Advancements and Applications of Rim-Driven Fans in Aerial Vehicles: A Comprehensive Review
Source abstract
Abstract
As the aviation industry seeks sustainable propulsion solutions, innovative technologies have emerged, among which rim-driven fan (RDF) systems hold notable promise. This comprehensive review paper deeply investigates RDF technology, uncovering its principles, benefits, and transformative potential for aviation propulsion. Amid escalating concerns about greenhouse gas emissions, the aviation sector’s shift towards electric propulsion has gained impetus. RDF technology has emerged as a beacon of optimism, heralding the prospect of energy-efficient and eco-conscious air travel. Navigating the slower development pace of RDF technology for aerospace applications, this paper draws insights from analogous marine technologies and relevant literature. Merging these realms, this paper meticulously examines RDF systems, spotlighting their unique attributes, with particular emphasis on the rim-driven configuration and its fundamental design principles. This review delves into the progressive strides accomplished in RDF’s evolution, encompassing the spectrum from evolving electric motor variants to intricate design considerations, strategic noise and vibration management, innovative control methodologies, advancements in bearing technology, and the strategic integration of finite element analysis (FEA) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) for comprehensive performance optimization. In the context of aviation’s electrification journey, the exploration of RDF technology marks a pivotal inflection point. This paper concludes by succinctly encapsulating pivotal insights, accentuating RDF technology’s central role in reshaping aviation’s propulsion paradigm. As the aviation sector charts a course towards sustainable progress, the lessons gleaned from RDF technology are poised to chart the trajectory of aviation’s environmental transformation.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Advanced Aircraft Design and Technologies · Aerodynamics and Fluid Dynamics Research · Wind Energy Research and Development
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
School of Astronautics, Beihang University, Beijing 100083, China
References (100+)
Show source-provided references
1. Future of Electrical Aircraft Energy Power Systems: An Architecture Review10.1109/TTE.2021.3052106 ↗
2. Quantifying Aviation’s Contribution to Global Warming10.1088/1748-9326/ac286e ↗
3. A Cleaner Future for Flight—Aviation Needs a Radical Redesign10.1038/d41586-022-02963-7 ↗
4. Unconventional Aircraft for Civil Aviation: A Review of Concepts and Design Methodologies10.1016/j.paerosci.2022.100813 ↗
5. Aeropropulsion for Commercial Aviation in the Twenty-First Century and Research Directions Needed10.2514/1.J052713 ↗
6. Challenges of Future Aircraft Propulsion: A Review of Distributed Propulsion Technology and Its Potential Application for the All Electric Commercial Aircraft10.1016/j.paerosci.2010.09.001 ↗
7. Considerations for Reducing Aviation’s CO2 with Aircraft Electric Propulsion10.2514/1.B37015 ↗
8. More Electric Aircraft: Review, Challenges, and Opportunities for Commercial Transport Aircraft10.1109/TTE.2015.2426499 ↗
9. A Review of Electric Aircraft Drivetrain Motor Technology10.1109/TMAG.2021.3081719 ↗
10. Sustainable Aircraft Design—A Review on Optimization Methods for Electric Propulsion with Derived Optimal Number of Propulsors10.1016/j.paerosci.2021.100714 ↗
11. An Assessment of Distributed Propulsion: Advanced Propulsion System Architectures for Conventional Aircraft Configurations10.1016/j.ast.2015.06.022 ↗
12. Schwab, A., Thomas, A., Bennett, J., Robertson, E., and Cary, S. (2021). Electrification of Aircraft: Challenges, Barriers, and Potential Impacts, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). Publication NREL/TP-6A20-80220.10.2172/1827628 ↗
