Paperwing: Name of School: National High School of Computer Science "Tudor
Paperwing: Name of School: National High School of Computer Science "Tudor
Paperwing: Name of School: National High School of Computer Science "Tudor
General characteristics
Crew : 2 (pilot and co-pilot acting as flight engineer)
Capacity : 64 ( in a high density layout )
Length: 36 m
Wingspan: 60 m
Height : 3 m ( 6 m when on wheels )
Wing area : due to the blended wing design , the whole aircraft is basically one big wing
having 384 square meters (whole aircraft area) an 400 square feet when the sonic wings are
uncovered
Baggage : 18 cubic meters
Engines : 1 - 6 meter long modified Rolls Royce Olympus
2 4 meter long modified Rolls Royce Trent 800 (with same modifications as Rolls
Royce Olympus)
Maximum fuel load : 60 000 kg kerosene and 6 000 compressed hydrogen
Maximum cruising speed : Mach 2.5
Average cruising speed : Mach 1.8
Range : 7 000 km
Fuel consumption : 10 kg kerosene /km + 1 kg Hydrogen /km
Introduction
The project proposes new solutions that will make todays aircraft a more efficient and
ecological one. This new aircraft guarantees to be the father of future eco-fuel powered engines.
We outfitted the 3 massive Rolls Royce Olympus engines with 3 different noise reduction
technologies and we have designed an efficient propulsion system. This plane powers itself
electrically using both wind turbines and solar panels. It's made out of carbon fiber and
implements the blended wing design for mainstream passenger use. We have tried to improve the
form and to use some specific tools in order to increase flight efficiency, to reduce the noise, the
emissions and the fuel consumption. We suggested the use of recyclable materials and we tried to
construct an aircraft with ecological features and to protect our environment.
Conclusions:
One way to reduce induced drag (while maintaining the same amount of lift) is to have a
longer wing span and to fly faster.
One way to minimize friction drag is to minimize the total wetted area (i.e. the total area
that has high-speed air flowing along it).
The primary aerodynamic input to the wings cross sectional shape is the need to keep the
air flowing smoothly over the entire surface for the most efficient operation. In particular, there is
a requirement to prevent the low-pressure gradient that accelerates the air down the back of the
wing becoming too great and effectively sucking the air off the surface of the wing. If this
happens the wing surface from that point backwards becomes substantially ineffective. [25]
1.3.3 Winglet
A winglet is a vertical extension of the wing tips. The wingtip vortex, which rotates
around from below the wing, strikes the cambered surface of the winglet, generating a force that
angles inward and slightly forward. The winglet converts some of the otherwise-wasted energy in
the wingtip vortex to an apparent thrust. At the first sight, this is a small contribution, but it can
be worthwhile in time.
Another benefit of winglets is that they reduce the strength of wingtip vortices, which
trail behind the plane.
Winglets also increase efficiency by reducing vortex interference with laminar airflow
near the tips of the wing, by moving the confluence of low-pressure (over wing) and highpressure (under wing) air away from the surface of the wing. We will use a winglet with a higher
degree of sweep, than the rest of the wing. This will improve fuel efficiency, climb performance
and also it will shorten the take off field length. In this case, the effective aspect ratio will be
increased.
Winglets are also important in maintaining the stability of the airplane. [23]
airflow behind the trailing edge, deflecting it downwards, and thus inducing downwash behind
the wing. This requires a higher angle of attack to compensate, and tilt the total aerodynamic
force rearwards.
The leading and the trailing edges add much to the wing's strength. Making these smooth
and fair also contributes to the model's aerodynamic efficiency.
The size of the wing vortices will be much reduced on a longer, thinner wing, so we will
try to make a compromise between the length of the wings, the thickness of the wings and the
stability of the airplane, in order to reduce drag.
One solution that we propose is to modify the lift distribution by changing the airfoil
section near the wingtips. This allows more lift to be generated at the wing root and less towards
the wingtip, which causes a reduction in the strength of the wingtip vortices. This increases fuel
efficiency, in powered aircraft and it contributes in the environment protection. [4]
2. Engine design
2.1 Modifications made to the Rolls Royce Olympus 301
What we had in mind for an engine was a modified version of the old Rolls Royce
Olympus 301. [17]
We say modified version because we intend to double the number of fuels injectors due
to the fact that we intend for the Paperwing to run on a kerosene-hydrogen mix.
