Efficient Synergistic Design Framework for Electric Aircraft Integrating Co-Flow Jet

Abstract Flow control technologies such as the Co-Flow Jet (CFJ) have demonstrated significant potential for improving aerodynamic performance. However, most existing studies treat CFJ parameters as fixed during aircraft conceptual design, limiting the ability to evaluate their system-level impact on aircraft performance. To address this limitation, this study proposes an efficient multidisciplinary design framework that integrates key CFJ design parameters into the conceptual design process of CFJ electric aircraft. The framework combines a quasi-three-dimensional aerodynamic analysis method with energy consumption and weight estimation models of the jet system, enabling rapid evaluation of aerodynamic performance, propulsion power consumption, and aircraft weight within a unified framework. Based on the proposed methodology, a multidisciplinary design optimization problem is formulated to improve aircraft cruise performance. The framework is applied to a representative aircraft configuration, and the predicted aerodynamic performance is validated against computational fluid dynamics simulations. The results demonstrate that the proposed framework can efficiently capture the coupled effects of CFJ aerodynamic benefits, jet system energy consumption, and additional structural weight. Parametric studies further reveal the sensitivity of optimal CFJ configuration to cruise velocity and fan efficiency, providing useful guidance for the preliminary design of CFJ electric aircraft.