Integration of a Distributed Propulsion System on the Integrated Zero Emission Aviation Blended Wing–Body

This paper presents a coupled aeropropulsion design process for the Integrated Zero Emission Aviation (IZEA) blended-wing–body aircraft concept. This vehicle, called the IZEA Light, is a 112-passenger liquid-hydrogen-powered regional jet. The concept features two hydrogen-burning turbogenerators providing electric power for a distributed array of ducted fans through a superconducting system. Proton-exchange membrane hydrogen fuel cells are also considered for power augmentation and emissions reduction. Building off previous work that designed and optimized the clean airframe outer mold line, this paper focuses on the design and integration of the distributed electric fan array on the airframe. The fan array geometry development, the computational fluid dynamics model of the powered airframe, and the multidisciplinary design analysis and design space exploration methodology employed to minimize fan shaft power requirements are discussed in this paper. The refined configuration is able to satisfy cruise trim conditions with an operating shaft power that is 9.1% lower than the maximum continuous available motor power output of 8.13 MW at this flight condition.