The reason we arent opting for hybrid instead of true environmentally friendly aircraft is
because we believe a fully hydrogen powered aircraft wouldnt have any near-future applications
(10-20 years from now at best).
Instead we are going to make a missing link of aeronautical evolution.
The modification made to the engine will allow for changes to be made in the future, so
as to permit their transformation to fully hydrogen powered aircraft.
We believe that by providing this first step to mainstream hydrogen consumption, even
for a hybrid, we are truly readying the way for the transition from hydrocarbons to hydrogen.
The modifications mainly consist of the addition of a hydrogen injector formed up as a
circular ring situated in between the combustion chamber and the end of the turbojets initial
compressor.
This would ensure that the kerosene would be ignited not only by the usual pressure
created by the compressed air but by the massive energies released by the combustion of
hydrogen.
Of course, due to the massive energies released, the turbo-expander would need to be
either reinforced or widened at both its most narrow point and in its widest.
We also suggest that the exhaust panels be elongated so that any energies or waves
bounce of the enlarged walls.
These modifications do not , in any way , disagree with the Brayton cycle , but on the
contrary , these may actually increase the systems entropy and efficiency .
This model of engine balances the intake and output so that the net effect on the
atmosphere is zero. This is one way to reduce the emissions at high altitudes, and also the
pollution.
We've decided to coat 90% of the engines surface in a thick layer of a sound converter.
This would be placed all over the engines surface except the ventilators and the exhaust. We
suggest that we use this technology to transform most of the engines sounds into ultrasounds.[18]
This engine will be placed under enormous forces, pressures and temperatures we suggest
a special composite and alloy. [16]
2.2. Materials
The bulk of the material would be based on rhenium diboride combined with different
metals or even coated in other metals so as to ensure that it resists high temperatures ( this is
something to which Rhenium is second only to Tungsten and carbon ) , great pressures and if
necessary shock . The use of rhenium diboride allows an increase of the temperature at which the
engine can be operated and eventually the elimination of the cooling fluids, both resulting in an
increase of yield.
We also suggest gold plating on the outside of the combustion chamber due to the fact
that its a great heat conductor and the transition of heat from the engine to the outside would help
cool the engine.
= cp ,
We will extract the hydrogen from nature (water), to make the airplane more ecological.
heat. For a greater efficiency in cooling, we have decided to add fins to the surface of the turbine.
A heat sink will form, which will improve the transfer of heat, and cool the engine more
efficiently. [20]
The result is acoustic waves don't resonate; they just dissipate. We will construct
a prototype from off-the-shelf capillary tubes, which readily forms a low-density,
honeycomb-like structure. It requires a material that's light, strong enough to enable the
walls between the tubes to be very thin, and yet robust enough to function reliably amid
the high-temperature, aggressive environments inside aircraft engines, strength, tolerance
of high temperatures and corrosion resistance(maybe a nickel alloy).
This new approach could attenuate aircraft engine noise by up to 30 percent.
Micro-honeycomb material could also provide another means to protect the aircraft in
critical areas prone to impact from birds or other foreign objects by dissipating the energy
of the collision.
2.6.2. Acoustic liners and Muffling Materials
The engines are also mounted deep within the intake ducts, lined with mufflers, to
maximize the noise absorption. By embedding the three engines in the aircraft frame, it also
reduces drag and therefore noise. Instead of having one large fan, they have three arranged sideby-side. The smaller fans means the noise from each one is easier to absorb with surrounding
"acoustic liners", or muffling materials. This material includes fibers retained in compressed form
by a material of lower softening temperature than the fibers. When the material is heated by
exhaust gases, the material of lower softening temperature is softened allowing the compressed
fibers to expand. The fibers may be formed into a knitted fabric retained by a sacrificial thread.
An acoustic liner includes a remote panel, a proximate panel and a resonator chamber residing
between the panels. A neck with an inlet recessed from the proximate panel establishes
communication between the chamber and a fluid stream flowing past the proximate panel. [22]
3. Structure
3.1. Materials for overall plane construction
We have decided to make the plane out of carbon fiber reinforced polymers.
This is a very strong material and also very light weight so it wouldnt have any trouble
in coping with the challenges of super sonic flight. . The heavier an aircraft weighs, the more fuel
it burns, so reducing weight is important to aeronautical engineers.
