High altitude propeller design and analysis

This paper presents the design and optimization of a new propeller to use on the MAAT cruiser airship. The inverse design methodology is based on minimum induced losses and was implemented in JBLADE software in order to obtain optimized geometries. In addition, the design procedure and the optimization steps of a new propeller to use at high altitudes are also described. The results of propellers designed with JBLADE are then analyzed and compared with conventional CFD results, since there is no experimental data for these particular geometries. Two different approaches were used to obtain the final geometries of the propellers. Instead of using the traditional lift coefficient prescription along the blade, the airfoil best L3/2/DL3/2/D and best L/DL/D were used to produce different geometries. It is shown that this new design approach allows the minimization of the chord along the blade, while the thrust is maximized.