Feasibility study of an induction motor rim drive for an aircraft boundary-layer-ingestion fan

• Main Authors: Alexander C. Smith, Matteo F. Iacchetti, Paul M. Tuohy
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2019-04-01
• Series: The Journal of Engineering
• Subjects: aerospace propulsion; ducts; design engineering; boundary layers; fans; rotors; blades; aircraft; superconducting machines; aerodynamics; feasibility study; power aircraft boundary-layer-ingestion fans; BLI-fan specification; traditional aircraft architecture; fan duct; achievable power density; induction motor rim drive configuration; aircraft boundary-layer-ingestion fan; power 250.0 kW; mass 20.0 kg
• Online Access: https://digital-library.theiet.org/content/journals/10.1049/joe.2018.8044
• ISSN: 2051-3305

This study presents a feasibility study for an induction motor rim drive to power aircraft boundary-layer-ingestion (BLI) fans. The design is developed from a BLI-fan specification for traditional aircraft architecture: the rotor is fastened to the rim of the blade shroud, not to obstruct the fan duct and interfere with the air flow. The main objective of this study is the identification of achievable power density and efficiency levels with an induction motor rim drive configuration considering the structural requirements for the integrity of the rotor operating with high tip speeds. The proposed 250 kW, 14,000 rpm design example achieves an efficiency in excess of 97% with an active mass around 20 kg.