Regenerative propellers
Regenerative propellers: sustainable and quiet electric propeller aircraft with in-flight energy recovery
Funding: NWO Talent Programme (VENI)
Duration: 2022-2026
Project partner: DNW
Team
Objective
This project analyzes the aerodynamic and acoustic performance of electrically-driven propellers in propulsive and regenerative modes. In the propulsive mode, the propellers facilitate improved propulsion-airframe integration, increasing aerodynamic, acoustic, and propulsive efficiency. In the regenerative mode, the propellers can recover energy during parts of the flight with excess energy, while reducing noise hindrance through steeper descents. The goal of the project is to build understanding of the complex propeller-airframe interactions for this new operating mode, capture it in fast prediction models, and assess the impact on optimal propeller design.
To achieve this, comprehensive wind-tunnel experiments are performed to develop new fundamental understanding of the aerodynamic and aeroacoustic propeller-wing interactions in propulsive and regenerative conditions. This understanding is then captured in innovative numerical models for fast prediction of the interactions. Based on these models, a novel physics-based design framework will be established for aerodynamic and aeroacoustic optimization of installed propellers. This will then be applied to a representative test case.