REPORT 7 PROPELLER SIZING

7 PROPELLER SIZING 7.1 Introduction The function of the propeller is to convert brake horse power from the engine into thrust. The primary purpose is to convert engine power to axial thrust through torque transfer to the propeller. Fixed pitch: The propeller is made in one piece. Only one pitch setting is possible and is usually two blades propeller and is made of wood or metal Constant speed: During operation, the constant speed propeller will automatically change its blade angle to maintain a constant engine speed. If engine power is increase, the blade angle is increased to make the propeller absorb the additional power while the rpm remain constant. 7.2 Propeller Size Determination The propeller diameter for a two bladed propeller is given by where HP is power available in horse power The takeoff gross weight from third weight estimate is 1283.496 gm The maximum power loading (as obtained from Report 3),
[1]

(7.1)

Propeller is selected from the propeller catalogue available in the adamone Table 7.1 Propeller sizing details Propeller name, type APCE,Fixed No of blades Diameter Pitch 2 11 in 5.5 in

[6]

website

REPORT 7 PROPELLER SIZING

Now the battery is chosen to suit the propeller sizing requirements [6] Table 7.2 Specifications of battery Battery Name Series, Parallel Cell Capacity Max Current Volt Per Cell ThunderPower 2100 15/20c 2,1 2100mAh 42 A 3.7 V

Cell Resistance 0.0086 Pack Voltage Pack Weight 7.4 V 92 gm

7.3 PROPELLER THEORY In a simple blade element theory the forces acting on the blade are as shown in the fig. below

Fig 7.1: The forces acting on the blade element

2

[1]

REPORT 7 PROPELLER SIZING

where is the angle of attack is the helix angle is the geometric pitch angle of the blade dT is the elemental thrust on blade element dQ is the propeller torque dL is the lift force acting on the blade element dD is the drag force acting on the blade element The static rpm for the selected APCE propeller is given in the adamone website [6] The static rpm of the propeller [6] = 6785 rpm 7.4 Propeller Performance The various performance parameters of the propeller are investigated as follows Table 7.3 Propeller performance evaluation parameters Climb velocity , Static rotational speed Static rotational speed , n Diameter, D Pitch 10.556 m/s 6785 rpm 113.083 rps 11 in 5.5 in

7.4.1 Helix angle The helix angle of the propeller is found using the following relation

(7.2)

Where =2n is angular speed at radius r.

REPORT 7 PROPELLER SIZING

7.4.2. Advance ratio The advance ratio for the propeller is given by
[1]

(7.3)

7.4.3 Thrust coefficient The thrust coefficient of the propeller is given by

[1]

(7.4)

Fig 7.2 Thrust coefficient vs advance ratio for different blade angle Assume an blade angle =15 deg

[4]

REPORT 7 PROPELLER SIZING

7.4.4 Power coefficient The power coefficient of the propeller is given by (7.4) From the propeller chart shown below

Fig 7.3. Power coefficient vs. advance ratio for propellers

[4]

P = 138.75 W 7.4.5. Speed coefficient The speed coefficient of the propeller is given by (7.5) 7.4.6. Propeller Efficiency The propeller efficiency of the blade is given by (7.6)

REPORT 7 PROPELLER SIZING

Table 7.4 Propeller performance for the entire mission Phase V aircraft Helix angle Advance ratio 0.3683 0.3341 0.4801 0.4529 0.393 Thrust coefficient 0.09 0.092 0.068 0.072 0.08 Power coefficient 0.048 0.046 0.04 0.041 0.042 Speed coefficient 0.676 0.618 0.8219 0.8579 0.7408 Propeller efficiency 69.056 66.82 81.16 79.53 74.85

Takeoff Climb Cruise Turn Landing

11.6373 6.86 10.556 6.07

15.1719 8.69 14.310 8.20

12.4468 7.15

7.5 Conclusion The propeller is selected based on the maximum power loading estimated(Report 3) and performance parameters of the propeller were investigated and tabulated for various phases of the flight. Based on the parameters computed, the propeller is selected as Fixed pitch type APCE 11 X 5.5 having two blades.

REPORT 7 PROPELLER SIZING

List of Symbols 1. CT 2. CP 3. CS 4. D 5. dD 6. dL 7. dT 8. dQ 9. J 10. n 11. P 12. r 13. Vclimb 14. W 15. 16. Thrust coefficient of propeller - Power coefficient of propeller - Speed coefficient of propeller - Propeller diameter - Drag force acting on the element - Lift force acting on the element -Thrust acting on the element - Propeller torque - Advance ratio - static rotational speed - Power available - radius of propeller - Climb velocity - Weight - Angle of attack - Blade angle
-

17.
18. List of Figures

- Helix angle
- Rotational speed of propeller

7.1 Forces acting on the blade element 7.2 Thrust coefficient versus Advance ration for the propellers 7.3 Power coefficient versus Advance ratio for the propellers List of Tables 7.1 Propeller sizing details 7.2 Battery specifications 7.3 Propeller performance evaluation parameters 7.4 Propeller performance parameters

REPORT 7 PROPELLER SIZING

7.6 REFERENCES
1. Daniel P. Raymer, Aircraft Design: A Conceptual Approach, 2nd edition AIAA

Educational series, 1989.

2. John D Anderson Jr., Aircraft Performance and Design, 4th reprint 2011, McGraw-

Hill, New York.

3. John D Anderson Jr., Fundamentals of Aerodynamics, McGraw-Hill, New York.

4.

McCormick, Aerodynamics of V/STOL flight

5. Jan Roshkam.,Airplane Aerodynamics and Performance,

6. http://adamone.rchomepage.com