Parametric Studies on Airfoil-Boundary Layer Ingestion Propulsion System

From the fact that a propulsor consumes less power for a given thrust if the inlet air is slower, simulations are conducted for a propulsor imposed behind an airfoil as ideal boundary layer ingestion (BLI) propulsor to stand on the benefits of this configuration from the point of view of power and efficiency and to get a closer look on the mutual interaction between them. This interaction is quantified by the impact on three main sets of parameters, namely, power consumption, boundary layer properties, and airfoil performance. The position and size of the propulsor have great influence on the flow around the airfoil. Parametric studies are carried out to understand their influence. BLI propulsor directly affects the power saving and all of the pressure-dependent parameters, including lift and drag. For the present case, power saving reached 14.4% compared to the propeller working in freestream.