Experimental Investigation of Propeller Performance with Propeller Surface Corrugations

摘要

The propeller is the primary component of flying vehicles powered by electric motors, internal combustion engines, and turboprops for producing thrust. A propeller thrust is produced in the engine by effective spinning of the propeller through air for cost-effective and environmental friendly flight. Natural flyers like birds as well as aquatic animals like humpback whales effectively use its wings and flippers with its surface features for capturing its prey and escaping from their enemies. As part of this work, corrugations are established in the leading edges or in the suction surfaces of the propeller to modify the flow field prevailing over there. Because of the flow field, the surface corrugations or leading edge corrugations energize the boundary layer in the surfaces of the propeller by counter-rotating vortices which, in turn, delays the separation of the boundary layer from the surface. The performance parameters of the propeller such as thrust, torque, propeller efficiency, power consumption etc., are measured using propeller test rig. Depending on the location of surface or leading corrugations, the variations in the performance of the propeller are investigated for further optimization on the selection of better propeller to the applications of UAVs operating at low Reynolds No.