Study on turbocharger matching application for piston engine of high plateau UAV

ZHAO Kaishen; YANG Guangbin; HU Chongbo; GUO Wanshan; QI Guohai; ZHAI Lei

doi:10.16186/j.cnki.1673-9787.2022030063

Abstract：Objective In order to study the application value of using automobile engine to developing low cost civil aviation UAV piston engine,Methods a development method based on high altitude performance degradation compensation of automobile turbocharged engine was proposed.A certain type of automobile pis-ton turbocharged engine for vehicle was selected to analyze the turbocharger-engine matching conditions un-der variable altitude environment,and evaluate the performance deterioration degree of automobile turbo-charged engine within the boundary of UAV flight envelope.The target boost pressure ratio and engine in-take flow of the new turbocharger were obtained through the simulation calculation under the condition of target altitude.With this calculation result as the performance boundary of the target new supercharger,a cer-tain type of turbocharger was selected,and its performance output characteristics could cover the target boost pressure and flow rate of the engine as the UAV power.The UAV flight performance was verified un-der plain and high plateau conditions,and the pressure ratio,expansion ratio and reduced flow of the com-pressor and turbine impeller of the newly developed supercharger were checked respectively,and the flight test data of the UAV at different altitudes were analyzed.Results The results showed that the newly matched turbocharger was equipped with the test engine at a high altitude of 4 200 meters,the compressor pressure ratio was 3.2,the converted flow rate was 0.092 kg/s,and the operation interval was within the MAP envelope of the turbocharger impeller,which could make the UAV reach the hovering payload ratio of 28.2%,and the performance could meet the technical requirements of high altitude load flight.Conclusion By using the automobile turbocharged engine,the compressor of the turbocharger was rematched according to the operating condition of the UAV flight envelope,and the turbine operating condition was checked,which could meet the basic requirements of the civil aviation UAV flight performance on high plateau and low altitude.The matching method provided theoretical guidance for the development and application of new products.