A Simple Phase Synchronization Algorithm for Aeroacoustics Studies of Multi Propeller system

Abstract

Phase synchronization between propellers is a critical factor influencing aerodynamic interactions and their noise generation in electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicles and unmanned aerial systems (UAS). While several studies have demonstrated the benefits of phase control of propellers for noise reduction purposes, practical methods for accurately identifying phase differences in experimental environments are complicated and remain limited. This paper introduces a phase detection and filtering algorithm utilizing Gaussian weighting technique to extract data corresponding to the required phase differences between two propellers. It also assists in decomposing the noise into different angular positions. The algorithm compares the timing signals from two tachometers and separates the target data according to the defined phase difference between the propellers. If both the flow and noise fields are measured simultaneously, both data can then be decomposed based on the defined phase difference and the angular position of the propellers. Validation results confirm the reliability of this method in separating the datasets into defined phase difference with good accuracy, facilitating the systematic analysis of tonal noise behavior in synchronized propeller configurations.