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Unsteady Interaction Effects Between an Airship and Its Air-Jet Propulsion System

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Engineering Applications of Computational Fluid Dynamics

Part of the book series: Advanced Structured Materials ((STRUCTMAT,volume 44))

Abstract

An airship able to travel from ground to 15 km altitude is being developed on course of the European Research Project MAAT—Multibody Advanced Airship for Transportation. The airship has a cylindrical shape when completely inflated at the pressure altitude. Based on an initial research for the airship shape and aerodynamic features at given altitudes, propulsion needs were analyzed by means of numerical simulations for different flow conditions and propulsion concepts. The propulsion system is comprised of two rows of air-jets, at top and bottom of the airship, that expel cold air in order to provide propulsion thrust. Herein, we will present the steady and unsteady results of the computations regarding the interaction of the air-jets with the airship. Then, a detailed analysis on the vortex shedding from the airship is presented when it in subjected to only horizontal movement, this is further enhanced by computing the near vehicle flow when it is subject to the incoming wind. We will also present details about the total required thrust power for the various working conditions. The outcome of the research highlights the main advantages of the system to attain feasible high altitude airships.

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Acknowledgments

The results presented were obtained inside the MAAT Project (Multibody Advanced Airship for Transport), project grant number 285602, financed by the European Commission under the 7th Framework Program.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Engenharia Electromecânica, Universidade da Beira Interior, R. Marquês D’Ávila e Bolama, 6201-001, Covilhã, Portugal

    Galina Ilieva & José Páscoa

  2. Department of Science and Methods for Engineering, University Modena e Reggio-Emilia, Via Amendola, 2 Pad. Morselli, 42122, Reggio Emilia, Italy

    Antonio Dumas & Michele Trancossi

Authors
  1. Galina Ilieva
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  2. José Páscoa
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  3. Antonio Dumas
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  4. Michele Trancossi
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Galina Ilieva .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Chemical Engineering Department, Universiti Teknologi Petronas, Seri Iskandar, Malaysia

    Ku Zilati Ku Shaari

  2. Mechanical Engineering Department, Universiti Teknologi Petronas, Seri Iskandar, Malaysia

    Mokhtar Awang

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Ilieva, G., Páscoa, J., Dumas, A., Trancossi, M. (2015). Unsteady Interaction Effects Between an Airship and Its Air-Jet Propulsion System. In: Shaari, K., Awang, M. (eds) Engineering Applications of Computational Fluid Dynamics. Advanced Structured Materials, vol 44. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-02836-1_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-02836-1_9

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  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-02836-1

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