In-Wing Pusher Fan Engine Integration for Thrust Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current aircraft propulsion systems, such as turbofan and propfan engines, lack improvements in design and efficiency, particularly in the integration of pusher fan engines with wings for enhanced performance.
Innovation Solution
A pusher fan engine configuration with a fan rotor and nacelle integrated into the wing, featuring a core with a turbine engine and a gear train connecting the turbine rotor to the fan rotor, where the fan rotor is positioned downstream of the core and the nacelle is mounted to the wing, with an inlet duct extending from the wing's suction side to divert boundary layer air and improve airflow efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a pusher fan engine is integrated with the wing, then thrust generation efficiency is improved, but structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pusher fan engine is merged with the wing structure through integration of the nacelle with the wing and extension of the inlet duct through the wing. This combining of propulsion and lifting structures improves thrust generation efficiency while managing structural complexity through unified design.
Solution Approach 2:
The inlet duct is nested within the wing structure, extending from the leading edge through the wing to the engine core. This nesting approach allows the propulsion system to utilize the wing's internal volume, improving efficiency while containing structural complexity within the existing wing framework.
2Productivity
If the inlet duct extends through the wing, then airflow efficiency is improved, but manufacturing difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The inlet duct system is segmented into multiple sections: a first section extending from the leading edge through the wing, and a second section extending from the wing to the engine core. This segmentation allows for modular manufacturing and assembly, reducing overall manufacturing difficulty while maintaining airflow efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The inlet duct acts as an intermediary component that bridges the external airflow and the engine core through the wing structure. This mediator approach allows optimized airflow paths while enabling separate manufacturing of the duct sections and their subsequent assembly.
3Productivity
If the fan rotor is positioned downstream of the core, then bypass air propulsion efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of positioning the fan rotor upstream of the core as in conventional turbofan engines, this design inverts the arrangement by positioning the fan rotor downstream of the core. This inversion enables efficient bypass air propulsion while managing device complexity through the pusher fan configuration integrated with the wing.
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
This configuration enhances thrust generation by over 75% through efficient bypass air propulsion, improving the overall performance and integration of the pusher fan engine with the aircraft wing.
Implementation Method 1
a turbine rotor and a gear train connecting the turbine rotor with the fan rotor
Implementation Method 2
a fan rotor and a nacelle housing the fan rotor
Implementation Method 3
An inlet duct may extend within the wing to a core of the pusher fan engine. The inlet duct may extend at least from an inlet arranged at a side of the wing
Data Source
AI summary
An aircraft is provided that includes a wing and a pusher fan engine. The pusher fan engine is configured in the wing.