How calculate propeller efficiency if I know propeller trust?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating propeller efficiency given thrust, motor power, and motor efficiency. Participants explore various methods and formulas, addressing the relationship between thrust and power, and the necessary variables for accurate calculations.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests converting thrust to watts and dividing by motor output power to find propeller efficiency.
  • Another participant argues that thrust cannot be converted to power, stating that thrust is a unit of force, not power.
  • Some participants emphasize the need for aircraft speed to calculate efficiency, providing a formula that incorporates thrust, speed, and shaft horsepower.
  • There is a contention regarding the definition of thrust, with some asserting it can be expressed in terms of power while others refute this claim.
  • A participant proposes a practical experiment comparing fuel consumption between two vehicles to derive propeller efficiency, raising questions about the validity of such a method.
  • Concerns are raised about the significant digits used in calculations and the mixing of metric and imperial units.
  • Several participants challenge each other's interpretations of propeller efficiency and the variables involved in its calculation.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the correct method for calculating propeller efficiency. There are multiple competing views on the relationship between thrust and power, as well as the necessary variables for accurate calculations.

Contextual Notes

There are unresolved assumptions regarding the definitions of thrust and power, as well as the specific context in which propeller efficiency is being calculated. The discussion also highlights the need for clarity on the variables provided in the original question.

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How calculate propeller efficiency if I know propeller trust ant motor power and motor efficienty?
 
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convert thrust to watts (or any standardized unit of energy), motor output power is motor input power times efficiency, convert to the same standardized unit, Then thrust power divided by motor output power, and you have your propeller efficiency
 
You can't covert thrust to watts. Thrust is not power.
 
twasnow said:
convert thrust to watts (or any standardized unit of energy)...
How conwert thrust to watts?
 
vissarion.eu said:
How conwert thrust to watts?

Again, no.

Side: It's spelled convert.
 
Cyrus said:
You can't covert thrust to watts. Thrust is not power.



Thrust is power and it is expressed as either Jules / Second, horsepower, Foot-pounds / Second, or of course Watts.

all of these are easily convertible.
 
twasnow said:
Thrust is power and it is expressed as either Jules / Second, horsepower, Foot-pounds / Second, or of course Watts.

all of these are easily convertible.

Incorrect, thrust is expressed as a unit of force (e.g. Newtons, pounds force, etc.), not as a unit of power.
 
You need a speed to convert thrust to a power.
 
twasnow said:
Thrust is power and it is expressed as either Jules / Second, horsepower, Foot-pounds / Second, or of course Watts.

all of these are easily convertible.
Please point us to ANY reference that lists thrust as a measure of power.

To answer the OP you need to know the aircraft speed to calculate the efficiency:

\eta_p = \frac{T*u}{P_{shaft}}

where:
\eta_p = propeller efficiency
T = thrust
u = aircraft speed
P_{shaft} = shaft horsepower provided by the engine to the propeller
 
  • #10
FredGarvin said:
Please point us to ANY reference that lists thrust as a measure of power.

To answer the OP you need to know the aircraft speed to calculate the efficiency:

\eta_p = \frac{T*u}{P_{shaft}}

where:
\eta_p = propeller efficiency
T = thrust
u = aircraft speed
P_{shaft} = shaft horsepower provided by the engine to the propeller

Sorry, I have mis-spoke, While thrust is a force, without any motion there is no work being performed, if there is no work there is 0 efficiency so long as you are putting in ANY power.

So to correct, I assumed that by "I have thrust of the propeller" he meant, I have the thrust power, and it was expressed as such, other wise to calculate the efficiency we also need a speed giving us Nm/s a.k.a. Watts. Seeing as he is from Europe, has broken English, and didn't provide an air speed or say he was given that variable, I think my first assumption is probably correct.

None the less I shouldn't have repeated his mistake and called it "thrust" instead of "thrust power"

If it was expressed as a force than Great, it better have a speed along with it... well or a crazy slew of other variables so that a theoretical air speed can be calculated, fortunately due to the fact that we have "power in" we would not need to calculate the theoretical max power assuming no drag.


vissarion.eu we really need more info. what are the variables (at least as units) that you were provided.
 
  • #11
FredGarvin said:
Please point us to ANY reference that lists thrust as a measure of power.

