A Simple Method for High-Lift Propeller Conceptual DesignIn this paper, we present a simple method for designing propellers that are placed upstream of the leading edge of a wing in order to augment lift. Because the primary purpose of these "high-lift propellers" is to increase lift rather than produce thrust, these props are best viewed as a form of high-lift device; consequently, they should be designed differently than traditional propellers. We present a theory that describes how these props can be designed to provide a relatively uniform axial velocity increase, which is hypothesized to be advantageous for lift augmentation based on a literature survey. Computational modeling indicates that such propellers can generate the same average induced axial velocity while consuming less power and producing less thrust than conventional propeller designs. For an example problem based on specifications for NASA's Scalable Convergent Electric Propulsion Technology and Operations Research (SCEPTOR) flight demonstrator, a propeller designed with the new method requires approximately 15% less power and produces approximately 11% less thrust than one designed for minimum induced loss. Higher-order modeling and/or wind tunnel testing are needed to verify the predicted performance.
Document ID
20160007767
Acquisition Source
Langley Research Center
Document Type
Presentation
Authors
Patterson, Michael (NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Borer, Nick (NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
German, Brian (Georgia Inst. of Tech. Atlanta, GA, United States)
Date Acquired
June 21, 2016
Publication Date
January 5, 2016
Subject Category
Aircraft Design, Testing And Performance
Report/Patent Number
NF1676L-23055
Meeting Information
Meeting: 2016 AIAA SciTech Conference
Location: San Diego, CA
Country: United States
Start Date: January 4, 2016
End Date: January 8, 2016
Sponsors: American Inst. of Aeronautics and Astronautics