Evaluating Aerodynamic and Propulsive Performance of a Wing with Distributed Electric Propulsion

Distributed electric propulsion (DEP) has gained significant attention in aviation research for its potential to enhance aerodynamic performance and enable propulsion-based control. These benefits are achieved by leveraging the aerodynamic interaction between strategically placed propellers of the DEP system and the lifting surfaces of the aircraft. To investigate the effects of DEP configuration on aircraft performance, an experimental wind tunnel investigation was conducted using an eight-propeller DEP system and a full-scale wing at a chord-based Reynolds number of 350,000. The DEP system was tested at several streamwise positions upstream, downstream and over the suction side of the wing. Individual propeller thrust was controlled to generate various thrust levels and distributions, resulting in a range of advance ratios from 0.5 to 0.9. Decoupled aerodynamic load measurements were obtained using a six-axis load cell for the wing and single-axis load cells for each propeller. The results demonstrated that propeller position and operation conditions have an impact on wing aerodynamics and propeller performance that increases with propeller loading. This presentation will discuss these distinct relations with the goal of identifying an optimal DEP configuration.