Design analysis of a mesoscale free piston engine for powering miniature unmanned aerial vehicles
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Abstract
There is a need for a smaller, more efficient power solution for modern autonomous vehicles. In this work, current power solutions are discussed alongside modern manufacturing techniques to better leverage the potential in mesoscale engines (less than 50 cc engine size) for use in miniature Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) (Raven RQ-11B). Through additive manufacturing, it is possible to produce complex geometry at small-scale, this allows for the fabrication of a mesoscale Free Piston Engine (FPE) which can outperform current power solutions (lithium-ion batteries and fuel cells) by using energy dense fuels such as methane and hydrogen. A zero-dimensional, closed Otto cycle, mathematical model is developed where the effects of variable fluid properties