurations and novel aircraft designs, which was never envisioned before. Despite lofty promises, the concept must overcome the design and sizing challenges to make it realizable. A suitable modeling framework is desired in order to explore the design space at the conceptual level. A greater investment in enabling technologies, and infrastructural developments, is expected to facilitate its successful application in the market. In this review paper, several scholarly articles were surveyed to get an insight into the current landscape of research endeavors and the formulated derivations related to electric aircraft developments. The barriers and the needed future technological development paths are discussed. The paper also includes detailed assessments of the implications and other needs pertaining to future technology, regulation, certification, and infrastructure developments, in order to make the next generation electric aircraft operation commercially worthy.

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“…TetrUSS 232 provides vertical integration of many technologies including geometry preparation, grid generation, flow solution, visualization, grid adaptation, and knowledge-based design. Wick et al 233 list critical enhancements made to this system that enable the evaluation of integrated distributed propulsion technologies. Cart3D 34 combines discrete geometry Boolean operations with output-adaptive Euler cut cells to robustly populate aerodynamic databases.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Unstructured Grid Adaptation: Status, Potential Impacts, and Recommended Investments Towards CFD 2030

Park

Krakos

Michal

et al. 2016

46th AIAA Fluid Dynamics Conference

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Unstructured grid adaptation is a powerful tool to control Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) discretization error. It has enabled key increases in the accuracy, automation, and capacity of some fluid simulation applications. Slotnick et al. provide a number of case studies in the CFD Vision 2030 Study: A Path to Revolutionary Computational Aerosciences to illustrate the current state of CFD capability and capacity. The study authors forecast the potential impact of emerging High Performance Computing (HPC) environments forecast in the year 2030 and identify that mesh generation and adaptivity will continue to be significant bottlenecks in the CFD workflow. These bottlenecks may persist because very little government investment has been targeted in these areas. To motivate investment, the impacts of improved grid adaptation technologies are identified. The CFD Vision 2030 Study roadmap and anticipated capabilities in complementary disciplines are quoted to provide context for the progress made in grid adaptation in the past fifteen years, current status, and a forecast for the next fifteen years with recommended investments. These investments are specific to mesh adaptation and impact other aspects of the CFD process. Finally, a strategy is identified to di↵use grid adaptation technology into production CFD work flows.

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Integrated Aerodynamic Benefits of Distributed Propulsion

Cited by 60 publications

References 13 publications

Aeropropulsive Interaction and Thermal System Integration within the ECO-150: A Turboelectric Distributed Propulsion Airliner with Conventional Electric Machines

Aeropropulsive Interaction and Thermal System Integration within the ECO-150: A Turboelectric Distributed Propulsion Airliner with Conventional Electric Machines

A Review of Concepts, Benefits, and Challenges for Future Electrical Propulsion-Based Aircraft

Unstructured Grid Adaptation: Status, Potential Impacts, and Recommended Investments Towards CFD 2030

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