Exergy Mapping of a UAV Through a Reconnaissance Flight Envelope

Abstract

In this study, exergy mapping of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is investigated during its reconnaissance flight. A turboprop UAV is selected for the application of the exergy of lift method covering a full flight envelope (from takeoff to landing) for the first time in the literature. The results from the lift exergy method show that this method is an advantageous instrument to analyze the destruction of exergy in a UAV and its components. The exergy destruction level is presented by comparing the results at different flight points, and it is seen that it is at a maximum at the beginning of the climb and a minimum during the loiter. Similarly, exergy destruction in UAV subsystems is calculated comparatively and it is shown that the engine subsystem is the highest. In addition, the lift exergy consumption is presented for all UAV subsystems and it is calculated that fuel and fuselage subsystems consume the highest lift exergy. The method of exergy of lift can be used for assessment of different air vehicles, such as passenger aircraft, military aircraft, and others. for future studies in light of this study.

Keywords

• aircraft
• exergy
• flight envelope
• thermodynamics
• uav