Ducted Fan Housing With Backup Thrust and Motor Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
eVTOL aircrafts lack the autorotation function due to the fixed angle of attack of their blades, and they require a fan device that can provide constant thrust even when stopped and efficiently cool the motor.
Innovation Solution
A fan device with a ducted design that includes a fan, rotor and stator cores, a housing with a cylindrical and nozzle surface, and a compressor to generate compressed air for cooling and thrust, even when the fan stops.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the fan is stopped to provide backup thrust, then thrust reliability is improved, but motor cooling capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The housing flow path is segmented into multiple independent outlets (first outlet, second outlet, third outlet) that can operate independently or in combination. This allows the system to provide backup thrust through the housing flow path when the fan stops, while the cooling flow path continues to cool the motor through separate accommodation space outlets.
Solution Approach 2:
The compressed air system serves dual functions: it provides backup thrust through the housing flow path outlets and simultaneously cools the motor through the cooling flow path outlets. The compressor can supply air to both systems, and the housing serves both as a structural component and a flow path for backup thrust generation.
2Device complexity
If the angle of attack of blades is made unchangeable to simplify the device, then device complexity is reduced, but the autorotation function is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The housing flow path acts as an intermediary system that provides backup thrust capability without requiring complex blade mechanisms. Instead of modifying the blades to enable autorotation, the patent introduces a separate housing flow path with multiple outlets that can generate thrust independently when the fan stops.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses pneumatic principles by employing a compressor to generate compressed air that flows through the housing flow path outlets to provide backup thrust. This pneumatic system replaces the need for complex mechanical blade adjustments required for autorotation.
3Power
If large motor capacity is used to provide sufficient thrust, then thrust capability is improved, but motor cooling requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The motor cooling system is integrated with the thrust generation system. The compressed air that provides backup thrust through the housing flow path also serves to cool the motor through the cooling flow path outlets. The system essentially serves itself by using the same compressed air source for both propulsion and cooling functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the backup thrust generation function and the motor cooling function into a single integrated system. Both functions share the same compressor and housing structure, with the compressed air being distributed to different outlets based on operational needs.
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 fan device achieves constant thrust and efficient motor cooling, enabling eVTOL aircrafts to maintain functionality and performance even when the fan is not operational.
Implementation Method 1
a compressor (70) configured to compress air
Implementation Method 2
a cooling flow path (Pc) configured to guide compressed air from the compressor (70) to the accommodation space (32)
Implementation Method 3
a housing flow path (Ph) configured to guide compressed air from the compressor (70) to a boundary air outlet (33)
Data Source
AI summary
A fan device includes: a fan including a plurality of blades each extending in a radial direction relative to a rotation axis, the fan being configured to rotate about the rotation axis and generate an airflow; a rotor core provided outside in the radial direction of the fan; a stator core provided at a position facing the rotor core in the radial direction; a housing that forms an inner circumferential surface surrounding the fan about the rotation axis and that internally includes an accommodation space accommodating the rotor core and the stator core; and a compressor configured to compress air. The inner circumferential surface of the housing has a cylindrical surface and a nozzle surface whose diameter expands outward in the radial direction along the rotation axis in downstream in a flow direction of an airflow relative to the cylindrical surface.