The Efficiency of Drone Propellers—A Relevant Step Towards Sustainability

The static efficiency of a propeller cannot be determined in the same way as for propellers operating in the presence of freestream airflow. As various kinds of multirotor drones and small UAVs operate in hovering or nearly hovering modes, it is necessary to develop methods for determining and measu...

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Main Authors: Jaan Susi, Karl-Eerik Unt, Siim Heering
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Engineering Proceedings
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4591/90/1/89
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author Jaan Susi
Karl-Eerik Unt
Siim Heering
author_facet Jaan Susi
Karl-Eerik Unt
Siim Heering
author_sort Jaan Susi
collection DOAJ
description The static efficiency of a propeller cannot be determined in the same way as for propellers operating in the presence of freestream airflow. As various kinds of multirotor drones and small UAVs operate in hovering or nearly hovering modes, it is necessary to develop methods for determining and measuring the static aerodynamic efficiency of small-scale propellers. Propellers with a Reynolds number near the 0.75 R, where the blade section is less than 500,000, are considered to be at a critical value, i.e., the estimated border between two flow modes—laminar and turbulent. The efficiency of small-scale propellers may be hard to predict through modeling, making direct empirical measurements invaluable in this situation.
format Article
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institution Kabale University
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publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher MDPI AG
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series Engineering Proceedings
spelling doaj-art-e323339cd50e443b9b964a4fd98a4e332025-08-20T03:27:10ZengMDPI AGEngineering Proceedings2673-45912025-03-019018910.3390/engproc2025090089The Efficiency of Drone Propellers—A Relevant Step Towards SustainabilityJaan Susi0Karl-Eerik Unt1Siim Heering2Department of Aeronautical Engineering, Estonian Aviation Academy, Lennu 40, Reola, 61707 Kambja Parish, Tartu County, EstoniaDepartment of Aeronautical Engineering, Estonian Aviation Academy, Lennu 40, Reola, 61707 Kambja Parish, Tartu County, EstoniaDepartment of Aeronautical Engineering, Estonian Aviation Academy, Lennu 40, Reola, 61707 Kambja Parish, Tartu County, EstoniaThe static efficiency of a propeller cannot be determined in the same way as for propellers operating in the presence of freestream airflow. As various kinds of multirotor drones and small UAVs operate in hovering or nearly hovering modes, it is necessary to develop methods for determining and measuring the static aerodynamic efficiency of small-scale propellers. Propellers with a Reynolds number near the 0.75 R, where the blade section is less than 500,000, are considered to be at a critical value, i.e., the estimated border between two flow modes—laminar and turbulent. The efficiency of small-scale propellers may be hard to predict through modeling, making direct empirical measurements invaluable in this situation.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4591/90/1/89propeller efficiencyapplied aerodynamicssmall-scale propellersmultirotors
spellingShingle Jaan Susi
Karl-Eerik Unt
Siim Heering
The Efficiency of Drone Propellers—A Relevant Step Towards Sustainability
Engineering Proceedings
propeller efficiency
applied aerodynamics
small-scale propellers
multirotors
title The Efficiency of Drone Propellers—A Relevant Step Towards Sustainability
title_full The Efficiency of Drone Propellers—A Relevant Step Towards Sustainability
title_fullStr The Efficiency of Drone Propellers—A Relevant Step Towards Sustainability
title_full_unstemmed The Efficiency of Drone Propellers—A Relevant Step Towards Sustainability
title_short The Efficiency of Drone Propellers—A Relevant Step Towards Sustainability
title_sort efficiency of drone propellers a relevant step towards sustainability
topic propeller efficiency
applied aerodynamics
small-scale propellers
multirotors
url https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4591/90/1/89
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