The carbon atoms are bonded together in microscopic crystals that are more or less
aligned parallel to the long axis of the fiber. The crystal alignment makes the fiber very strong for
its size. Carbon fiber (sometimes combined with other materials like different polymers) has a
high strength-to-weight ratio material. The density of carbon fiber is also considerably lower than
the density of steel, making it ideal for applications requiring low weight. The most important
properties of carbon fiber are: high tensile strength, low weight, and low thermal expansion.
Depending on the orientation of the fiber, the carbon fiber composite can be stronger in a certain
direction or equally strong in all directions. A small piece can withstand an impact of many tons
and still deform minimally. [5]
This choice also follows our transition theme due to the fact that we can easily go from
carbon-plastic combinations to carbon-carbon like reinforced carbon-carbon. This material has
already proven itself in NASA missions.) [6]
electric motors and subsystems during the day and to use a modified commercial hydrogenair
fuel cell system for use during the night.
We will use a cyanoacrylate glue to help bind the silicon frame over the main carbon
fiber body.
We want to use the solar energy in order to replace one of the engines or at least part of
the power generated by it. This way, we will use less fuel, lower the operating cost and the
airplane will be more ecological.
We will attach photoelectric cells to the airplanes upper airframe. These photoelectric
cells will transform the solar energy in electric energy, which will be used to propel the airplane.
One cell contains two thin layers made of semi conductor material. Between the two layers, it will
appear a difference of electric potential. The electrons will create continuum current. The current
will be collected by some electrodes from the semi conductor layers. We will increase the amount
of absorbed light by putting an anti-reflective bed. [14]
3.4.Tip
We have decided to make the planes nose cone out of rhenium diboride .We have opted
for the old Concorde idea of making a droop nose tip which would shorten the runway length to
about 500 m. [9]
4. Auxiliary devices
4.1.Wind turbines
We have come up with the idea of harvesting wind power by strategically placing
specially designed wind turbines on the airplane.
By strategically placing we mean symmetrically placing them on the planes surface so
as to avoid off course deviations.
We quickly realized that besides this first difficulty there would be the big problem of
whether or not this system would survive the speeds and G forces of Mach 2. So we came up with
a design that ensures its functionality.
Air currents drifting along the planes surface would be drawn into orifices placed parallel
to the planes trajectory.
These currents turn 2, 8-bladed fans which would always be symmetrically aligned .
These fans then spread out into 2 different shafts.
4.2. Sensors
As we have already stated, the plane will not have any windows. We have decided to
implement many different sensors in our design such as: infra-red, proximity sensors, humidity
sensors , means of communication with aircraft control centers ,light sensors, acceleration sensors
and sensors in the actual optic fiber casing .
All the data will be put forth for analysis and interpreted by a computers mainframe. In
order to avoid human errors we thought an automatic pilot would improve the safety of a flight. A
computer will always have more accuracy at landing and taking off but should have the property
to avoid barriers during the main flight as humans and insects do. So it should have an automatic
rectifier of barriers.
5. Safety issues
The reduction of accidents is an important problem to resolve. The statistics sow that
most accidents, almost 80% take place at short time after or before the take off or landing and are
a result of human errors. More the a half of the accidents are from human cause and only 7%
from the weather as such problems can be prevented.
In addition a big aircraft like the paperwing will always offer more safety then a small plane in
case of an accident.
Conclusions
We have made some modifications in todays aircraft model that we hope will improve
its performance. We have used wind turbines and photoelectric cells to get energy from nature,
thus the airplane is more eco-friendly. We have used materials (such as carbon fiber) to reduce its
weight and to make it more resistant. The airplane can reach supersonic speeds, but we have also
reduced the sound by using trailing edge brushes, acoustic liners, muffling materials and the
honey-comb structure. We tried to find the best shape which has great aerodynamic performances
both in subsonic and supersonic flight. The blended-wing design that we have used provides a
high payload capacity, a better comfort for the passengers and reduces the drag so it also reduces
the fuel consumption. The airplane of the future must be safer, more economical, less polluting,
so it should take advantage of the progress made in aerodynamics, electronics and engineering.
All truth is one in this life. May science and religion endeavor here for the steady
evolution of mankind .From darkness to light, from narrowness to broadmindedness , from
prejudice to tolerance . It is the voice of life which calls us to come and learn.
-Hayes Clock Bell Tower, State University of New York
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[24] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delta_wing
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