Enhancing VTOL Performance: Shrouded Rotor BLDC Motor Model and Validation

• Published in: Journal of physics. Conference series 2024-06, Vol.2784 (1), p.12004
• Main Authors: Dayhoum, Abdallah, Etewa, Mohamed, Ramirez-Serrano, Alejandro, Martinuzzi, Robert
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aerodynamics; Air flow; Blade tips; Brushless motors; Confined spaces; D C motors; Direct current; Drone aircraft; Dynamic response; Power management; Rotors; Small scale technology; Thrust; Unmanned aerial vehicles; Vertical flight; Vertical loads; Vertical takeoff aircraft
• ISSN: 1742-6588; 1742-6596
• DOI: 10.1088/1742-6596/2784/1/012004

One prominent area of current research interest, driven by a multitude of factors and considerations, centers around drone technology. A primary challenge currently faced in the realm of small-scale Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) is the increasing demand for increased power coupled with the constraint of limited flight duration provided by available battery technology. These vehicles fall into two overarching categories based on the presence or absence of shrouding around their rotor(s). Shrouded rotors play a pivotal role in augmenting aerodynamic performance by enhancing thrust while mitigating blade-tip vortex losses and numerous other aspects that are not presented in open rotors. Although such characteristics contribute to an expanded effective rotor diameter and optimized airflow within the shroud. There are numerous aspects related to power, shroud and rotor characterization, etc. that need to be understood before shrouded rotors are commonly used. This paper presents the implementation of an effective mathematical model for Brushless Direct Current (BLDC) motors, specifically tailored for application in conjunction with shrouded rotors aimed at enhancing thrust and reducing power consumption. The proposed model serves to predict the performance characteristics of the utilized motor within the context of the specified shrouded rotor combination. In order to identify the effects of the induced load torque on the rotor’s dynamic response, a methodical analysis is conducted on the numerical simulation of the proposed model. The results are experimentally verified for hover flying in a case study of a scalable and highly maneuverable vertical takeoff and landing aircraft developed for operations in highly confined spaces. The adoption of this modeling technique is anticipated to significantly streamline the shrouded rotor combination design and selection process, particularly in the selection of an appropriate motor.