Steady-State/Transient Performance Simulation of the Propulsion System for the Canard Rotor Wing UAV during Flight Mode Transition

A steady-state/transient performance simulation model was newly developed for the propulsion system of the CRW (Canard Rotor Wing) type UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) during flight mode transition. The CRW type UAV has a new concept RPV (Remotely Piloted Vehicle) which can fly at two flight modes such as the take-off/landing and low speed forward flight mode using the rotary wing driven by engine bypass exhaust gas and the high speed forward flight mode using the stopped wing and main engine thrust. The propulsion system of the CRW type UAV consists of the main engine system and the duct system. The flight vehicle may generally select a proper type and specific engine with acceptable thrust level to meet the flight mission in the propulsion system design phase. In this study, a turbojet engine with one spool was selected by decision of the vehicle system designer, and the duct system is composed of main duct, rotor duct, master valve, rotor tip-jet nozzles, and variable area main nozzle. In order to establish the safe flight mode transition region of the propulsion system, steady-state and transient performance simulation should be needed. Using this simulation model, the optimal fuel flow schedules were obtained to keep the proper surge margin and the turbine inlet temperature limitation through steady-state and transient performance estimation. Furthermore, these analysis results will be used to the control optimization of the propulsion system, later. In the transient performance model, ICV (Inter-Component Volume) model was used. The performance analysis using the developed models was performed at various flight conditions and fuel flow schedules, and these results could set the safe flight mode transition region to satisfy the turbine inlet temperature overshoot limitation as well as the compressor surge margin. Because the engine performance simulation results without the duct system were well agreed with the engine manufacturer's data and the analysis results using a commercial program, it was confirmed that the validity of the proposed performance model was verified. However, the propulsion system performance model including the duct system will be compared with experimental measuring data, later.