Abstract
The present 2-D CFD study investigates aerodynamic means for improving the power efficiency of an active high-lift system for commercial aircraft. The high-lift configuration consists of a simple-hinged active Coanda flap, a suction slot, and a flexible droop nose device. The power required to implement circulation control is provided by electrically driven compact compressors positioned along the wing behind the wingbox. The compact compressors receive air from the suction slot, which also represents an opportunity to increase the aerodynamic performance of the airfoil. The present work investigates the aerodynamic sensitivities of shape and location of the suction slot in relation to the maximum lift performance of the airfoil. The main purpose of the study is the reduction of the compressor power required to achieve a target lift coefficient. The compressor power requirements can be reduced in two ways: obtaining a high total pressure at the end of the suction duct (compressor inlet) and reducing the momentum needed by the Coanda jet to avoid flow separation from the flap. These two objectives define the guideline of the suction slot design. As a result, a jet momentum reduction of 16 % was achieved for a target lift coefficient of 5 with respect to the same configuration without suction. Furthermore, the study yielded physical insight into the aerodynamic interaction between the two active flow control devices.
Published Version
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