Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-r5fsc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-25T12:16:18.137Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The efficiency analysis of high-altitude propeller based on vortex lattice lifting line theory

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 November 2016

Xue-ke Zheng ,
Xiao-liang Wang ,
Zhen-jin Cheng  and
Ding Han
Xue-ke Zheng*
Affiliation:
Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
Xiao-liang Wang
Affiliation:
Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
Zhen-jin Cheng
Affiliation:
Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
Ding Han
Affiliation:
Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
*
[email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

In this paper, we proposed a simple approach to analyse the efficiency and propulsive characteristics of the high-altitude propeller in accordance to the Vortex Lattice Lifting line Method (VLM) theory, which is commonly used in preliminary design and parametric studies of propeller propulsion. The Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) method was used to obtain aerofoil aerodynamic data. The optimal pitch angle and propeller blade chord length (along the radial direction) can be calculated using the information from the database. The propeller wake model sees helical slipstreams applied to both lightly and moderately loaded propellers. The proposed method is capable of identifying the optimal efficiency through varying the number of propeller blades, radius and the rotational speed. The relationship between the optimal efficiency and design parameters is then established. This method was verified using CFD calculations.

Keywords

High-altitude propelleroptimal efficiencyVortex Lattice Lifting line Methodpropeller wake model
Type
Research Article
Information
The Aeronautical Journal , Volume 121 , Issue 1236 , February 2017 , pp. 141 - 162
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Aeronautical Society 2016 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

1. Colozza, A. and Dolce, J. Initial feasibility assessment of a high altitude long endurance airship. NASA CR-2203-212724, December 2003, National Aeronautics and Space Administration Washington, DC, US.Google Scholar
2. Jamison, L., Sommer, G.S. and Porche, I.R. High-altitude airships for the future force army, 2005, Rand Arroyo Center, Santa Monica, California, US.Google Scholar
3. Ilieva, G., Páscoa, J., Dumas, A. and Trancossi, M. A critical review of propulsion concepts for modern airships. Open Engineering, 2012, 2, (2), pp 189–200.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
4. Liu, P., Duan, Z. and Ma, L. Aerodynamics properties and design method of high efficiency-light propeller of stratospheric airships. International Conference on Remote Sensing, Environment and Transportation Engineering (RSETE), 24-26 June 2011, pp 8041–8044.Google Scholar
5. Tang, Z., Liu, P., Chen, Y. and Guo, H. Experimental study of counter-rotating propellers for high-altitude airships. J Propulsion and Power, 2015, 31, (5), pp 1491–1496.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
6. Nie, Y. The Design and Experiments Study on High Efficient Propeller Used for Stratospheric Airship (Chinese). MS thesis, 2008, Center for Space Science and Applied Research, Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.Google Scholar
7. Koch, L.D. Design and Performance Calculations of a Propeller for Very High Altitude Flight. MS thesis, 1998 Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, US.Google Scholar
8. Ma, R. and Liu, P. Numerical simulation of low-Reynolds-number and high-lift airfoil S1223. Proceedings of the World Congress on Engineering, Vol. 2. 2009.Google Scholar
9. D'Angelo, S., Berardi, F. and Minisci, E. Aerodynamic performances of propellers with parametric considerations on the optimal design. Calculus of Variations, 2002, 4, (5), p 6.Google Scholar
10. Lerbs, H.W. Moderately loaded propeller theory. Transaction of the Soc Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, 1952, 8, p 845.Google Scholar
11. Coney, W.B. A Method for the Design of a Class of Optimum Marine Propulsors. PhD dissertation, 1989, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, US.Google Scholar
12. Epps, B., Chalfant, J., Kimball, R., Techet, A. and Chryssostomidis, C. OpenProp: An open-source parametric design and analysis tool for propellers, Proceedings of the 2009 Grand Challenges in Modeling & Simulation Conference. Society for Modeling & Simulation International, 2009, pp 104–111.Google Scholar
13. Epps, B.P. and Kimball, R.W. Unified rotor lifting line theory. J Ship Research, 2013, 57, (4), pp 181–201.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
14. Wrench, J.W. The Calculation of Propeller Induction Factors AML Problem 69-54, No. DTMB-1116, Applied Mathematics Laboratory, 1951, David Taylor Model Basin, Washington, D.C., US.Google Scholar
15. Basavaraj, A. Estimation of wave drag of non-transonic airfoils using Korn equation. Int J Innovative Research in Science, Engineering and Technology, April 2015, 4, pp 2119–2126.Google Scholar
16. FLUENT Software Package, Ver 6.3.26, Fluent Inc., 2006.Google Scholar
17. Spalart, P.R. and AllMarchas, S.R. A One-Equation Turbulence Model for Aerodynamic Flows, AIAA Paper 92-0439, 1992.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
18. Morgado, J., Abdollahzadeh, M., Silvestre, M.A. and PÁscoa, J.C. High altitude propeller design and analysis. Aerospace Science and Technology, 30 September 2015, 45, pp 398–407.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
19. Anderson, J.D. A History of Aerodynamics and its Impact on Flying Machines[M], Appendix G, 1999, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.Google Scholar
20. Felli, M., Camussi, R. and Di Felice, F. Mechanisms of evolution of the propeller wake in the transition and far fields. J Fluid Mechanics, 10 September 2011, 682, pp 5–3.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
21. Heliciel.com, Optimizing the speed and number of blades of the propeller or turbine to capture energy, http://www.heliciel.com/en//logiciel-calcul-helice-aile/optimisation%20vitesse%20rotation%20nombre%20pales%20helice.htm.Google Scholar
22. Trejo, I., Terceño, M., Valle, J., Iranzo, A. and Domingo, J. Analysis of a ship propeller using CFD codes. Calculation of the resistance and the wave profile of a 3600 TEU container ship, 2007.Google Scholar