Investigation of the influence of the propeller blade profile and angle of attack on the performance parameters of an aircraft piston engine

This article presents the results of experimental research concerning the influence of propeller blade profile and angle of attack on the performance parameters of the 3W 275 XI B2 CS aircraft piston engine. A specialised test stand was utilised, enabling real-time measurement of thrust, cylinder head temperature, and crankshaft rotational speed. The research was conducted with various propeller configurations (2- and 3-bladed) and at differing rotational speeds, which allowed for an assessment of the impact of propeller geometry on engine operational efficiency. The findings demonstrated that appropriate selection of the angle of attack, blade profile, and number of blades significantly affects the achieved parameters – particularly thrust and temperature distribution, which is of critical importance for the safety and durability of the powertrain components. The developed test stand facilitates further research into propeller selection for light aircraft piston combustion engines. A novel aspect of this work is the utilisation of a new type of test stand that permits the determination of changes in thrust values obtained during tests across wide ranges of engine crankshaft rotational speeds. The selection of propellers, considering the number of blades and their profile, is very difficult to predict and should always be undertaken individually for each engine following testing. Such a tailored blade profile and number of propeller blades allow for high engine operational flexibility and good propeller thrust depending on the crankshaft's rotational speed.