Comparison of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Propeller Performance Under Atmospheric Ice Accretion

In-flight atmospheric ice accretion poses a significant threat to the stable operation of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), as most lack ice protection systems (IPSs). This study presents a detailed comparative analysis of ice accretion dynamics and its aerodynamic effects on UAV propellers with varying geometric design parameters. The investigations are performed using FENSAP-ICE software under two icing cloud conditions: continuous and intermittent maximum icing envelopes. The outcomes reveal that accreted ice structures and their aerodynamic penalties are highly sensitive to propeller geometry, with airfoil design playing a crucial role in mitigating icing impacts on smaller UAV propellers. Propellers with smaller blade chords were more vulnerable, showing greater leading-edge ice buildup and significant reduction in propulsive efficiency compared to those with larger blade chords. Under the same icing conditions (−5°C, continuous maximum icing envelope) for an icing duration of 120 s, the thrust coefficient of iced propellers reduced from 11.94 to 49.49% across different propeller designs. In contrast, the power coefficient increased from 34.10 to 98.46%, depending on propeller geometric parameters. These findings emphasize the importance of geometric parameters on the ice accretion process and aerodynamic performance, providing valuable insights for the design of UAV propellers operating in icy conditions.