RCAIDE.Library.Methods.Powertrain.Converters.Rotor.compute_rotor_performance

compute_rotor_performance#

compute_rotor_performance(rotor, conditions)[source]#

Analyzes a general rotor given geometry and operating conditions.

Parameters:
  • rotor (RCAIDE.Library.Components.Powertrain.Converters.Rotor) –

    Rotor component with the following attributes:
    • fidelitystr

      Analysis fidelity level (‘Actuator_Disk_Theory’ or ‘Blade_Element_Momentum_Theory_Helmholtz_Wake’)

    • tagstr

      Identifier for the rotor

    • number_of_bladesint

      Number of blades on the rotor

    • tip_radiusfloat

      Tip radius of the rotor [m]

    • hub_radiusfloat

      Hub radius of the rotor [m]

    • twist_distributionarray_like

      Blade twist distribution [radians]

    • chord_distributionarray_like

      Blade chord distribution [m]

    • orientation_euler_angleslist

      Orientation of the rotor [rad, rad, rad]

  • conditions (RCAIDE.Framework.Mission.Common.Conditions) –

    Flight conditions with:
    • freestreamData
      Freestream properties
      • densityarray_like

        Air density [kg/m³]

      • dynamic_viscosityarray_like

        Dynamic viscosity [kg/(m·s)]

      • speed_of_soundarray_like

        Speed of sound [m/s]

      • temperaturearray_like

        Temperature [K]

    • framesData
      Reference frames
      • bodyData
        Body frame
        • transform_to_inertialarray_like

          Rotation matrix from body to inertial frame

      • inertialData
        Inertial frame
        • velocity_vectorarray_like

          Velocity vector in inertial frame [m/s]

    • energyData
      Energy conditions
      • convertersdict
        Converter energy conditions indexed by tag
        • throttlearray_like

          Throttle setting [0-1]

Returns:

Results are stored in conditions.energy.converters[rotor.tag] with attributes depending on the fidelity level used. See the documentation for the specific analysis method for details on the outputs.

Return type:

None

Notes

This function serves as a dispatcher that calls the appropriate rotor analysis method based on the specified fidelity level. It supports two fidelity levels:

  1. Actuator_Disk_Theory: A simplified model that treats the rotor as an actuator disk, suitable for preliminary design and analysis.

  2. Blade_Element_Momentum_Theory_Helmholtz_Wake: A higher-fidelity model that combines blade element theory with a Helmholtz wake model, providing more accurate predictions of rotor performance.

The function simply checks the fidelity level and calls the corresponding analysis function, passing the rotor and conditions as arguments.

Major Assumptions
  • The assumptions depend on the specific analysis method used

  • See the documentation for Actuator_Disk_performance or BEMT_Helmholtz_performance for details on the assumptions made by each method

References

[1] Drela, M. “Qprop Formulation”, MIT AeroAstro, June 2006 http://web.mit.edu/drela/Public/web/qprop/qprop_theory.pdf [2] Leishman, Gordon J. Principles of helicopter aerodynamics Cambridge university press, 2006.