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Hovercraft Theory
1. Balance/Weight Distribution, Center of Pressure
2. Fan Placement
3. Body Shape
4. Power (Thrust/Lift Ratio)
5. Over Hump Problem
6. Fans and Propellers
7. Gearboxes
8. Power vs. Weight Considerations
9. Extending Runtime

1. Balance/Weight Distribution, Center of Pressure -

A hovercraft must be well-balanced in order to operate properly. If not correctly balanced, one side of the hovercraft will lift off the ground
while the other will not budge. To insure proper weight distribution, the center of mass of the craft must be at the center of pressure. For a
craft that is roughly rectangular in shape, the center of pressure is at the center of the craft. For wedge-shaped craft, the center of pressure is
shifted toward the back of the hovercraft. This shape enables the craft to be back-heavy but operate normally.

Generally, it is best for the hovercraft to be perfectly balanced. However, there is one exception, that being a hovercraft optimized for high-
performance in water. This craft should be slightly back-heavy to help it get over hump (see discussion on Over Hump Problem). I designed
my hovercraft with extra room in the electronics bay to enable me to move the battery pack forwards or backwards to shift the center of mass
according to what surface I am operating on. The battery accounts for about 25% of the mass of my craft so it logical to use it as ballast.

2. Fan Placement -

There are several common fan configurations in recreational hovercraft. One of the most common is the arrangement with a single engine in
the back driving a single fan. This configuration is the simplest and most reliable (only one engine/motor). Another fairly common
arrangement is having one engine powering both a thrust fan and a separate lift fan, both in the rear of the craft. The configuration is slightly
more complicated, as there has to be some kind of belt assembly to enable one engine to transmit power to two separate fans. On the plus
side, however, this craft will outperform the one with only one fan because the lift fan and the thrust fan can both be optimized for their
applications, whereas on the single fan design, one fan has to be chosen to provide both lift and thrust. Choosing one fan means
compromising between optimum lift and thrust fans.

The final configuration, and the one seen in many high-performance craft, is the arrangement with two separate fans for lift and thrust
powered by two separate motors. This is the configuration my craft utilizes (see diagram below). This allows the builder to optimize each fan
and engine for its particular application (typically a fan with multiple blades for lift and a propeller or fan with fewer blades for thrust). This is
also the only configuration that enables separate throttles for lift and thrust, meaning that this is the only craft that can hover in place. The
only problem I have encountered using this configuration (with the lift fan in the front) is the tendency for the front of the craft to lift
completely off the ground. I countered this problem by placing a duct beneath the lift fan that redirects the lift air towards the rear of the craft
(see Construction Log page 4), effectively nulling the upward thrust created by the fan. It is important to remember that the lift fan is not
intended to create thrust, but to maintain a pressurized cushion of air under the craft.

3. Body Shape -

Fan configuration should be taken into account before deciding on a body shape (see discussions on Fan Placement and Balance/Weight
Distribution). The only other differences between a rectangular- and a wedge-shaped hovercraft are their behavior on water. A wedge-shaped
craft tends to cut through small waves while a rectangular craft will ride them more. A rectangular craft tends to be slightly more stable
because it has more lift in the front and therefore has less of a tendency to dive below waves (This is not a significant problem with wedge-
shaped craft however).

4. Power (Thrust/Lift Ratio) -

In full-scale recreational hovercraft, the power dedicated to thrust versus lift is generally about 2:1. In model hovercraft this does not always
hold however. Batteries don t have nearly the energy density that gasoline does and electric craft tend to weigh more than gas-powered craft,
thus requiring more lift. This means that small electric craft don t have nearly as much power at their disposal as their gas-powered cousins.
Out of the two functions of lift and thrust, lift is far more important because without lift, thrust is wasted energy. Consequently, as much
power as is necessary must be dedicated to lift in an electric craft, with whatever power is remaining going to thrust.

My hovercraft has about a 2:1 ratio of thrust to lift in its current configuration, with the thrust motor consuming 10 Amps and the lift motor
consuming 5 Amps.

