Investigation On The Propulsive Efficiency Of The Small Uav Conceptual Design

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Date
2012-03
Authors
Yahaya, Khairul Ikhsan
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Universiti Sains Malaysia
Abstract
A parametric study of low altitude small Unmanned Autonomous Vehicle (UAV) conceptual design was performed. The purpose was to estimate constraint diagram propulsive efficiency of propeller-Brushless Direct Current (BLDC) motor propulsion system at two different flight conditions with the consideration of Atmospheric Boundary Layer (ABL) turbulent effect. The lift slope and drag polar of the small UAV was obtained by simulating the airframe in FluentTM 6.3 using SST k-ω turbulence model at stall, cruise and maximum speeds. Constraint diagram was constructed and power loading at different flight conditions was resolved as required thrust at different airspeed. Goldstein vortex theory of propellers was used to model propeller; the propeller blade geometry and size was varied to see the effect of propeller torque and rotational speed at required thrust and airspeed with BLDC motor matching. CFD simulation results show a logarithmic trend increase in minimum drag with the decrease of airspeed. Without considering the propulsive efficiency of the propulsion system, the power loading at design point, determined by maximum speed requirement was about 0.23N/W. Himax HA2825-2700 with second highest rated power of 400W was found to be the most suitable BLDC motor. It was concluded that for constructing constraint diagram, the propulsive efficiency value of the best BLDC motor-propeller combination was 58 percent for maximum speed requirement and 42 percent for time to climb requirement.
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Investigation on the propulsive efficiency of , the small UAV conceptual design
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