Numerical simulation of the propeller/wing interactions at low reynolds number

The present investigation focuses on the propeller/wing interactions at a low Reynolds number flow. The objective is to research for a new aerodynamic configuration to increase lift force as well as lift-to-drag ratio and reduce drag force considerably. An over airfoil propeller configuration (OAPC) and two double airfoils coupled with a propeller configurations (DAPC and SDAPC) are investigated by using the ANSYS Fluent commercial software at a two dimensional flow. Steady Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) computations are conducted combining an actuator model to accurately simulate the propeller/wing aerodynamic interactions. The results reveal that these three new configurations can significantly reduce the drag even a minus value can be obtained due to a propeller slipstream, as a result, the conventional definition of lift-to-drag ratio is not suitable anymore for these new configurations. Although the overall aerodynamic performances for the DAPC and SDAPC configurations are debilitated slightly because of the unfavorable impact coming from the upper airfoil, these two arrangements are considered as good compromises during a wind range of flight from a small angle of attack to a high one. In addition, a heavy propeller disc load produces a beneficial effect on a decreasing drag coefficient and more potential can be exploited through a fully optimization.