5. Over Hump Problem -

This is a problem specific to hovercraft operating on water. Even though the hovercraft is not actually touching the surface of the water (or is

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barely skimming it), it nonetheless displaces its mass in water and creates a shallow depression. This makes a small hump of water around
the skirt of the craft that opposes movement. The hovercraft must have enough thrust to overcome this barrier and ride up over hump.

6. Fans and Propellers -

Fans and props each have several advantages and disadvantages and generally one or the other is more appropriate in certain situations.

Props are designed to run in open air at high speed and so are best suited to be used for thrust. They can also be housed in a close-fitting duct
to enhance efficiency and performance (and safety!). Since props run at a high rpm, they are generally noisier than fans.

Axial fans generally run at a lower rpm, which means they are usually quieter. They usually have five, seven, or more wide, high-pitch blades.
This means they are better suited for use as lift fans. Since the blades are large, a significant area of the fan opening is covered at any given
time. This is a good configuration for containing high-pressure air (as in the plenum chamber of a hovercraft). When props are used for lift,
much of the air cushion escapes through the gap in the blades. Generally, the more blade coverage a fan has, the better it will operate against a
back-pressure.

Centrifugal fans are by far the best option for lift. Like axial fans they are quiet and turn at low rpm but they operate even more efficiently
against back-pressure and also pump a large volume of air (This helps a hovercraft fly over rougher surfaces where cushion air has to be
replaced at a higher rate). Most, if not all, toy R/C hovercraft, employ centrifugal fans for lift. These fans are typically harder to find than the
previous types though. My hovercraft would need an ultralight 4-inch centrifugal fan, which I have not yet been able to find. I have attempted
to construct my own out of birch plywood, but with Homelimited success (See Construction Log Page 4).

Centrifugal fans can generally be found in older-model hairdryers, vacuum cleaners, dust-busters, and some computer cooling units.

As well as the differences already discussed, the fans also differ in their power consumption. Motors are generally most efficient when
running toward the high end of their rpm range. Thus, props generally consume the least energy. Fans generally run slower and are operated
against a back-pressure, increasing the load on the motor. They generally consume more power.

I used a 4.5 inch 7-bladed axial fan from a CPU cooling unit during my initial tests. This ran pretty well and was very quiet, but unfortunately
loaded down my lift motor excessively (The motor consumed around 10 Amps). I recently replaced the fan with a 6x3 2-bladed propeller and
the performance increased significantly. In theory, the fan should work better, but the electric motors lack the torque to turn an appropriately-
sized fan at high enough speed. The propeller isn't as efficient as the fan at moving air, but it turns at 16,000 rpm, near the point of the motor's
highest efficiency. Consequently, the motor only draws 5 Amps.

7. Gearboxes -

Gearing a motor can potentially increase thrust and decrease power consumption. Since the prop turns more slowly, the exhaust velocity is
greatly reduced however. It is best to gear down motors that turn at very high rpms.

8. Power vs. Weight Considerations -

Increasing the performance of a model hovercraft can be done in several ways:

The first method is to increase the power without increasing the weight (ex: I get more thrust using an 8x4 prop than a 7x3. This consumes
more current but uses the same motors and batteries.)

The second method is to decrease the weight of the hovercraft without decreasing the power. This option is generally more difficult when the
hovercraft is finished. It is best to trim the weight in as many ways as possible during the design and construction phases. The only feasible
way to decrease the weight of a finished craft is to use a smaller, lower-capacity battery.

Use larger motors. These will turn larger and higher-pitch props and enhance performance (at the expense of runtime).

Upgrade to an internal combustion engine.

9. Extending Runtime -

Runtime can be extended in two ways. The first is to use smaller fans or smaller motors that draw less current, extending battery life. The
second way is to carry a larger-capacity battery. Either way, runtime is gained at the expense of performance.

http://rchovercraft.com/theory.html 12/21/2010