Aerodynamic Design of Propeller and Parametric.DOCVIP

Aerodynamic Performances of Propellers with Parametric Considerations on the Optimal Design S. D’Angelo, F. Berardi, E. Minisci Department of Aeronautical and Space Engineering Politecnico di Torino, Turin - Italy ABSTRACT In this paper two numerical procedures are presented: the first algorithm allows for the determination of the geometric characteristics of the maximum efficiency propeller for a given operative condition and profile distribution along the blade; the output of this numerical procedure is the chord distribution and twist angle of the blade, together with its efficiency and its torque and thrust coefficients for the prescribed operative condition. The aerodynamic characteristics of the optimum propeller when operating in a condition different from the design one are obtained by a second algorithm that allows for the evaluation of the efficiency, the thrust and torque coefficients of a propeller of known geometry, when the blade pitch and operative condition are varied. In the paper the formulation used for deriving the geometry of the optimum propeller and determining its performances when operating off-design is described in detail. The results obtained from the proposed propeller model have been validated by comparison with experimental data. Nomenclature b non dimensional blade section chord, b=l/R c sound speed cd airfoil drag coefficient cl airfoil lift coefficient D drag E aerodynamic efficiency FA total aerodynamic force kP Prandtl correction factor K Lagrange factor (constant) l blade section chord L lift M engine torque Ma free stream Mach number, Ma=V/c Ma( local Mach number at station (, Ma(=VE/c n blade number P shaft power r coordinate along blade span R propeller radius Re free stream Reynolds number, Re=R*V*(/( Re( local Reynolds number at station (, Re=l*VE*(/( T thrust uD induced velocity in the plane of the propeller V forward speed VA apparent velocity, VA=(V2+((r)2)1/2 VE actual velocity of flow approach