Article
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Advanced Scale-Propeller Design Using a MATLAB Optimization Code
Version 1
: Received: 18 June 2024 / Approved: 19 June 2024 / Online: 20 June 2024 (03:31:15 CEST)
A peer-reviewed article of this Preprint also exists.
Prior, S.D.; Newman-Sanders, D. Advanced Scale-Propeller Design Using a MATLAB Optimization Code. Appl. Sci. 2024, 14, 6296. Prior, S.D.; Newman-Sanders, D. Advanced Scale-Propeller Design Using a MATLAB Optimization Code. Appl. Sci. 2024, 14, 6296.
Abstract
This study investigated the efficiency of scale-propellers, typically used on small drones. A scale-propeller is accepted as having a diameter of 7 to 21 inches. The Ukraine War has demonstrated the utility of relatively small, low-cost first-person view (FPV) drones, which are attritable. This investigation outlines the development of a MATLAB optimisation code, based on minimum induced loss propeller theory, which calculates the optimal chord and twist distribution for a chosen propeller operating in known flight conditions. The MATLAB code includes a minimum Reynolds number functionality, which provides the option to alter the chord distribution to ensure the entire propeller is operating above a set threshold value of Reynolds (>100,000), as this has been found to be a transition point between low and high section lift-to-drag ratios. Additional functions allow plotting of torque and thrust distributions along the blade. The results have been validated on experimental data taken from an APC ‘Thin Electric’ 10” x 7” propeller, where it was found that both the chord and twist distributions were accurately modelled. The MATLAB code resulted in a 16% increase in the maximum propulsive efficiency. Further work will investigate a direct interface to SolidWorks to aid rapid propeller manufacturing capability.
Keywords
Propeller; Small-Scale; Efficiency; Design; Optimization; MATLAB; Low Re Number.
Subject
Engineering, Aerospace Engineering
Copyright: This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
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