Conceptual Design of Distributed Electrified Boundary Layer Ingesting Propulsors for the CHEETA Aircraft Concept

Durgesh Chandel, John D. Reband, David K. Hall, Thanatheepan Balachandran, Jianqiao Xiao, Kiruba S. Haran, Edward M. Greitzer

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

This paper describes the conceptual design of a boundary layer ingesting, distributed electric propulsor system for civil aircraft, supported through NASA's CHEETA (Center for High-Efficiency Electrical Technologies for Aircraft) program. Cryogenic hydrogen fuel cell-powered superconducting electric motors power the boundary layer ingesting ducted fans to achieve high propulsive efficiency. Sizing of the integrated propulsor system is carried out using a Geometric Programming (GP) optimization framework to capture the effects of system integration on component design. A 16-propulsor configuration is presented which can meet the requirements of the CHEETA aircraft using motors similar to a previously reported 2.5-MW reference design. Analysis of configurations with different numbers of propulsors shows that the aero-propulsive benefit of distributed propulsion is limited by the thermal management requirements and constraints on the geometry of the superconducting machine which do not scale linearly with shaft power. The resulting fan and motor designs are different than if each were designed independently, illustrating the importance of simultaneous optimization in the design of novel electric propulsors.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publication2021 AIAA/IEEE Electric Aircraft Technologies Symposium, EATS 2021
PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
ISBN (Electronic)9781624106118
DOIs
StatePublished - 2021
Event2021 AIAA/IEEE Electric Aircraft Technologies Symposium, EATS 2021 - Denver, United States
Duration: Aug 11 2021Aug 13 2021

Publication series

Name2021 AIAA/IEEE Electric Aircraft Technologies Symposium, EATS 2021

Conference

Conference2021 AIAA/IEEE Electric Aircraft Technologies Symposium, EATS 2021
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityDenver
Period8/11/218/13/21

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Energy Engineering and Power Technology
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering
  • Aerospace Engineering

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Conceptual Design of Distributed Electrified Boundary Layer Ingesting Propulsors for the CHEETA Aircraft Concept'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this