To answer the OP you need to know the aircraft speed to calculate the efficiency:

\eta_p = \frac{T*u}{P_{shaft}}

where:
\eta_p = propeller efficiency
T = thrust
u = aircraft speed
P_{shaft} = shaft horsepower provided by the engine to the propeller

Oh and one other thing Mr. perfect, your calculation there provides the efficiency of a plane getting from point A to point B, Not the propeller efficiency.
 
  • #12
No, sorry, that's wrong too. A plane with no time isn't getting anywhere, even if it has speed!
 
  • #13
twasnow said:
Oh and one other thing Mr. perfect, your calculation there provides the efficiency of a plane getting from point A to point B, Not the propeller efficiency.
Care to try again? I have 4 or so propulsion references on my desk right now plus a handful of places on line I can cite for the definition of propulsive/propeller efficiency. You are flat out wrong on all accounts.
 
  • #14
FredGarvin said:
Care to try again? I have 4 or so propulsion references on my desk right now plus a handful of places on line I can cite for the definition of propulsive/propeller efficiency. You are flat out wrong on all accounts.


How is your equation not about plane efficiency it is using aircraft speed

what if the propeller he is talking about is in a fan, or say a pump...[edited]
 
  • #15
twasnow said:
How is your equation not about plane efficiency it is using aircraft speed

what if the propeller he is talking about is in a fan, or say a pump...
Because you don't use the word "thrust" to describe what a propeller is doing when it is powering a desk fan. "Thrust" means propelling an object.

Anyway, it only takes a relatively slight modification of that equation to change it to describe a desk fan.
 
  • #16
FredGarvin said:
Please point us to ANY reference that lists thrust as a measure of power.

To answer the OP you need to know the aircraft speed to calculate the efficiency:

\eta_p = \frac{T*u}{P_{shaft}}

where:
\eta_p = propeller efficiency
T = thrust
u = aircraft speed
P_{shaft} = shaft horsepower provided by the engine to the propeller

One horsepower is 745,69987158227022 W. Then, if motor is output power is 745,69987158227022 W, aircraft speed = 30 meters per second, trust is, then its fly what speed, 2 kilograms, propeller efficiency is:
(2 kg * 30 m/s) / 1 HP = 60 procents?
 
  • #17
twasnow said:
Oh and one other thing Mr. perfect, your calculation there provides the efficiency of a plane getting from point A to point B, Not the propeller efficiency.

Be and not bad calculate propeller efficienty with following effect...:
http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/5701/orast.png

Then air created by propeller push plane to opposite direction than fly plane...
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #18
You have way, way, too many significant digits.

1 HP = 745.7W

Also, why did you use metric units, and then throw in HP? The denominator should be in watts.

Side: It's spelled percent. (No o, or s)
 
  • #19
vissarion.eu said:
Be and not bad calculate propeller efficienty with following effect...:Then air created by propeller push plane to opposite direction than fly plane...

For reference, I have found it much better to google images rather than trying to draw them myself because you can usually find ones of higer quality. See:

 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #20
I think how get propeller efficienty in practic is need that run two cars same weight. One powered wheels, second powered propeller. And what it runs in flat track without stops 30 km/h (kilometers per hour), who long 1000 kilometers. And look how many gasoline one car waste and second. If one car waste 70 liters gasoline and seconds (propeller powered) 100 liters. Then eficienty propeller is:

1/70 = 0,014285714285714285714285714285714

1/100 = 0,01

0,01 / 0,014285714285714285714285714285714 = 0,700000000000000000000000000035

0,700000000000000000000000000035 * 100 = 70 %
 
  • #21
It's early and my brain hurts from a night of drinking.

Even in my lowered state of mental agility I can tell something about the above just doesn't seem quite right.

1. Why on Earth do you think at 30km/h a prop would give better fuel efficiency than driveshafts and wheels?

Run it with numbers the bother way around.
100 l for car and 70 l for prop.
Using the same equations you have, just flipped.
You get 142% efficiency. Wow.

2. Why do you think this is calculating the propellor efficiency?

3. What do you think the propellor efficiency acutally is, as you seem to be using a different definition to every textbook I've ever read on the subject?Look at what variables you have included in your 'calculation'.
Vehicle speed working axially to the prop.
Power output, from getting fom A to B to measure fuel useage.
Trust required to remain at set speed of 30km/h.

Compare the above to the equation that we know that works for prop efficiecnt that you dismissed.
 
  • #22
Cyrus said:
You have way, way, too many significant digits.

1 HP = 745.7W

Also, why did you use metric units, and then throw in HP? The denominator should be in watts.

