PROPELLER SYSTEM

1st - Look at how lift is generated

Then see how it applies to propellers

 How lift is generated
PROPELLER SYSTEM
 In this example
In this direction
Pressure Decreases here

Pressure Remains Constant here

The result is
LIFT
How lift is generated
PROPELLER SYSTEM
Greater Pressure Decrease
here
The result is
MORE LIFT

Small Pressure Increase here

How lift is increased

PROPELLER SYSTEM
Direction of travel

Aerofoil incline

The difference in direction of travel and aerofoil incline is called:-

The ANGLE of ATTACK

How lift is increased
PROPELLER SYSTEM
How does lift apply to PROPELLORS?

On Propellers, LIFT is called THRUST

And propeller Blades work the same way as aircraft wings
When a propeller spins and the aircraft moves forward, the tips of the
propeller blades move in a ‘corkscrew’ path

This path is called a HELIX

PROPELLER SYSTEM
How the HELIX ANGLE is generated
How the blade tip travel produces the HELIX ANGLE
PROPELLER SYSTEM
How the blade tip travel produces the HELIX ANGLE
PROPELLER SYSTEM
How the blade tip travel produces the HELIX ANGLE
PROPELLER SYSTEM
How the blade tip travel produces the HELIX ANGLE
PROPELLER SYSTEM
How the blade tip travel produces the HELIX ANGLE
PROPELLER SYSTEM
How the blade tip travel produces the HELIX ANGLE
PROPELLER SYSTEM
How the blade tip travel produces the HELIX ANGLE
PROPELLER SYSTEM
How the blade tip travel produces the HELIX ANGLE
PROPELLER SYSTEM
How the blade tip travel produces the HELIX ANGLE
PROPELLER SYSTEM
How the blade tip travel produces the HELIX ANGLE
PROPELLER SYSTEM
How the blade tip travel produces the HELIX ANGLE
PROPELLER SYSTEM
How the blade tip travel produces the HELIX ANGLE
PROPELLER SYSTEM
How the blade tip travel produces the HELIX ANGLE
PROPELLER SYSTEM
How the blade tip travel produces the HELIX ANGLE
PROPELLER SYSTEM
How the blade tip travel produces the HELIX ANGLE
PROPELLER SYSTEM
How the blade tip travel produces the HELIX ANGLE
PROPELLER SYSTEM
How the blade tip travel produces the HELIX ANGLE
PROPELLER SYSTEM
How the blade tip travel produces the HELIX ANGLE
PROPELLER SYSTEM
How the blade tip travel produces the HELIX ANGLE
PROPELLER SYSTEM
How the blade tip travel produces the HELIX ANGLE
PROPELLER SYSTEM
 Rotation -
Number of
Rotations
per Minute

Forward Speed - Distance Travelled

over One Minute
How the blade tip travel produces the HELIX ANGLE
PROPELLER SYSTEM
 RPM

Forward Speed

How the blade tip travel produces the HELIX ANGLE

PROPELLER SYSTEM
 RPM

Forward Speed

How the blade tip travel produces the HELIX ANGLE

PROPELLER SYSTEM
 RPM

Forward Speed

How the blade tip travel produces the HELIX ANGLE

PROPELLER SYSTEM
 RPM

Forward Speed

How the blade tip travel produces the HELIX ANGLE

PROPELLER SYSTEM
 RPM

Forward Speed

How the blade tip travel produces the HELIX ANGLE

PROPELLER SYSTEM
 RPM

Forward Speed

How the blade tip travel produces the HELIX ANGLE

PROPELLER SYSTEM
 RPM

Forward Speed

How the blade tip travel produces the HELIX ANGLE

PROPELLER SYSTEM
How the HELIX ANGLE is changed by engine rpm and forward speed
Changes in FORWARD SPEED and RPM will change
the Helix Angle
How an increase in RPM changes the Helix Angle

Faster
RPM
RPM

Forward Speed

How the blade tip travel produces the HELIX ANGLE

PROPELLER SYSTEM
 Changes in FORWARD SPEED and RPM will change
the Helix Angle

RPM RPM

Faster Forward
Forward
Speed
Speed

How an increase in FORWARD SPEED changes the HELIX ANGLE

PROPELLER SYSTEM
 Let’s take a closer look at the blade aerofoil and the
Helix Angle and thrust (lift) generation

This is the Helix Angle

If the Helix Angle changes,

then we need to change the
blade angle.
This is the
Angle of
Direction of Attack
rotation
Direction of blade through
the air with forward speed

Remember (from the comparison with the aircraft wing), the optimum
Angle of Attack is required to maintain most efficient thrust generation.
PROPELLER SYSTEM
Mechanical STOPS and blade angles
 Actuating
Sliding Piston Lever

Propeller
Fine Blade
Pitch

Direction
Direction
of
of Flight
Rotation

Coarse
Pitch

Actuating
Hard Stops Link

All propeller blades are actuated by the same mechanical linkage

PROPELLER SYSTEM
 The blade angle changes through 90deg
Direction
with piston travel
Of Coarse pitch
Fine pitch
Rotation Or
‘Feathered’
Maximum Minimum
resistance resistance
to forward to forward
speed speed
Maximum resistance
to rotation

Minimum
resistance to
rotation

Piston travels between ‘hard’ stops

At this hard stop At this hard stop

the blade is in this the blade is in this
position position
Note: - blade angle is relative to piston travel
PROPELLER SYSTEM
 Zero pitch – or Ground Fine Pitch

Fine pitch
Good for:-
Easier Starting of engine
Maximum
resistance Running engine with no/minimal thrust
Direction of
to forward High drag – braking effect on ground
Rotation
speed

Minimum
resistance to
rotation
Bad for:-
In-flight – loss of control
In-flight engine failure – loss of control and
Direction of travel engine disintegration

Importance of set blade angle

PROPELLER SYSTEM
 Maximum pitch – or Feathered

Minimum Bad for:-

resistance
Starting of engine
to forward
speed Could cause engine burn-out if running
Direction of
Rotation Low drag – NO braking effect on ground

Maximum resistance
to rotation

Good for:-
In-flight – loss of control

In-flight engine failure – control maintained

Direction of travel
and engine stops
rotating minimizing
damage

Importance of set blade angle

PROPELLER SYSTEM
 Reverse Pitch

Used for:-
High drag – high braking effect on ground
Air pushed
Direction of forward giving
Rotation reverse thrust
Usually for military
aircraft only

Minimal
resistance to
rotation Bad for:-
In-flight – loss of forward speed, aircraft stalls
In-flight engine failure – loss of control and
Direction of travel reverse rotation
increasing
engine disintegration

Importance of set blade angle

PROPELLER SYSTEM
 Flight Fine and Cruise Pitch

Flight Used for:-

Fine
pitch Low drag on final approach

Direction of
Rotation

Used for:-
Cruise
pitch In-flight descent – faster forward speed than
final approach

Both give minimal drag at

low power settings
Direction of travel

Importance of set blade angle

PROPELLER SYSTEM
Blade Twist
 Typical Blade

Typical 3
Blade Prop

ROOT MID-SPAN TIP

COARSE MEDIUM FINE

ANGLE ANGLE ANGLE

BLADE ANGLE RELATIVE TO DISTANCE (AND THEREFORE SPEED)

TRAVELLED BY ROOT, MID-SPAN AND TIP

DISTANCE TRAVELLED BY THICK FOR THINNER FOR THIN FOR

ROOT, MID-SPAN AND TIP STRENGTH STRENGTH AND THRUST
THRUST

Blade Twist
PROPELLER SYSTEM