How can we make propellers more efficient?
This question sparked a project that took me from basic sketches to advanced CFD validation, all inside SolidWorks.
The Challenge
Open propellers waste energy through tip losses and produce more noise. I wanted to test if a well-designed duct could capture these losses and boost thrust.
The Process
Using SolidWorks, I:
- Modeled the ducted fan geometry in detail.
- Optimized blade curves and duct contours.
- Set up a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) study to test my design under realistic flow conditions.
The Results
After 47 simulation iterations, the numbers proved the concept:
- 420.7 N thrust from the propeller.
- +37.2 N thrust added by the duct.
- Peak airflow speed: over 50 m/s.
The flow streamlines clearly showed smoother, faster air - confirming a 15–30% efficiency gain compared to an open propeller.
What I Learned
This project taught me how to:
-Combine design and simulation effectively
-Validate hypotheses with CFD
-Communicate complex results visually
It reminded me why I love engineering: turning ideas into tested solutions, one model at a time.
