Acoustic Analysis of Electric Ducted Fans

Authors

  • Nick Cunnington-Bourbonniere Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Enginnering, Carleton University
  • Joana Rocha Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Enginnering, Carleton University

Abstract

A selected reversed engineered fan was investigated in order to predict fan noise, thrust and torque during hover flight. A sensitivity study was completed to determine fan noise at different configurations with 4, 8, 16, 24 and 36 fans, respectively. The analysis resulted in the selection of a 24-fans configuration for the Manta UAV, with 31 rotor blades per fan. A further increase of number of rotors from 31 to 40 would result on a noise reduction of 3 dB. Analytical predictions estimated a SPL of 108.1 dB for the first harmonic, while CFD predicted a SPL of 107.7 dB, providing a validation of the CFD model. In addition, the same CFD approach and methods used on Manta UAV were applied to the NASA rotor 67, showing that numerical results agree with the performance data. The CFD results showed that the rotor-stator geometry did not produce the required thrust, as initially used for the design. This difference could be a result of the degree of separation occurring on the rotor. It is concluded that the degree of flow separation could potentially be corrected by increasing the stagger angle of the rotor.

Author Biography

Joana Rocha, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Enginnering, Carleton University

Dr. Joana Rocha is an Associate Professor and Associate Chair in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Carleton University, in Ottawa. Before joining Carleton University, Dr. Rocha was a Visiting Researcher at NASA Langley Research Centre and the National Institute of Aerospace, in Virginia, USA. She received her Ph.D. and M.A.Sc. degrees at the University of Victoria, in Victoria, where her research focused on the development of models for the prediction of flow-induced noise in aircraft. Since joining Carleton University as a Professor in 2012, Dr. Rocha has established the Aeroacoustics Research Laboratory, with unique capabilities. The aeroacoustic high-speed wind tunnel allows Dr. Rocha and her team to develop state-of-the-art research in areas such as aircraft noise prediction and reduction. Dr. Rocha’s research focuses on aircraft noise prediction, design and optimization of aircraft structures for noise reduction, aeroacoustics, turbulent-flow induced noise, structural-acoustics, and turbulence modelling with applications in aerospace. Through her research, Dr. Rocha aims to design and develop new aircraft concepts that are quieter.

Additional Files

Published

2022-07-05

How to Cite

1.
Cunnington-Bourbonniere N, Rocha J. Acoustic Analysis of Electric Ducted Fans. Canadian Acoustics [Internet]. 2022 Jul. 5 [cited 2024 Apr. 27];50(3):66-7. Available from: https://jcaa.caa-aca.ca/index.php/jcaa/article/view/3820

Issue

Vol. 50 No. 3 (2022)

Section

Proceedings of the Acoustics Week in Canada

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