Optimizing Electric Ducted Fan Performance (EDF): A Computational Design & Analysis Approach

Electric propulsion systems, such as Electric Ducted Fans (EDFs), a promising technology in the aerospace industry, offer compact and efficient solutions for propelling aircraft and VTOL vehicles. Despite notable advancements and model devel-opments, the design of EDFs remains a formidable challenge. Analytical methods provide valuable insights into underlying physics, however, their efficacy in predicting performance and stall characteristics is limited. Conversely, computational methods offer greater predictive capability but navigating the design process proves arduous and iterative. This paper proposed a hybrid approach to address this challenge by streamlining the analytical tools with computational tools. In the hybrid approach, systematic exploration begins by creating a CAD model using initially selected parameters. This model undergoes CFD analysis to generate a design matrix, allowing for the exploration of the most suitable parameters. For the case study, Initially two critical parameters—thrust and diameter—are selected for a small EDF tailored for UAV, representing performance and dimensional constraints, respectively, for selecting other parameters. The validity of this approach is verified through experimentation on the final 78% efficient design, targeting 19N thrust with a 120mm diameter.