Experimental Study on Aerodynamic Performance and Wake Characteristics of the Small Ducted Fan for VTOL UAV

2022 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Soo-Hee Shin ◽  
Seung-Hun Lee ◽  
Yang-Won Kim ◽  
Tae-Hwan Cho
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Study ◽  
Aerodynamic Performance ◽  
Ducted Fan ◽  
Vtol Uav ◽  
Wake Characteristics

Tip Clearance Investigation of a Ducted Fan Used in VTOL UAVS: Part 1—Baseline Experiments and Computational Validation

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali Akturk ◽  
Cengiz Camci
Keyword(s):  
Total Pressure ◽  
Aerodynamic Performance ◽  
Test System ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Computational Techniques ◽  
Leakage Flow ◽  
Tip Leakage Flow ◽  
Tip Leakage ◽  
Ducted Fan ◽  
Rans Simulations

Ducted fans that are popular choices in vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) offer a higher static thrust/power ratio for a given diameter than open propellers. Although ducted fans provide high performance in many VTOL applications, there are still unresolved problems associated with these systems. Fan rotor tip leakage flow is a significant source of aerodynamic loss for ducted fan VTOL UAVs and adversely affects the general aerodynamic performance of these vehicles. The present study utilized experimental and computational techniques in a 22″ diameter ducted fan test system that has been custom designed and manufactured. Experimental investigation consisted of total pressure measurements using Kiel total pressure probes and real time six-component force and torque measurements. The computational technique used in this study included a 3D Reynolds-Averaged Navier Stokes (RANS) based CFD model of the ducted fan test system. RANS simulations of the flow around rotor blades and duct geometry in the rotating frame of reference provided a comprehensive description of the tip leakage and passage flow. The experimental and computational analysis performed for various tip clearances were utilized in understanding the effect of the tip leakage flow on aerodynamic performance of ducted fans used in VTOL UAVs. The aerodynamic measurements and results of the RANS simulations showed good agreement especially near the tip region.

scholarly journals Effect of Rotor Spacing and Duct Diffusion Angle on the Aerodynamic Performances of a Counter-Rotating Ducted Fan in Hover Mode

Processes ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 1338
Author(s):  
Woo-Yul Kim ◽  
Santhosh Senguttuvan ◽  
Sung-Min Kim
Keyword(s):  
Steady State ◽  
Numerical Model ◽  
Figure Of Merit ◽  
Aerodynamic Performance ◽  
Power Coefficient ◽  
Flow Conditions ◽  
Thrust Coefficient ◽  
Ducted Fan ◽  
Aerodynamic Performances ◽  
Rotor Model

The aerodynamic performance of a counter-rotating ducted fan in hover mode is numerically analyzed for different rotor spacings and duct diffusion angles. The design of the counter-rotating fan is inspired by a custom-designed single rotor ducted fan used in a previous study. The numerical model to predict the aerodynamic performance of the counter-rotating ducted fan is developed by adopting the frozen rotor approach for steady-state incompressible flow conditions. The relative angle between the front and the rear rotor is examined due to the usage of the frozen rotor model. The results show that the variation of thrust for the different relative angles is extremely low. The aerodynamic performances are evaluated by comparing the thrust, thrust coefficient, power coefficient, and figure of merit (FOM). The thrust, thrust coefficient, and FOM slightly increase with increasing rotor spacing up to 200 mm, regardless of the duct diffusion angle, and reduce on further increase in the rotor spacing. The duct diffusion angle of 0° generates about 9% higher thrust and increases the FOM by 6.7%, compared with the 6° duct diffusion angle. The duct diffusion angle is highly effective in improving the thrust and FOM of the counter-rotating ducted fan, rather than the rotor spacing.

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