Design and Numerical Analysis of Solar Powered Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Using Helium Gas

Abstract

Abstract

The fundamental of unmanned aerial vehicle has been designed and runs for quite a while. This paper mainly focuses on the reduction of payload and power consumption resulting in increase of efficiency further by the use of helium gas in a solar powered unmanned aerial vehicle. In addition to these, another aim of the aircraft is its use in surveying purpose. A highly powerful live steaming camera is attached to capture images and video feed of the surveillance zone thus can be used in defence purpose. Also a releasing mechanism is developed which can be used for defence or relief purpose. A wireless remote control is used to fly the aircraft; also a lithium three cell battery is incorporated in the system. Numerical analysis of drag and lift force on an airfoil shaped body at different angles is presented. This work presents the configuration optimization of an aerofoil body in air using SST computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modelling and compared with the experimental result. The governing equations are solved with a finite-volume-based numerical method. A three-dimensional non uniform grid was generated, in order to critically examine the flow. The wind tunnel was operated at nominal velocities during the coefficient measurement, a Reynolds number of about 100–2000. The airfoil, with a 10 inch chord, was analyzed at 0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25^o angles of attack and with fixed load.

Keywords: Solar energy, helium gas, drag force, lift force, angle of attack

Cite this Article

Suvanjan Bhattacharyya, Debojyoti Dey, Chaitanya Nandy et al. Design and Numerical Analysis of Solar Powered Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Using Helium Gas. Journal of Aerospace Engineering and Technology (JoAET). 2015; 5(2): 22–26p.