Effects of BLI and Inflow Distortion on Noise Generation and Performance of Fan-Rotor

In response to NASA SBIR topic A1.02 Quiet Performance – Propulsion Noise Reduction Technology, the team of Techsburg, AVEC, and Ampaire proposes implementation and design application of a low-order noise modeling tool for installed ducted fan-rotor aerodynamic and acoustic analysis.Named the “Installed Ducted-Fan Noise Model” (IDFNM), and following after Techsburg/AVEC’s work in noise modeling for pusher propellers, this tool will offer early-stage design analysis support for installed ducted fan-rotor propulsion systems by capturing the aerodynamic unsteady loading and noise sources resulting from inflow distortion or non-uniform inflow. This tool is well suited for highly integrated and innovative propulsion airframe integration concepts, such as boundary layer ingesting fan configurations. Application of this tool will focus on a highly-efficient design for Ampaire’s TailWind electric aircraft. In collaboration with Ampaire, Techsburg and AVEC will work to design an optimized first-generation BLI ducted fan for the TailWind passenger aircraft. During Phase I, Techsburg and AVEC will work on design tool maturation, and also conduct a propulsor design trade study, complete with aerodynamic and acoustic predictions, for the TailWind aft-mounted, boundary layer ingesting ducted fan. Phase II work will include an anechoic wind tunnel test program for validation of prediction tools over a range of operating conditions and the delivery of an integrated low-order noise prediction softwarepackage for the "Installed Ducted-Fan Noise Model”.