• Journal of the Korean Society for Aviation and Aeronautics
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.52-65
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• 2021

A large amount of time and cost is consumed due to congestions caused by an increasing number of cars which results in a lot of emissions. To overcome these problems, a new electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft is being considered. Since vertical take off and landing without a separate runway is realized and electricity is used as a power source, it could solve the saturated ground traffic congestions without emissions. In this paper, the initial sizing was performed based on the Nexus 6HX of Belltextron which is a tilt-ducted fan type. In this study, the electric propulsion system that only uses battery was implemented instead of current Nexus 6HX hybrid electric propulsion. Aerodynamic analyses were performed using OpenVSP and XFLR5. Power-to-weight ratio, wing loading, estimated weight were calculated with these analyses.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2022

Wind tunnel test for a small scale electric ducted fan with a 104mm diameter was conducted to analyze the aerodynamic characteristics when it was used as a propulsion system of tilt-propeller UAV. Experimental conditions were derived from flight conditions of a sub-scaled OPPAV. Forces and moments of the ducted fan model were measured by a 6-axis balance and 3-dimensional wake vectors which could induce an aerodynamic influence in the vehicle were measured by 5-hole probes. Thrust and torque on hover and cruise conditions were measured and analyzed to drive out the operating conditions when it was applied in the sub-scaled OPPAV. On transition conditions, thrust keep its value with tilt angle variation below 40° and increase after that. But, sideforce increase constantly until 75°. The maximum axial velocity in the wake on hover and cruise conditions was around 60m/s and tangential velocity was around 12m/s. The position of the maximum axial velocity and vortex center move off the fan rotation center line as the tilt angle increases.