Hovering efficiency optimization of the cycloidal propeller with end plates

Abstract

Cycloidal propellers are known for their omnidirectional vectored thrust, enabling smooth transitions between hovering and forward flight, making them ideal for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. However, cycloidal propellers tend to have lower hovering efficiency compared to screw propellers. Adding end plates to the blade tips can enhance hovering efficiency by reducing blade tip vortices. But the impact of these end plates and the optimal design for cycloidal propellers incorporating them have not been thoroughly studied. This paper seeks to optimize hovering efficiency and develop design theories for cycloidal propellers with end plates. Extensive force measurement experiments are conducted to identify designs with optimal hovering efficiency. The sliding mesh technique is employed to solve the unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (URANS) equations for a detailed analysis. Experimental results indicate that the designs with end plates generally achieve significantly better hovering efficiency than those without end plates. End plates help to maintain hovering efficiency, even though the blade aspect ratio is as small as 1.5. The designs with stationary end plates are superior to those with rotating end plates because rotation introduces additional torque caused by the friction force. Designs featuring thick end plates outperform those with thin end plates, as the rounded edges can eliminate end plate vortices. The best design features stationary thick end plates, a chord-to-radius ratio of 0.65, and a large pitching amplitude of 40 degrees. It achieves a hovering efficiency of 0.72 with a blade aspect ratio of 3, which is comparable to that of helicopters. In contrast, for the cases without end plates, the highest hovering efficiency is merely 0.54.