Aerodynamic Optimization: Enhancing Drone Propeller Thrust and Efficiency

Created a precise computational domain (air volume) around the propeller and generated a high-quality, structured mesh in the rotating fluid zone. This step was vital for capturing the intricate boundary layer and wake flow accurately, ensuring the fidelity of the subsequent aerodynamic analysis.

Established the necessary boundary conditions, including rotational velocity, inflow speed, and turbulence models within ANSYS Fluent. This careful setup ensures the virtual test environment accurately replicates real-world flight dynamics for reliable performance prediction.

Executed the CFD solver to determine the pressure and velocity distribution on the blade surface and in the wake region. This provided the raw data necessary to calculate the generated thrust, torque, and overall propulsive efficiency.

Extracted and analyzed key performance indicators, including the pressure distribution (S_R4) on the blade surfaces and turbulence contours in the wake. This diagnostic step precisely located areas of inefficient flow and unnecessary drag.

Utilized the analytical data to guide geometric adjustments (e.g., chord distribution, twist angle) on the propeller blade. The iterative process confirmed that the new design achieved the targeted aerodynamic efficiency gains over the original geometry.

Delivered a comprehensive aerodynamic optimization report detailing the percentage increase in efficiency and thrust. The final model provided the client with verifiable data for immediate manufacturing and flight testing.