Design of Ducted Fan Based on Optimal Circulation Distribution

Abstract

The ducted fan lift system has been widely used in vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). According to the overall design requirements of a VTOL UAV, based on the optimal circulation distribution condition without blade element drag and combined with strip theory, the blade torsion angle distribution and chord length distribution are given. The parameters of ducted fan are designed, and the preliminary design of ducted fan lift system of this UAV is completed. The aerodynamic characteristics of the isolated fan and the ducted fan are compared by numerical simulation method, and the thrust characteristics of the ducted fan at different flight speeds are calculated. The results show that the duct increases the induced velocity at the propeller. Compared with the isolated fan, the power load and hover efficiency of the ducted fan are increased by 36.8% and 36.3% respectively. The hovering efficiency of the ducted fan designed by this method reaches 83%, which meets the design requirements and proves the effectiveness of the design method.