13. Aircraft Distributed Electric Propulsion Technologies—A Review10.1109/TTE.2022.3197332 ↗
14. Jansen, R., Bowman, C., Jankovsky, A., Dyson, R., and Felder, J. (2017, January 10–12). Overview of NASA Electrified Aircraft Propulsion (EAP) Research for Large Subsonic Transports. Proceedings of the 53rd AIAA/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference, Atlanta, GA, USA.10.2514/6.2017-4701 ↗
15. Design and Sizing of an Electrified Lift-Plus-Cruise Ducted Fan Aircraft10.2514/1.C036811 ↗
16. Electrical Power Generation in Aircraft: Review, Challenges, and Opportunities10.1109/TTE.2018.2834142 ↗
17. Electric, Hybrid, and Turboelectric Fixed-Wing Aircraft: A Review of Concepts, Models, and Design Approaches10.1016/j.paerosci.2018.06.004 ↗
18. Turboelectric Distributed Propulsion Benefits on the N3-X Vehicle10.1108/AEAT-04-2014-0037 ↗
19. Urban, D., Kusmirek, S., Socha, V., Hanakova, L., Hylmar, K., and Kraus, J. (2023). Effect of Electric Ducted Fans Structural Arrangement on Their Performance Characteristics. Appl. Sci., 13.10.3390/app13052787 ↗
20. Position Control of a Ducted Fan VTOL UAV in Crosswind10.1080/00207170601045034 ↗
21. Modeling and Attitude Control Analysis of a Ducted-Fan Micro Aerial Vehicle10.1016/j.conengprac.2009.09.009 ↗
22. Bolam, R.C., Vagapov, Y., and Anuchin, A. (2018, January 4–7). Review of Electrically Powered Propulsion for Aircraft. Proceedings of the 2018 53rd International Universities Power Engineering Conference (UPEC), Glasgow, UK.10.1109/UPEC.2018.8541945 ↗
23. Goushcha, O., Kogler, M., and Raza, H. (2020, January 15–19). Aerodynamic and Acoustic Performance of a Rim Driven Thruster. Proceedings of the AIAA AVIATION 2020 FORUM, Virtual.10.2514/6.2020-2756 ↗
24. A Review of Progress and Applications of Ship Shaft-Less Rim-Driven Thrusters10.1016/j.oceaneng.2017.08.045 ↗
25. Bolam, R.C. (2021). Aircraft Electrical Propulsion for High-Speed Flight: Rim Driven Fan (RDF) Technology. [Ph.D. Thesis, University of Chester].
26. Numerical Design of a RIM-Driven Thruster Using a RANS-Based Optimization Approach10.1016/j.apor.2019.101941 ↗
27. Kim, H.D., Perry, A.T., and Ansell, P.J. (2018, January 9–11). A Review of Distributed Electric Propulsion Concepts for Air Vehicle Technology. Proceedings of the 2018 AIAA/IEEE Electric Aircraft Technologies Symposium (EATS), Cincinnati, OH, USA.10.2514/6.2018-4998 ↗
28. Borer, N.K., Patterson, M.D., Viken, J.K., Moore, M.D., Bevirt, J., Stoll, A.M., and Gibson, A.R. (2016, January 13–17). Design and Performance of the NASA SCEPTOR Distributed Electric Propulsion Flight Demonstrator. Proceedings of the 16th AIAA Aviation Technology, Integration, and Operations Conference, Washington, DC, USA.10.2514/6.2016-3920 ↗
29. Yan, X., Ouyang, W., Liu, Z., and Liang, X. (2017). Counter-Rotating Shaftless Rim Drive Propellers. (CN105109650A).
30. Gieras, J.F., and Rozman, G.I. (2012). Rim Driven Thruster Having Transverse Flux Motor. (US8299669B2), U.S. Patent.
31. Suzuki, T., and Hiraoka, N. (2015). Marine Vessel Propulsion Device. (US8956195B2), U.S. Patent.
32. Aasebö, S., and Vartdal, L. (2017). Propulsion Unit for Maritime Vessel Including a Nozzle Exhibiting a Curved Following Edge at the Outlet of the Nozzle. (US9821896B2), U.S. Patent.
33. Colaciti, A.K., and Zmijevski, T.R.L. (2022). An Electromagnetically-Actuated Rim Driven Hubless Fan with a Single Stage and Non-Magnetic Bearings. (US20220297827A1), U.S. Patent.
34. Wolfgang, L.G. (1965). Structure for Submarine Jet Propulsion. (US3182623A), U.S. Patent.
35. Taylor, O.S., Repp, J.R., and Brown, D.W. (1989). Submersible Electric Propulsion Motor with Propeller Integrated Concentrically with Motor Rotor. (US4831297A), U.S. Patent.
36. Yakovlev, A.Y., Sokolov, M.A., and Marinich, N.V. (2011, January 15–17). Numerical Design and Experimental Verification of a Rim-Driven Thruster. Proceedings of the Second International Symposium on Marine Propulsors, Hamburg, Germany.
