Accession Number:

ADA516809

Title:

Distributed Propulsion: New Opportunities for an Old Concept

Descriptive Note:

Final rept. 1 Nov 2006-31 Oct 2007

Corporate Author:

MASSACHUSETTS INST OF TECH CAMBRIDGE GAS TURBINE LAB

Personal Author(s):

• Epstein, Alan H.

Report Date:

2007-12-01

Pagination or Media Count:

138.0

Abstract:

Distributed propulsion can be broadly defined as distributing the airflows and forces generated by the propulsion system about an aircraft in such a way as to improve the vehicles aerodynamics, propulsive efficiency, structural efficiency, and aeroelasticity. The confluence of several synergistic factors with recent technical developments suggests distributed propulsion may now yield both new capabilities and new economics for military flight vehicles. Over a 12 month period, this study explored the potential for distributed propulsion combined with pneumatic aerodynamics and flow control to enable new capabilities and new economics for military air vehicles. Aircraft and gas turbine designs focused on an ESTOL application 100m takeoff run, for a nominally C-27 size aircraft. Study outputs include a quantification of distributed propulsion benefits such as enabling new mission capabilities and improving performance, reliability, and cost a conceptual design of a distributed propulsion air vehicle a conceptual design of small engines optimized for distributed propulsion and delineation of the technical barriers that must be overcome to realize distributed propulsion aircraft, and candidate plans for overcoming such barriers.

Descriptors:

• *AIR FLOW
• *DISTRIBUTION
• *PROPULSION SYSTEMS
• *AERODYNAMIC CHARACTERISTICS
• ECONOMICS
• STRUCTURAL PROPERTIES
• EFFICIENCY
• COSTS
• AEROELASTICITY
• GAS TURBINES
• RELIABILITY
• MISSIONS
• ENGINES
• BENEFITS
• SYNERGISM
• MILITARY AIRCRAFT
• AIRCRAFT
• PNEUMATIC EQUIPMENT
• OUTPUT
• CONTROL

Subject Categories:

• Aerodynamics

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE