Cruise Mini Flap for Aircraft Wing Lift and Drag Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern long-range commercial airplanes face high fuel consumption due to low wing lift coefficients, leading to increased aerodynamic drag and restricted cruise altitudes, which limits direct route options and increases fuel costs.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a cruise mini flap (CMF) at the aircraft wing's trailing edge, which can be mechanically adjusted to modify camber, area, and shape, creating a cavity that reduces drag and increases lift, allowing for higher altitudes and improved aerodynamic efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the aircraft uses a wing profile designed for low aerodynamic drag with lift coefficient CL within 0.45-0.6, then the aerodynamic drag is reduced, but the wing loading is high and the aircraft cannot reach optimal cruise altitude after take-off
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a movable cruise mini flap at the trailing edge of the wing that can be dynamically adjusted during flight. The flap changes the wing's camber and effective lift coefficient based on flight conditions, allowing the aircraft to achieve higher lift coefficients (0.7-0.8) when needed during take-off and climb, while maintaining the original low-drag wing profile design for cruise flight.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention modifies only the local trailing edge region of the wing by adding a small cruise mini flap, rather than changing the entire wing profile. This localized modification allows the aircraft to achieve higher lift coefficients without substantially increasing the overall aerodynamic drag of the wing, as the majority of the wing surface maintains its original low-drag characteristics.
2Speed
If the aircraft cruises at lower altitude due to high wing loading, then the aerodynamic drag increases, but the ground speed decreases which also increases fuel consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The dynamic adjustment of the cruise mini flap allows the aircraft to optimize its lift-to-drag ratio at different flight stages. During take-off and climb, the flap is deployed to increase lift and enable higher cruise altitude achievement. During cruise, the flap is retracted to maintain low drag, allowing the aircraft to sustain higher speeds and reach optimal cruise altitudes despite the added flap mechanism.
3Force
If conventional trailing edge flaps are used to modify camber and area, then the lift coefficient increases, but the aerodynamic drag substantially grows
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the trailing edge modification into a small, separate cruise mini flap component rather than using a large conventional flap. This segmented approach allows for precise control of lift coefficient increases while minimizing the impact on aerodynamic drag, as the mini flap creates only localized flow modifications rather than large-scale flow changes associated with conventional flaps.
Solution Approach 2:
The cruise mini flap modifies only the local flow characteristics at the trailing edge, creating a cavity that enhances lift through localized pressure distribution changes. This localized modification achieves higher lift coefficients without the substantial drag increase that would result from modifying the entire trailing edge with a conventional flap system.
4Strength
If the trailing edge is made blunt to increase structural strength, then the wing can withstand higher loads, but the aerodynamic drag increases and lift coefficient decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a movable cruise mini flap that can be deployed or retracted based on flight conditions. When retracted, the trailing edge maintains its original streamlined shape for low drag. When deployed, the mini flap creates a controlled cavity that enhances lift while the underlying structural trailing edge remains intact, preserving both strength and aerodynamic efficiency.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The CMF enhances lift coefficients to 0.7-0.8 while maintaining low drag, reducing fuel consumption, extending flight distance, and lowering maintenance costs by reducing engine wear and emissions.
Implementation Method 1
The cruise mini flap (hereinafter CMF) according to the disclosure is part of the aircraft wing or the trailing edge flap and it can be used to modify the camber and the area of the aircraft wing and to create a cavity within the wing trailing edge
Implementation Method 2
a supercritical wing profile with a cavity in the trailing edge has lower aerodynamic drag than a blunt trailing edge
Implementation Method 3
provides means for increasing the wing lift coefficient to the level of 0.7-0.8 so that the drag coefficient does not grow substantially
Data Source
Figure 1a~1c
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
This invention provides construction variants of a cruise miniflap that is added to the trailing edge flap of an aircraft wing and can be used for improving the aerodynamic properties of an aircraft. In the rear edge of the cruise miniflap, it has a cavity with a height of up to 1 % of the wing chord.