Analysis of possibility of using commercial micro turbojet engines for high-speed small-sized operational-tactical UAVs

Olexander Khrulev

Abstract


Despite the technological advances that made it possible to create serial commercial micro-turbojet engines with a thrust of up to 1.0 kN, engines of this type in the class of high-speed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) weighing up to 200 kg have not yet received wide distribution. Nevertheless, the use of micro-turbojet engines continues to be considered as promising, and a large amount of work has been devoted to the study of these engines. However, existing studies often show a simplistic approach when a micro-turbojet is considered in isolation from its possible aviation application. The object of this study is micro turbojet engines for high-speed UAVs. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the use of serial commercial micro turbine engines on high-speed UAVs. The task: to select a gas-dynamic calculation program, perform a mathematical modeling of the characteristics of a micro-turbojet engine, and analyze the conditions and effectiveness of the application of the considered type of engine on high-speed UAVs. Method of the study. The GasTurb14 standard program for gas-dynamic calculation of gas turbine engines was used, with the help of which gas-dynamic calculations were carried out, a structural diagram was obtained, and mathematical modeling of micro-turbojet characteristics was performed. The results. Possible manufacturers and models of engines produced by them and their equipment were identified. It was found that for the considering UAV class, the engine should have a pressure ratio in compressor in the range of 4.2-4.7, and it is advisable to choose the flight operating mode of the micro-turbojet engine at a speed of 92-95% of the maximum. It has also been determined that UAVs with micro-turbojet engines, in comparison with piston engines, easily provide the same flight range with the same fuel relative mass due to at least three times higher speed. Conclusions. The use of a micro-turbojet turns out to be more effective at a flight range of over 300 km, and at a flight speed of more than 150 m/s (540 km/h), a micro-turbojet engine provides a significant advantage over a piston engine for a number of operational and tactical tasks.

Keywords


UAV; micro turbojet engine; characteristics; application

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.32620/aktt.2023.4sup2.01