37. Molland, A.F., Turnock, S.R., and Hudson, D.A. (2017). Ship Resistance and Propulsion, Cambridge University Press.10.1017/9781316494196 ↗
38. Design and Performance Analysis of Superconducting Rim-Driven Synchronous Motors for Marine Propulsion10.1109/TASC.2013.2280346 ↗
39. Lai, S.H. (2006). Design Optimisation of a Slotless Brushless Permanent Magnet DC Motor with Helically-Wound Laminations for Underwater Rim-Driven Thrusters. [Ph.D. Thesis, University of Southampton].
40. Tuohy, P. (2011). Development of Canned Line-Start Rim-Driven Electric Machines, The University of Manchester.
41. Krøvel, Ø. (2011). Design of Large Permanent Magnetized Synchronous Electric Machines: Low Speed, High Torque Machiines-Gererator for Diriect Driven Wind Turbine-Motor for Rim Driven Thruster. [Ph.D. Thesis, Norwegian University of Schience and Technology].
42. Energy Efficiency of Integrated Electric Propulsion for Ships—A Review10.1016/j.rser.2020.110145 ↗
43. Specification and Design of Ring Winding Axial Flux Motor for Rim-Driven Thruster of Ship Electric Propulsion10.1109/TVT.2018.2888841 ↗
44. (2023, July 13). SRT SCHOTTEL RimThruster. Available online: https://www.schottel.de/en/portfolio/products/product-details/srt-schottel-rimthruster.
45. (2023, July 13). Copenhagen Subsea A/S|Electric Subsea Thrusters|Products. Copenhagensubsea. Available online: https://www.copenhagensubsea.com/products.
46. TSL Technology Ltd (2023, July 13). Available online: http://www.tsltechnology.com/docs/PA-THR-DS-0008.pdf.
47. (2023, July 13). Rim Driven Thruster-RDT. Available online: https://www.brunvoll.no/products/rim-driven-thruster-rdt.
48. (2023, July 13). Voith Inline Thruster & Voith Inline Propulsor|Voith. Available online: https://voith.com/corp-en/drives-transmissions/voith-inline-thruster-propulsor.html.
49. (2023, July 13). Press Releases|Rolls-Royce—Rolls-Royce Launches New Permanent Magnet Azimuth Thruster. Available online: https://www.rolls-royce.com/media/press-releases/2015/pr-030615-rr-launches-new-permanent-magnet-azimuth-thruster.aspx.
50. Eichenberg, D.J., Solano, P.A., Thompson, W.K., and Vrnak, D.R. (2006). Development of a 32 Inch Diameter Levitated Ducted Fan Conceptual Design, NASA.
51. Duan, F.L. (July, January 27). An RDF Jet Engine for 20-Passenger Electric Plane and for VTOL of Commercial Aircraft. Proceedings of the AIAA Aviation 2022 Forum, Chicago, IL, USA & Virtual.10.2514/6.2022-3654 ↗
52. Submersible Outboard Electric MotorPropulsor10.1111/j.1559-3584.1989.tb00864.x ↗
53. Tuohy, P., Smith, A., and Husband, M. (2010, January 19–21). Induction Rim-Drive for a Marine Propulsor. Proceedings of the 5th IET International Conference on Power Electronics, Machines and Drives (PEMD 2010), Brighton, UK.10.1049/cp.2010.0023 ↗
54. Rim-drive Marine Thruster Using a Multiple-Can Induction Motor10.1049/iet-epa.2012.0247 ↗
55. Richardson, K., Pollock, C., and Flower, J. (1995, January 11–13). Design of a Switched Reluctance Sector Motor for an Integrated Motor/Propeller Unit. Proceedings of the 1995 Seventh International Conference on Electrical Machines and Drives (Conf. Publ. No. 412), Durham, UK.10.1049/cp:19950877 ↗
56. Design and Performance of an Electric Tip-Driven Thruster
57. Structurally Integrated Brushless PM Motor for Miniature Propeller Thrusters10.1049/ip-epa:20040736 ↗
58. Slotless PM Brushless Motor with Helical Edge-Wound Laminations10.1109/TEC.2009.2025423 ↗
59. Design Optimization of a Slotless PM Brushless Motor with Helical Edge Wound Laminations for Rim Driven Thrusters
60. Manufacture of a Prototype Advanced Permanent Magnet Motor Pod10.5957/jsp.2003.19.2.91 ↗
61. Optimal Design and Multifield Coupling Analysis of Propelling Motor Used in a Novel Integrated Motor Propeller10.1109/TMAG.2013.2241776 ↗
62. Analytical Design of the Integrated Motor Used in a Hubless Rim-Driven Propulsor10.1049/iet-epa.2018.5303 ↗
63. Numerical Analysis of the Effect of the Blade Number on the Hydrodynamic Performance of Shaftless Rim-Driven Thruster
64. Feasibility Study of an Induction Motor Rim Drive for an Aircraft Boundary-Layer-Ingestion Fan10.1049/joe.2018.8044 ↗
65. Saulin, A., Bolam, R.C., Roque, J.P.C., and Vagapov, Y. (September, January 30). The Application of Slotless Skewed Windings to a Rim Driven Fan for Aircraft Electrical Propulsion (AEP). Proceedings of the 2022 57th International Universities Power Engineering Conference (UPEC), Istanbul, Turkey.10.1109/UPEC55022.2022.9917649 ↗
