Noise assessment of aircraft with distributed electric propulsion using a new noise estimation framework

Synodinos, A; Self, RH; Torija Martinez, AJ

Abstract

Future aircraft are envisioned to have significantly smaller noise footprint and emissions impact
in order to satisfy the ambitious long-term aircraft noise and emissions goals set by several organisations
worldwide, for example ACARE and NASA. Distributed electric propulsion (DEP) is
anticipated as one of the most suitable and efficient options for powering these aircraft. DEP is
the dispersion of thrust among multiple propulsors that are driven electrically rather than mechanically.
This paper presents preliminary noise estimations for a civil aircraft that uses various DEP
architectures (e.g. different number of electric propulsors, powered by either batteries or gas turbine
engines), obtained through a new noise estimation framework that estimates noise variations
arising from technological and/or operational changes with respect to a baseline scenario, where
the noise levels are known. The aim of the paper is therefore twofold; investigate the possible
noise benefits of DEP aircraft, whilst on the other hand demonstrate the core methodology and
capabilities of our framework for estimating the noise impact of future aircraft concepts. This
preliminary study indicates the framework’s potential in correctly capturing trends.

Citation

Synodinos, A., Self, R., & Torija Martinez, A. (2017, July). Noise assessment of aircraft with distributed electric propulsion using a new noise estimation framework. Presented at 24th International Congress on Sound and Vibration, ICSV 2017, London, UK

• Presentation Conference Type: Other
• Conference Name: 24th International Congress on Sound and Vibration, ICSV 2017
• Conference Location: London, UK
• Start Date: Jul 23, 2017
• End Date: Jul 27, 2017
• Publication Date: Jul 23, 2017
• Deposit Date: Dec 3, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Dec 3, 2019
• Book Title: 24th International Congress on Sound and Vibration 2017 (ICSV 24)
• ISBN: 9781510845855
• Publisher URL: https://www.iiav.org/icsv24/
• Additional Information: Event Type : Conference; Funders : Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC); Projects : AIRPORT CAPACITY CONSEQUENCES LEVERAGING AVIATION INTEGRATED MODELLING (ACCLAIM); Grant Number: EP/M026868/1