Rotary-Wing Intake Flap Control for eVTOL Cooling and Drag
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air mobility vehicles face reduced flight performance due to cooling systems that draw external air, which can lower the efficiency of high-voltage batteries and generate heat in motors and inverters, necessitating effective cooling solutions that adapt to temperature variations.
Innovation Solution
An air mobility vehicle equipped with rotatable air flaps under the fixed wing, an actuator, and a controller to direct airflow to cool motors, inverters, and batteries based on temperature and flight state, allowing the flaps to cover openings when not needed for cooling, thereby improving flight performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If cooling apparatus draws in external air into fuselage or fixed wings to cool motors, inverters, or batteries, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but flight performance is lowered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the air flap movable rather than fixed. The air flap can rotate between a first position (allowing air flow for cooling) and a second position (blocking air flow for flight performance). This dynamic adjustment allows the system to adapt to different operational conditions - enabling effective cooling when components need temperature reduction while maintaining optimal flight performance when cooling is not required.
2Temperature
If air flap is positioned to allow air flow for cooling, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but aerodynamic efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The air flap is designed as a dynamic component that can rotate to different positions. When positioned at the first position, it allows air flow to cool critical components. When rotated to the second position, it blocks air flow to maintain aerodynamic efficiency during flight. This dynamic positioning resolves the contradiction by allowing the system to optimize for either cooling or aerodynamic performance depending on operational needs.
3Temperature
If cooling system operates continuously, then temperature control is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system operates periodically rather than continuously. The controller monitors temperature conditions and activates the air flap to allow cooling air flow only when critical components exceed temperature thresholds. When temperatures are within acceptable ranges, the air flap blocks air flow. This periodic operation maintains effective temperature control while minimizing energy consumption by the cooling system.
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 solution effectively cools critical components while maintaining aerodynamic efficiency by controlling airflow based on temperature and flight conditions, enhancing the overall performance of the air mobility vehicle.
Implementation Method 1
at least an air flap located under a mounting position of each of rotary wings and rotatably mounted inside at least an opening provided in the air mobility vehicle to guide a flow direction of air flowing to a region under each of the rotary wings or air flowing above the at least an opening to inside of the air mobility vehicle
Implementation Method 2
cool a motor, an inverter, or the motor and the inverter of a rotary wing of the air mobility vehicle, or at least a battery of the air mobility vehicle
Implementation Method 3
the air having passed through the at least an air flap by operation of the actuator to guide the air having passed through the at least an air flap to a motor, an inverter, or the motor and the inverter
Data Source
AI summary
An air mobility vehicle may include air flaps located under a mounting position of each of rotary wings and rotatably mounted inside openings to guide a flow direction of air flowing to a region under each of the rotary wings or air flowing above the openings to inside of the air mobility vehicle, an actuator coupled to the air flaps and configured to rotate the air flaps to direct the air having passed through the air flaps to a motor, an inverter, or the motor and the inverter of each of the rotary wings, or batteries, and a controller electrically connected to the actuator and configured to control a flow of the air having passed through the air flaps by controlling the actuator depending on a driving state of the air mobility vehicle or temperatures of the motor and the inverter of each of the rotary wings or a temperature of the batteries.