M. van Sluis
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10 records found
1
Boundary-layer ingestion (BLI) has been proposed as one of the novel airframe–engine integration technologies to reduce aircraft fuel consumption. The current numerical analysis involves the evaluation of the effect of fuselage design on the power consumption of a boundary-layer ingesting propulsor modeled as an actuator volume without nacelle. An axisymmetric fuselage model is used as a canonical case to study BLI in transonic flight conditions. The flowfield is investigated through the power balance and the exergy analysis methods. Results show that the fuselage geometry and flight conditions only have a minor effect on the BLI power saving benefit when compared to the effect on the drag power of the fuselage. This indicates that, for the range of fuselage geometries and flight conditions studied, the isolated fuselage drag can be used for a qualitative performance assessment of different fuselage designs even for BLI configurations. Also, the power saving results obtained based on the power balance and the exergy analysis methods show similar qualitative trends for the fuselage geometries and flight conditions considered. Furthermore, the BLI propulsor has a negligible effect on the upstream anergy generation rate. Turbulence and temperature gradients within the flow are the important reasons for the deterioration of the BLI propulsor performance as expected.
Boundary Layer Ingestion (BLI) is a technology that promises fuel consumption benefits for future civil aircraft. However, it introduces detrimental aerodynamic interactions between the propulsor and the airframe. In particular, the inflow to the BLI propulsor is affected by the flow around the airframe elements. The non-uniform inflow can influence the fan aerodynamic, aeroacoustic and aeroelastic performance. As a consequence, the fan design needs to tolerate the inlet distortions in all the flight phases. This paper discusses an experimental study of the aerodynamic performance of an aircraft with a BLI propulsor integrated at the aft-fuselage section, representative of a Propulsive Fuselage Concept (PFC) aircraft. Aerodynamic load measurements show that the BLI propulsor affects the longitudinal and lateral-directional equilibrium of the aircraft in off-cruise conditions. Flow measurements at the BLI propulsor inlet indicate that the fuselage boundary layer induces the strongest total pressure distortion. However, particularly at a non-zero sideslip angle, the vertical tail plane strongly affects the inflow to the BLI propulsor, introducing non-symmetric total pressure and velocity distortions. The analysis of the momentum and power fluxes in the flowfield show that around 20% of the total aircraft drag is produced in the fuselage boundary layer, while around 5% of the total aircraft drag power is dissipated in the fuselage wake. Furthermore, the BLI propulsor substantially reduces the axial kinetic energy flux in the fuselage boundary layer (the so-called ``wake-filling'' effect), suggesting an increased propulsive efficiency. ...
Boundary Layer Ingestion (BLI) is a technology that promises fuel consumption benefits for future civil aircraft. However, it introduces detrimental aerodynamic interactions between the propulsor and the airframe. In particular, the inflow to the BLI propulsor is affected by the flow around the airframe elements. The non-uniform inflow can influence the fan aerodynamic, aeroacoustic and aeroelastic performance. As a consequence, the fan design needs to tolerate the inlet distortions in all the flight phases. This paper discusses an experimental study of the aerodynamic performance of an aircraft with a BLI propulsor integrated at the aft-fuselage section, representative of a Propulsive Fuselage Concept (PFC) aircraft. Aerodynamic load measurements show that the BLI propulsor affects the longitudinal and lateral-directional equilibrium of the aircraft in off-cruise conditions. Flow measurements at the BLI propulsor inlet indicate that the fuselage boundary layer induces the strongest total pressure distortion. However, particularly at a non-zero sideslip angle, the vertical tail plane strongly affects the inflow to the BLI propulsor, introducing non-symmetric total pressure and velocity distortions. The analysis of the momentum and power fluxes in the flowfield show that around 20% of the total aircraft drag is produced in the fuselage boundary layer, while around 5% of the total aircraft drag power is dissipated in the fuselage wake. Furthermore, the BLI propulsor substantially reduces the axial kinetic energy flux in the fuselage boundary layer (the so-called ``wake-filling'' effect), suggesting an increased propulsive efficiency.
