Performance analysis of small scale UAV propeller with slotted design

This paper discussed computational fluid dynamics method to predict propeller performance for small scale low Reynolds number propeller. In addition, the performance of new slotted blade designs is presented, in terms of thrust coefficient, power coefficient and efficiency. The performance of slotted propeller blade is influence by the position of the slot from the trailing edge of the blade. Thus, seven slots locations, with respect to the chord length; 12.5%, 25%, 37.5%, 50%, 62.5%, 75% and 87.5% were analyze. The result shows conditional performance, in thrust generated increase for every slot positions compared to baseline design by 0.1% to 4.75% for low advance ratio, but also accompanied by increase in power coefficient ranging from 10.38% to 44.59%, hence retaining the aerodynamic efficiency lower than the baseline design.