Samara National Research University scientists plan to develop a line of piston engines for UAVs with a capacity of up to 50 hp, Mikhail Orlov, Associate professor of the Department of Thermal Engineering and Thermal Engines at the University, told RT in an interview. According to him, engineers have created a 5 hp base engine. The product uses relatively simple but effective solutions. The result, as Orlov noted, was a lightweight inexpensive engine, resistant to external electromagnetic influences and adapted for mass production.

“The Department of Thermal Engineering and Engine Theory at Samara University has developed a small-sized piston engine for UAVs. What stands behind the need for such a power unit? What kind of drones is it designed for?”

“The experimental piston engine was developed by the University specialists as part of the Priority-2030 program. It is designed for small unmanned aerial vehicles of airplane or helicopter type, which can be used in many areas – primarily where surveillance of various objects using radio, optical and infrared methods is required.

In addition to UAVs, such an engine can be used on power tillers, cultivators, chainsaws, i.e. products that are currently mainly supplied from abroad. Our plans are to create a family of piston engines derived from the base 5 hp unit. Thus, we will be able to solve a number of important problems, including import substitution in the field of drones and other products, such as ground gasoline equipment.

The project is being developed by a group that I manage, consisting of Aleksey Gorshkalyov, Victor Urlapkin and Sergey Korneev of the Department of Thermal Engineering and Engine Theory.”

“You mentioned plans to create a family of piston engines. So in the long term you intend to increase the capacity of the current pilot unit?”

“Yes, those plans exist. In the future, we want to increase the power of the engine by changing from single-cylinder to multi-cylinder design, and by increasing the working volume of the cylinder through changing its diameter and piston stroke.

We have also considered the options for boosting the engine’s RPM. After refining the engine’s workflow on a single-cylinder design, we will be able to put these plans into life.
Our team understands the unprecedentedly high urgency of development of Russian piston engines in the power range from 5 to 50 hp.

Engineers know that designing an aircraft begins with selecting a suitable engine. But for Russian UAV developers, imported engines of this class are currently unavailable either due to exorbitant prices or due to termination of supplies to the country. As for Russian developments, there are practically none of them in this niche now.”

“Why do UAVs need to be fitted with piston engines rather than more commercially available electric motors?”

“The question which engines to install and where is always answered through a comprehensive analysis of UAV’s purpose and its specifications. Both electric and reciprocating engines have advantages and disadvantages. As for our project, the task was to create a robust and reliable propulsion system that does not depend on battery charging and other such factors.

The prototype engine uses time-tested, relatively simple but effective solutions. It is a lightweight, inexpensive unit with a high liter capacity that is resistant to external electromagnetic influences. The engine’s design is characterized by high maintainability and is well adapted for serial production.

To achieve this performance, a carburetor power system was used, which is preferable to the modern fuel injection system. We also used a steel sleeve in combination with an aluminum cylinder block in the engine design. This helps, on the one hand, reduce weight, and on the other hand, increase maintainability and, what is very important, simplify the manufacturing technology of the main components that determine the engine’s basic characteristics.”

“Are the necessary components for assembling your piston unit available in Russia?”

“We have designed the engine so that we could correct some of the shortcomings of foreign designs and use domestic technology. The composition of piston engine systems, as well as of the existing similar designs, is standard. There is the crank mechanism, gas distribution mechanism, power system and so on.

For the assembly of an engine of this size, components are mostly not purchased from what is available on the market, but are produced for a specific design. It is impossible to assemble a new engine like a Lego. Therefore, we are now in search of a companion – a company with the capabilities to produce the necessary components and assemble the engines.

There are such enterprises in the Samara region, but they need to be more engaged in solving such problems. In fact, Samara (Kuibyshev) is the place where both piston engines for aircraft and Vihr boat engines had been produced before.”

“I certainly have to ask about the competencies of Samara National University in the field of piston units. It is CIAM that is considered to be an expert for piston technology in Russia...”

“Of course, Russia has a number of serious organizations and enterprises that deal with aircraft piston engines: these are CIAM, Agat (Gavrilov-Yamsk Machine-Building Plant), UZGA (Ural Plant of Civil Aviation), and other organizations. But not all niches in the market are occupied.

We want to operate in our niche in terms of power and develop engines for a wide range of applications. And we have all the competencies to fulfill this task.

Our University has been training specialists in piston engines since 1942. And we have not ceased our efforts, despite the fact that domestic aviation has been prioritizing the development of gas turbine engines for several decades. By the way, in gas turbine engineering, Samara University is quite advanced.

We are familiar with modern design methods, calculation techniques, various engine designs and their capabilities. Besides, for many years we have been cooperating with companies that produce both aircraft and automobile engines. Finally, we had employed the people who created the engine for the first domestic drone, Pchela (Bee) 1T, in the 1980s, and we adopted their experience.

Let me remind you that Pchela 1T was the first Russian small-size drone equipped with an on-board TV camera with real-time data transmission to the control centre.

Naturally, we will not rely solely on our own capabilities. We count on the support of domestic enterprises and are now in the process of setting up ties with them.

Another thing is that designing and manufacturing any engine is a tough technical challenge. And factories in Russia are using most of their capacity to manufacture the products we need today. But we believe that in the future these problems will be solved because Russia had and should have all the necessary engines for UAVs. All powertrains must be of Russian origin. Only then we will not be dependent on pressure from geopolitical adversaries.”

Source: russian.rt