Characterization of Propeller Performance and Engine Mission Matching for Small Remotely Piloted Aircraft

Baranski, Jacob A.; Fernelius, Mark; Hoke, John; Wilson, Cary W.; Litke, Paul J.; Afb, Wright-Patterson

doi:10.2514/6.2011-6058

Cited by 6 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 1 publication

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“…In both cases, one can use the concept of efficiency to describe the propeller's performance. Several studies have investigated both the static and advancing performance of small-scale propellers [7][8][9][10][11][12]. In studies on static performance, the concept of propeller efficiency has not been defined in the usual sense of the word.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Determining the Efficiency of Small-Scale Propellers via Slipstream Monitoring

Susi,

Unt,

Heering

2023

Drones

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A large part of small-sized UAVs that are used for surface scanning, video- and photography, or other similar applications are of the multirotor type. These small aircraft perform mainly in hovering or nearly hovering flight mode, and the endurance of these vehicles depends greatly on the efficiency of their motors and the aerodynamic efficiency of their thrust-generating systems, including propellers, ducted fans, etc. Propellers may therefore work in different regimes: in a regime where the propeller performs work to move the vehicle through the air, and the static or hovering regime, in which standing air is accelerated. In both cases, the concept of efficiency can be used to describe the propeller’s performance. There have been several previous studies on static and advancing propellers’ performances. In these studies, when determining the efficiency of a static propeller, the thrust and power coefficients are most commonly compared to evaluate the propeller’s performance. Sometimes, the inducted velocities are calculated via the momentum theory. As small-scale propellers work on very low Reynolds (Re) numbers below 500,000, the flow type transition and boundary layer separation make it very hard to predict the actual efficiency of the propellers in static mode. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to introduce a method to determine the static efficiency of small-scale propellers directly and empirically via a comparison between the output and input power, wherein the output power is determined via the measured thrust and mean induced velocity. The used method combines thrust, torque, and angular velocity measurements with slipstream monitoring. The performed tests showed a decrease in efficiency, with the Re number rising in spite of the rising values of the thrust coefficient. This study led to two main conclusions: thrust and power coefficients are not always the key parameters to determine the efficiency of a propeller; the role of the Re number in the propeller’s efficiency is not yet clear and requires further investigation. The presence of Re number effects has been proven in numerous works, but the impact of those effects seems to not be as trivial as the claim that the lower the Re number, the weaker the propeller’s performance.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Determining the Efficiency of Small-Scale Propellers via Slipstream Monitoring

Susi,

Unt,

Heering

2023

Drones

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“…While performance data of small-scale propellers are available, most of the propellers have diameters greater than 3 in (76 mm). [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16] Prior to this series of tests, the smallest propeller tested by the authors was the 1.85-in propeller used by the Crazyflie. 9, 17 The purpose of this paper is to add to the available data on propellers with diameters less than 3 in (76 mm) and specifically propellers with diameters less than 2 in (51 mm).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Static Performance Results of Propellers Used on Nano, Micro, and Mini Quadrotors

Deters¹,

Dantsker

Kleinke³

et al. 2018

2018 Applied Aerodynamics Conference

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An increase in the number of small quadrotors has created the interest in having performance data on the propellers used by these aircraft. With an aircraft size less than 5 in and propellers diameters less than 3 in, these quadrotors are typically referred to mini, micro, or nano by hobbyists and manufacturers. The size of the propellers used on these aircraft operate at low Reynolds numbers that are typically less than 50,000 for diameters up to 3 in and less than 20,000 for diameters up to 2 in. Static performance testing of the propellers used on 11 small quadrotors was completed. For propellers with diameters less than 1.4 in, the torque produced was too small to accurately measure.

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