Title: Energy, exergy, and exergoeconomic analysis of a general UAV

Authors: Suha Orcun Mert; Mehmet Hakan Demir; Habibe Gursoy Demir; Ceyda Kok

Addresses: Department of Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering, Iskenderun Technical University, 31200, Iskenderun, Hatay, Turkey ' Department of Mechatronics Engineering, Iskenderun Technical University, 31200, Iskenderun, Hatay, Turkey ' Department of Aerospace Engineering, Iskenderun Technical University, 31200, Iskenderun, Hatay, Turkey ' Department of Energy Systems Engineering, Institute of Graduate Studies, Iskenderun Technical University, 31200, Iskenderun, Hatay, Turkey

Abstract: A 3E - energy, exergy, exergoeconomic - analysis of a rotary wing UAV that is used for general purpose has been accomplished in this study. In the study, a parametric investigation regarding the velocity, altitude and distance has also been investigated for identifying energy and exergy efficiency as well as exergoeconomic cost of operation. The results show that the energy increase when the travelled distance and altitude are increased but the speed of the drone has the opposite effect on energy. For energy and exergy efficiency, the speed and altitude of the drone has similar effect and they lead to decrease the efficiencies. However, the distance leads to increase in efficiencies and decrease in the exergoeconomics cost. When the drone goes faster and/or goes at higher altitude, the efficiencies decrease and the costs are getting higher.

Keywords: UAV; energy; exergy; exergoeconomy; drone; cost; analysis.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEX.2023.133988

International Journal of Exergy, 2023 Vol.41 No.4, pp.376 - 390

Received: 11 Aug 2022
Received in revised form: 16 Mar 2023
Accepted: 17 Mar 2023
Published online: 09 Oct 2023 *

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