Key results from the EU H2020 project CENTRELINE are presented. The research activities undertaken to demonstrate the proof of concept (technology readiness level-TRL 3) for the so-called propulsive fuselage concept (PFC) for fuselage wake-filling propulsion integration are discussed. The technology application case in the wide-body market segment is motivated. The developed performance bookkeeping scheme for fuselage boundary layer ingestion (BLI) propulsion integration is reviewed. The results of the 2D aerodynamic shape optimization for the bare PFC configuration are presented. Key findings from the high-fidelity aero-numerical simulation and aerodynamic validation testing, i.e., the overall aircraft wind tunnel and the BLI fan rig test campaigns, are discussed. The design results for the architectural concept, systems integration and electric machinery pre-design for the fuselage fan turbo-electric power train are summarized. The design and performance implications on the main power plants are analyzed. Conceptual design solutions for the mechanical and aerostructural integration of the BLI propulsive device are introduced. Key heuristics deduced for PFC conceptual aircraft design are presented. Assessments of fuel burn, NOx emissions, and noise are presented for the PFC aircraft and benchmarked against advanced conventional technology for an entry-into-service in 2035. The PFC design mission fuel benefit based on 2D optimized PFC aero-shaping is 4.7%.
Boundary Layer Ingestion (BLI) is a promising propulsion integration technology capable of enhancing aircraft propulsive efficiency. The Propulsive Fuselage Concept (PFC), a tube-and-wing configuration with an aft-fuselage-mounted BLI propulsor, is particularly suited for BLI. Although extensively studied on a system level, the aerodynamic performance of the PFC, resulting from the complex interaction between the airframe and the propulsor, is still largely uncharted. In this paper, the results of wind-tunnel tests on a simplified PFC model are presented. The model featured an axisymmetric fuselage body with an integrated BLI shrouded fan. Flowfield measurements were performed through particle image velocimetry to analyze the key aerodynamic phenomena and to assess the distribution of momentum and mechanical energy around the aft-fuselage propulsor. Results show that the BLI fan alters the surrounding flowfield by increasing the mass flow in the inner part of the fuselage boundary layer and by reducing the boundary-layer thickness. Moreover, the power analysis indicates that the potential benefit of BLI is strongly dependent on the fan setting. Increasing the fan shaft power leads to a higher amount of power dissipated in the near wake. However, an increasing share of the energy flux is associated with the momentum excess contained in the wake.
The paper discusses optimality constellations for the design of boundary layer ingesting propulsive fuselage concept aircraft under special consideration of different fuselage fan power train options. Therefore, a rigorous methodical approach for the evaluation of the power saving potentials of propulsive fuselage concept aircraft configurations is provided. Analytical formulation for the power-saving coefficient metric is introduced, and, the classic Breguet–Coffin range equation is extended for the analytical assessment of boundary layer ingesting aircraft fuel burn. The analytical formulation is applied to the identification of optimum propulsive fuselage concept power savings together with computational fluid dynamics numerical results of refined and optimised 2D aero-shapings of the bare propulsive fuselage concept configuration, i.e. fuselage body including the aft–fuselage boundary layer ingesting propulsive device, obtained during the European Union-funded DisPURSAL and CENTRELINE projects. A common heuristic for the boundary layer ingesting efficiency factor is derived from the best aero-shaping cases of both projects. Based thereon, propulsive fuselage concept aircraft design optimality is parametrically analysed against variations in fuselage fan power train efficiency, systems weight impact and fuselage-to-overall aircraft drag ratio in cruise. Optimum power split ratios between the fuselage fan and the underwing main fans are identified. The paper introduces and discusses all assumptions necessary in order to apply the presented evaluation approach. This includes an in-depth explanation of the adopted system efficiency definitions and drag/thrust bookkeeping standards.