66. Hydrodynamic Performance of a Rim-Driven Thruster Improved with Gap Geometry Adjustment
67. Tallerico, T., Chin, J., and Cameron, Z. (2018, January 25–29). Design of a Dual Rotor Axial Rim Motor for Electric Aircraft. Proceedings of the 2018 Aviation Technology, Integration, and Operations Conference, Atlanta, GA, USA.10.2514/6.2018-3207 ↗
68. Design and Optimization of a Rim Driven Motor for Pump Application10.1016/j.matpr.2022.09.372 ↗
69. Preliminary Design of Rim-Electric Driven Propeller and Effect Factor Analysis on Cogging Torque
70. Intaratep, N., Alexander, W.N., Devenport, W.J., Grace, S.M., and Dropkin, A. (June, January 30). Experimental Study of Quadcopter Acoustics and Performance at Static Thrust Conditions. Proceedings of the 22nd AIAA/CEAS Aeroacoustics Conference, Lyon, France.
71. Multirotor Drone Noise at Static Thrust10.2514/1.J056827 ↗
72. Investigation of Rotor–Airframe Interaction Noise Associated with Small-Scale Rotary-Wing Unmanned Aircraft Systems10.4050/JAHS.65.012007 ↗
73. Flights of Drones over Sub-Antarctic Seabirds Show Species-and Status-Specific Behavioural and Physiological Responses10.1007/s00300-017-2187-z ↗
74. Escape Responses of Terrestrial and Aquatic Birds to Drones: Towards a Code of Practice to Minimize Disturbance10.1111/1365-2664.13575 ↗
75. Are Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UASs) the Future of Wildlife Monitoring? A Review of Accomplishments and Challenges10.1111/mam.12046 ↗
76. Jin, W., Ouyang, W., Yan, X., and Ren, J. (2021, January 22–24). Damage Identification of RDT Non-Metal Motor Sheath Based on Helical Guided Wave. Proceedings of the 2021 6th International Conference on Transportation Information and Safety (ICTIS), Wuhan, China.10.1109/ICTIS54573.2021.9798690 ↗
77. Speed Sensor-Less Control System of Surface-Mounted Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor Based on Adaptive Feedback Gain Supertwisting Sliding Mode Observer10.1155/2021/8301359 ↗
78. Implementation and Experimental Investigation of Sensorless Speed Control with Initial Rotor Position Estimation for Interior Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor Drive10.1109/TPEL.2005.854014 ↗
79. Bai, H., Yu, B., and Gu, W. (2023). Research on Position Sensorless Control of RDT Motor Based on Improved SMO with Continuous Hyperbolic Tangent Function and Improved Feedforward PLL. J. Mar. Sci. Eng., 11.10.3390/jmse11030642 ↗
80. Yang, Z., Yan, X., Ouyang, W., and Hongfen, B. (2021, January 22–24). Sensor lessPMSM Control Algorithm for Rim-Driven Thruster Based on Improved PSO. Proceedings of the 2021 6th International Conference on Transportation Information and Safety (ICTIS), Wuhan, China.10.1109/ICTIS54573.2021.9798486 ↗
81. Li, Z., Zhao, X., Wang, Y., Yue, C., and Jiang, L. (2021, January 22–24). Implementation of a PMSM Sensorless Control Method Based on PLL Back EMF. Proceedings of the 2021 33rd Chinese Control and Decision Conference (CCDC), Kunming, China.10.1109/CCDC52312.2021.9602604 ↗
82. Dwivedi, P.K., Seth, A.K., and Singh, M. (2021, January 2–3). Sensorless Speed Control of PMSM Motor for Wide Speed Range. Proceedings of the 2021 1st International Conference on Power Electronics and Energy (ICPEE), Bhubaneswar, India.10.1109/ICPEE50452.2021.9358766 ↗
83. Hsieh, M.-F., Chen, J.-H., Yeh, Y.-H., Lee, C.-L., Chen, P.-H., Hsu, Y.-C., and Chen, Y.-H. (2007, January 5–8). Integrated Design and Realization of a Hubless Rim-Driven Thruster. Proceedings of the IECON 2007—33rd Annual Conference of the IEEE Industrial Electronics Society, Taipei, Taiwan.10.1109/IECON.2007.4460298 ↗
84. Huang, H., Yang, W., Bai, M., Yao, X., Kang, L., He, P., Xu, C., and Jiang, C. (2022, January 5–7). Control Strategies of Motor for Shaftless Rim-Driven Aviation Electric Propulsion System. Proceedings of the International Conference on Guidance, Navigation and Control, Harbin, China.10.1007/978-981-19-6613-2_369 ↗
85. Numerical Modelling of Rotor–Stator Interaction in Rim Driven Thrusters10.1016/j.oceaneng.2015.07.012 ↗
86. Kim, D.D., Wu, Y., Noel, A., and Youcef-Toumi, K. (2014, January 22–24). Rim Propeller for Micro Autonomous Underwater Vehicles. Proceedings of the ASME 2014 Dynamic Systems and Control Conference, San Antonio, TX, USA. No. 46209.
