Abstract

UAVs for reconnaissance and intelligence operations require long endurance capability, which demands high efficiency of the propulsion system. The distributed propulsion system(DPS) generates the thrust by replacing a large propulsion system with a number of small propulsion systems. A DPS distributed along the wing span can produce gains in propulsion efficiency by reducing ejection velocity. Also, the ingestion of boundary layers through the distributed DPS inlet and ejecting flow from the outlet can improve the lift to drag ratio of the vehicle. This study investigates the effects of locations and size of the inlet and outlet of the DPS on the blended-wing-body design based on Eppler 337 airfoil, with a CFD tool. The fans in the DPS are modeled as actuator disks for computational efficiency. The best location and aspect ratio of the inlet and outlet are found from lift-to-drag ratio and pitching moment considerations.

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