Analysis and Design of a Wing Trailing Edge Mounted Over-The-Wing Distributed Propeller Propulsion system

In this paper we address a preliminary assessment of the aerodynamics and performance effects of a propeller based distributed propulsion that is positioned at the trailing edge of a wing. The proposed layout is a potential candidate for the application of hybrid-electric propulsion in a green aircraft design that is currently being developed in a TU Delft project. Based on experimental results that were obtained earlier during two experimental test campaigns in a low speed windtunnel, a ducted propeller-wing combination, obtained by adding a secondary wing (duct) above the propeller, was investigated and optimized using a Euler based optimization framework. From the provisional results is was found that the ducted propeller positioned close to the trailing edge may beneficially support a high overall propulsion efficiency attaining high system lift to drag values and high propeller efficiency for a typical medium range aircraft when the duct is properly adapted by shape optimization of the secondary wing.