Side: It's spelled percent. (No o, or s)


Because for me more simple use meters than feets or inches.
 
  • #23
xxChrisxx said:
1. Why on Earth do you think at 30km/h a prop would give better fuel efficiency than driveshafts and wheels?
I not think that. Car with proppeller waste more fuel whan car driven with wheels.
 
  • #24
vissarion.eu said:
I not think that. Car with proppeller waste more fuel whan car driven with wheels.

Fair enough, I read it wrong (told you, my brain wasnt up to speed). The method you specified is still crap though.

I think there is little more to say on this, multiple textbooks disagree with you. Others have explained prop efficiency sufficiently well. Either you are dismissing it because you are stubborn or because you have a non standard definition of propellor efficiency.
 
  • #25
xxChrisxx said:
It's early and my brain hurts from a night of drinking.

Even in my lowered state of mental agility I can tell something about the above just doesn't seem quite right.

1. Why on Earth do you think at 30km/h a prop would give better fuel efficiency than driveshafts and wheels?

Run it with numbers the bother way around.
100 l for car and 70 l for prop.
Using the same equations you have, just flipped.
You get 142% efficiency. Wow.

2. Why do you think this is calculating the propellor efficiency?

3. What do you think the propellor efficiency acutally is, as you seem to be using a different definition to every textbook I've ever read on the subject?


Look at what variables you have included in your 'calculation'.
Vehicle speed working axially to the prop.
Power output, from getting fom A to B to measure fuel useage.
Trust required to remain at set speed of 30km/h.

Compare the above to the equation that we know that works for prop efficiecnt that you dismissed.
100 l for car and 70 l for prop.
You not good me understand. I not say 100 l for car and 70 l for prop. I say 100 l for propeller powered car and 70 l for normal car.
Aero car (propeller powered car):
34yewt5rhtgde.jpg

34yhethbf.jpg


Code:
Why do you think this is calculating the propellor efficiency?
How other?
3. What do you think the propellor efficiency acutally is, as you seem to be using a different definition to every textbook I've ever read on the subject?
Car powered propeller must be like normal car.
This car good:
3254yewthy46.jpg


This car powered propeller not good for experiment, because is not like normal car:
e4w56w4t5rhdr.jpg
 
  • #26
Your calculation is crap. The above post is similarly pointless to furthering your argument.

Fred showed you how to calculate prop efficiency.

/Thread.
 
  • #27
xxChrisxx said:
Fair enough, I read it wrong (told you, my brain wasnt up to speed). The method you specified is still crap though.

I think there is little more to say on this, multiple textbooks disagree with you. Others have explained prop efficiency sufficiently well. Either you are dismissing it because you are stubborn or because you have a non standard definition of propellor efficiency.

If human pushing car and car not going, then human use 0 watts? No! It pushing in some power, it wasting energy, it do work. It power about 200 watts. Same and with propeller. If it pushing, but car not going, that's not mean, that it not have power. I think, hat possible convert trust to watts.
 
  • #28
xxChrisxx said:
Your calculation is crap. The above post is similarly pointless to furthering your argument.

Fred showed you how to calculate prop efficiency.

/Thread.

There you me put not enought details how calculate. I not understand.
For example car powered propeller have trust 100 kg.
It speed 30 km/h.
Motor output power 20000 watts.
What propeller eficienty?
 
  • #29
if you are using the SI units.

Thrust in N
Speed in m/s
Power in Watts


You then put these numbers into the equation fred gave in post 9.

100kgf = 981N Thrust
30 kph = 8.33 m/s

Shaft HP = Rated motor output * mechanical efficiecny (assumre 90%)
For a car this value could be much much lower.

Power(shaft) = 18000 W

Efficiency = 981*8.33/18000
= .45
 
  • #30
xxChrisxx said:
... Shaft HP = Rated motor output * mechanical efficiecny (assumre 90%)
For a car this value could be much much lower.

Power(shaft) = 18000 W
I say motor output power. This mean not motor power, but output power, power, that motors gives. So power is not 18000 W, but 20000 W. Little mistake you make.

Efficiency plane without air resistance (or with air resistance?) = 981*8.33/20000 = 0,4085865. Efficienty car = 0,4085865 * 0.7 (friction to ground) = 0,28601055.

Efficiency plane with air resistance = 0,4085865 * 0,9 (for example if 0,4085865 is without air resistance) = 0,36772785.

Thanks!
 

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