Steady State Thermal Analyses of SCEPTOR X-57 Wingtip PropulsionElectric aircraft concepts enable advanced propulsion airframe integration approaches that promise increased efficiency as well as reduced emissions and noise. NASA's fully electric Maxwell X-57, developed under the SCEPTOR program, features distributed propulsion across a high aspect ratio wing. There are 14 propulsors in all: 12 high lift motor that are only active during take off and climb, and 2 larger motors positioned on the wingtips that operate over the entire mission. The power electronics involved in the wingtip propulsion are temperature sensitive and therefore require thermal management. This work focuses on the high and low fidelity heat transfer analysis methods performed to ensure that the wingtip motor inverters do not reach their temperature limits. It also explores different geometry configurations involved in the X-57 development and any thermal concerns. All analyses presented are performed at steady state under stressful operating conditions, therefore predicting temperatures which are considered the worst-case scenario to remain conservative.
Document ID
20170007957
Acquisition Source
Glenn Research Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Schnulo, Sydney L. (NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH United States)
Chin, Jeffrey C. (NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH United States)
Smith, Andrew D. (Vantage Partners, LLC Cleveland, OH, United States)
Dubois, Arthur (Joby Aviation, Inc. Santa Cruz, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 23, 2017
Publication Date
June 4, 2017
Subject Category
Fluid Mechanics And ThermodynamicsStatistics And ProbabilityAircraft Propulsion And Power
Report/Patent Number
GRC-E-DAA-TN42138
Meeting Information
Meeting: AIAA Aviation and Aeronautics Forum and Exposition 2017
Location: Denver, CO.
Country: United States
Start Date: June 5, 2017
End Date: June 9, 2017
Sponsors: American Inst. of Aeronautics and Astronautics