Symposium on Applied Aerodynamics and Design of Aerospace Vehicle (SAROD 2024)

Month xx-xx, 2024, Thiruvananthapuram, India

Investigating and Identifying the Most Effective Techniques for Designing

Efficient Propeller Blades for High-Altitude Solar-Powered Unmanned Aerial
Vehicles (UAVs) Operating at 20-25 km Of Altitude.
Aishwarya B Meti, Aerospace Engineer
MVJ College Of Engineering, Bengaluru-560057

1. INTRODUCTION optimal airfoil designs, investigating chord

distribution strategies, and achieving high efficiency
The advancement of efficient propulsion systems for
and thrust performance under low air density
high-altitude aerospace applications, especially for
conditions typical of these altitudes. Ultimately, this
solar-powered unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), is
study seeks to enhance the overall performance of
vital for technological progress. This study
propeller blades for solar-powered UAVs in
investigates the optimization of propeller blades
aerospace applications.
specifically designed to function effectively at
altitudes between 20 km and 25 km. The initial
analysis includes an evaluation of various airfoils, The equations used in this studies are mentioned
such as the S-7075, across different lift-to-drag below:
(Cl/Cd) ratios—namely high Cl/low Cd, low Cl/high
Cd, and constant Cl/Cd configurations. The S-7075 (Note the explaination of formulas is given in
airfoil was identified as the most suitable choice, appendix section at last)
characterized by its smooth performance curve at
Reynolds numbers of 80000,50000,40000 and which
indicates its potential for stable aerodynamic
performance in the thin atmosphere encountered at 1) (1)
high altitudes.
Subsequent investigations into chord distribution
2) (2)
employed three strategies: maintaining constant
Reynolds numbers along the blade, varying Reynolds
numbers, and a mixed approach with consistent 3) (3)
values at mid-sections and linear adjustments at the
blade's extremities. The challenge of operating in the
thin air of 20km altitude, with a density of 0.098 4) (4)
kg/m³, underscores the significance of achieving 95%
efficiency at 1000 RPM. The mixed Reynolds
number method proved optimal, generating 38N of
thrust while maintaining high efficiency. Future 3. METHODOLOGY
efforts will focus on refining these findings through
Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis to Designing propeller blades that can effectively
further enhance propeller blade performance for high- operate at altitudes of 20-25 km for solar power
altitude applications driven UAV’s poses significant challenges due to
aerodynamic factors and the low Reynolds number.
To achieve optimal results, the following approaches
2. OBJECTIVES were employed:

The aim of this study is to employ three specific 1) Reasons for Choosing High Altitudes (20-
techniques for designing propeller blades and to 25km):
determine which method is most suitable for
achieving efficient performance in high-altitude a) Absence of Civil Aircraft: At this altitude, civil
environments, specifically between 20 km and 25 aircraft do not operate, as fuel-driven engines face
km. The objectives include analyzing and selecting

Pg no
challenges due to reduced air density, making it • S-7075 gave the best expected results with
difficult for combustion. smoother curve and high cl/cd ratio among
all these aero foils.. This is shown below:
b) Enhanced Surveillance and Weather (This is the result obtained after running in
Forecasting: UAVs operating at these altitudes can XFLR- 5 software.)
effectively conduct weather forecasting and
surveillance, benefiting from minimal signal
disturbances that lead to more reliable
communication and data transmission.

2) Choosing Low Reynolds Number airfoils with a

high lift-to-drag (CL/CD) ratio: Initially, airfoils
with high Cl/Cd ratios were prioritized, focusing on
those exhibiting smooth performance curves when
plotted against Cl/Cd versus angle of attack (α). A
variety low Reynolds number of airfoils were
selected, including E-168, S-7075, E-212, H-T08,
ISA-571, GOE243.The coordinates for these airfoils
were retrieved from the UUIC website and imported
into XFLR FOIL software for analysis at altitudes of
20-25 km, simulating Reynolds numbers of
80000,50000,40000. Fig showing the S-7075 having high cl/cd value at
80000 Reynolds number
Selecting aerofoils with high Cl/Cd values is essential
for several reasons: 2) Finding Efficient Chord Length Distribution: In
the next step of the design process, I focused on
1. Efficiency Optimization: At high altitudes, optimizing the blade's aerodynamic performance.
where air density is significantly lower, These efforts involved fine-tuning the chord length
selecting airfoils with high Cl/Cd ratios distribution using various approaches. Initially, I
maximizes lift while minimizing drag, applied a constant Reynolds number from the third to
optimizing the overall efficiency of the 75% of the blade radius, approximating blade
propeller blade. parameters closely rather than using exact values
from reference papers. This approach included
2. Enhanced Performance in Low Reynolds linearly increasing the Reynolds number in the first
Number Regime: High Cl/Cd aerofoils are two sections, maintaining it consistently up to 75% of
designed to maintain lift with minimal drag the blade radius, and then decreasing it linearly.
in lower Reynolds number conditions, Another strategy was to employ a uniform Reynolds
crucial for propeller efficiency in the low- number across all sections of the blade, ensuring
density environment of high altitudes. consistent aerodynamic conditions throughout.
Finally, I explored a method in which the Reynolds
3. Improved Manoeuvrability: Air foils with number varied continuously along the entire length of
high Cl/Cd ratios tend to exhibit better the blade, allowing for precise adjustments in
manoeuvrability, allowing for precise aerodynamic performance.
control and stable flight characteristics in
variable atmospheric conditions at high Each approach was evaluated based on its potential
altitudes. impact on efficiency and stability under high-altitude
conditions, aiming to achieve an optimal propeller
4. Mitigation of Stall Effects: These aerofoils blade design that balances performance and
are often engineered to delay stall onset, reliability.
ensuring smoother and more predictable
aerodynamic performance, especially
important at high angles of attack in low air
density.