ZUNUM AERO (DUCTED FANS vs PROPELLERS)

Figure 1: Zunum Aero

Zunum Aero uses ducted fans instead of propellers as shown above, connected to the fuselage.
They uses series hybrid with ducted fans powered by batteries alone for short trips and a range-
extending generator providing 1 MW (1,300 hp) to 4–5 MW (5,400–6,700 hp). The design
targets 40-80% lower operating costs thanks to power grid electricity rather than aviation fuel,
including replacing the rechargeable battery packs every six months after 1,000-1,500 cycles.
The range extender will be an off-the-shelf turbine, it will be used at first to meet FAA reserves,
then replaced later with a third battery pack for a 45-minute reserve.
It is expected that the turnarounds will be as short as 10 minutes for battery swaps at the
airports.
Wing batteries are supplemented by a 1,350 hp gas turbine driving two
500kW generators (which then drives the ducted fans) to extend range to 700nm.
Its purchase cost should stay below the list price of a $4.5 million single-engine turboprop like
the Pilatus PC-12 or Cessna Denali.[7] Zunum targets a $250 hourly operating cost including fuel,
electricity, and batteries, or 8 cents per ASM. This would be inferior to a Boeing 737 for 300–
500 mi (480–800 km) sectors, comparable to a Q400 over 300–400 mi (480–640 km), and 3 to 5
times cheaper than a similarly sized PC-12 or Beechcraft King Air.
Advantages of Ducted Fans:

 Think of the blades as now 2D instead of 3D in a ducted fan since the clearance between
blades and duct is extremely small. Therefore, the thrust losses at the tip of blades are
reduced. The ducted fan is more efficient in producing thrust than a conventional
propeller, especially at low speed and high static thrust level. (This means for a less
amount of fuel, we can get the same amount of thrust/power as compare to a
propeller).
 At higher airspeeds, the propellers are less efficient. However, by sizing the ductwork
appropriately, the designer can adjust the air velocity through the fan to allow it to
operate more efficiently at higher air speeds. (Not applicable for our mission
requirements, since the speed is already less for us).
 For the same amount of static Thrust, a ducted fan has a smaller diameter than a free
propeller therefore allowing smaller gear (This means less weight to carried, although
the difference is small).
 Ducted fans are quieter than propellers.
 Thrust vectoring can also be achieved by ducted fans, which normal propellers are not
capable of. (Thrust vectoring means changing the direction of thrust hence enhancing
flight maneuverability and making VTOL, and is not applicable for the aircraft category
we are concerned about for this competition).
 Ducted fans offer enhanced safety on the ground.
Disadvantages of Ducted Fans:

 Less efficient than a propeller at cruise (at lower thrust level).

 Propulsion system for a ducted fan is overall much heavier than a propeller propulsion
system (Increases the weight of the propulsion system).
 Good efficiency requires very small clearances between the blade tips and the duct
(Causes a safety issue).
 Complex duct design, and weight increase even if constructed from advanced
composites (Increases the overall weight of the aircraft).
 At high angle of attack, parts of the duct will stall and produce aerodynamic drag.

MY SAY: I'm guessing that the added weight and complexity of the structure needed to support
the duct imposes a larger fuel penalty than the gains offered by it, for the type of small aircraft
we are supposed to design.
REFRFENCES; 1) Flying wing with Electric Ducted Fan (EDF) propulsion. Prisacariu Vasile,
MirceaBoşcoianu, Ionică Cîrciu. Universitatea Transilvania Braşov, Academia Forţelor Aeriene
Henri Coandă Braşov.
2) http://uv-4stem.blogspot.com/2016/01/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-ducted.html