Print Email Facebook Twitter Aerodynamic Performance Benefits of Over-the-Wing Distributed Propulsion for Hybrid-Electric Transport Aircraft Title Aerodynamic Performance Benefits of Over-the-Wing Distributed Propulsion for Hybrid-Electric Transport Aircraft Author de Vries, R. (TU Delft Flight Performance and Propulsion) Vos, Roelof (TU Delft Flight Performance and Propulsion) Date 2022 Abstract The goal of this study is to analyze how the aero-propulsive benefits of an over-the-wing distributed-propulsion (OTWDP) system at component level translate into an aero-propulsive benefit at aircraft level, and to determine whether this enhancement is sufficient to lead to a reduction in overall energy consumption. For this, the preliminary sizing of a partialturboelectric regional passenger aircraft is performed, and its performance metrics are compared to a conventional twin-turboprop reference for the 2035 timeframe. The changes in lift, drag, and propulsive efficiency due to the OTWDP system are estimated using a simplified numerical method, which is validated with experimental data. For a typical cruise condition and the baseline geometry evaluated in the experiment, the numerical method estimates a 45% increase in the local sectional lift-to-drag ratio of the wing, at the expense of a 12% reduction in propeller efficiency. For an aircraft with 53% of the wing span covered by the OTWDP system, this aerodynamic coupling is found to increase the average aero-propulsive efficiency of the aircraft by 9%, for a 1500 nmi mission. Approximately 4% of this benefit is required to offset the losses in the electrical drivetrain. The reduction in fuel weight compensates the increase in powertrain weight, leading to a take-off mass comparable to the reference aircraft. Overall, a 5% reduction in energy consumption is found, albeit with a ±5% uncertainty due to uncertainty in the aerodynamic modeling. To reference this document use: http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:17ea23c7-ab95-474d-a24c-7ddca5cf9597 DOI https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2022-0128 ISBN 978-1-62410-631-6 Source AIAA SCITECH 2022 Forum Event AIAA SCITECH 2022 Forum, 2022-01-03 → 2022-01-07, virtual event Series AIAA Science and Technology Forum and Exposition, AIAA SciTech Forum 2022 Part of collection Institutional Repository Document type conference paper Rights © 2022 R. de Vries, Roelof Vos Files PDF 6.2022_0128.pdf 5.69 MB Close viewer /islandora/object/uuid:17ea23c7-ab95-474d-a24c-7ddca5cf9597/datastream/OBJ/view