87. Pashias, C., Turnock, S., and Abu Sharkh, S. (2003, January 17–18). Design Optimization of a Bi-Directional Integrated Thruster. Proceedings of the SNAME 10th Propeller and Shafting Symposium, Virginia Beach, VA, USA.10.5957/PSS-2003-13 ↗
88. Song, X., Zhao, G., Yuan, L., Zhao, Z., Tian, G., and Yuan, J. (2020, January 18–21). Research on the Influence of Endwall on the Hydrodynamic Performance of Shaftless Rim-Driven Thruster. Proceedings of the CSAA/IET International Conference on Aircraft Utility Systems (AUS 2020), Online. No. 2020.
89. Migali, A., Bruno, D., Malgieri, D., Parussini, L., and De Santis, M. (2018). Technology and Science for the Ships of the Future, IOS Press.
90. Multi-Objective Optimization of Shaftless Rim-Driven Thruster Based on ISIGHT10.1088/1742-6596/2369/1/012023 ↗
91. An Analytical Investigation into the Design of a Shaftless Thruster Using Finite Element and Computational Fluid Dynamics Approaches
92. Andersen, T.P. (2014). Design of Rim Driven Waterjet Pump for Small Rescue Vessel. [Master’s Thesis, Chalmers University of Technology].
93. Lan, J., Yan, X., Ouyang, W., Liu, B., and Liang, X. (2017, January 8–10). Study on Hydrodynamic Performance of Hubless Rim-Driven Propulsors with Variable Parameters. Proceedings of the 2017 4th International Conference on Transportation Information and Safety (ICTIS), Banff, AB, Canada.10.1109/ICTIS.2017.8047753 ↗
94. Research on the Influence of Key Parameters on the Aerodynamic Characteristics of Shaftless Ducted Rotors10.2322/tjsass.64.40 ↗
95. Goushcha, O., Grzyb, A., and Sullivan, A. (July, January 27). Blade Tip Geometry Effect on the Aerodynamic Performance of a Low-Speed Rim Driven Thruster. Proceedings of the AIAA AVIATION 2022 Forum, Chicago, IL, USA.10.2514/6.2022-4016 ↗
96. Open Water Performance Comparison between Hub-Type and Hubless Rim Driven Thrusters Based on CFD Method10.1016/j.oceaneng.2015.04.074 ↗
97. Effect of Gap Flow on the Torque for Blades in a Rim Driven Thruster without Axial Pressure Gradient10.1016/j.proeng.2015.11.265 ↗
98. Dubas, A. (2014). Robust Automated Computational Fluid Dynamics Analysis and Design Optimisation of Rim Driven Thrusters. [Ph.D. Thesis, University of Southampton].
99. Drouen, L., Charpentier, J.-F., and Clenet, S. (2008, January 8–11). A Coupled Electromagnetic/Hydrodynamic Model for the Design of an Integrated Rim-Driven Naval Propulsion System. Proceedings of the ELECTRIMACS Conferences, Quebec, QC, Canada.
100. Effects of Transition Turbulence Modeling on the Hydrodynamic Performance Prediction of a Rim-Driven Thruster under Different Duct Designs10.1016/j.oceaneng.2022.111142 ↗