Dynamic interaction of the cavitating propeller tip vortex with the rudder

The hydrodynamic interaction between the ship propeller and the rudder has many aspects. One of the most interesting is the interaction between the cavitating tip vortex shed from the propeller blades and the rudder. This interaction leads to strongly dynamic behaviour of the cavitating vortex, which in turn generates unusually high pressure pulses in its vicinity. Possibly accurate prediction of these pulses is one of the most important problems in the hydrodynamic design of a new ship. The paper presents a relatively simple computational model of the propeller cavitating tip vortex behaviour close to the rudder leading edge. The model is based on the traditional Rankine vortex and on the potential solution of the dynamics of the cylindrical sections of the cavitating kernel passing through the strongly variable pressure field in the vicinity of the rudder leading edge. The model reproduces numerically the experimentally observed process of initial compression of the vortex kernel in the high pressure region near the stagnation point at the rudder leading edge and subsequent explosive growth of the kernel in the low pressure region further downstream. Numerical simulation of this process enables computation of the additional pressure pulses generated due to this phenomenon and transmitted onto the hull surface. This new numerical model of the cavitating tip vortex is incorporated in the modified unsteady lifting surface program for prediction of propeller cavitation, which has been successfully used in the process of propeller design for several years and which recently has been extended to include the effects of propeller – rudder interaction. The results of calculations are compared with the experimental measurements and they demonstrate reasonable agreement between theory and physical reality

Scale effects in cavitation experiments with marine propeller models

The paper presents an overview of specific scale effects encountered in the cavitation experiments with marine propeller models. These scale effects result from unavoidable dissimilarity between model and full scale flow phenomena. They may influence first of all inception of different forms of cavitation, but they also are visible in development and desinence of cavitation on propeller blades. These scale effects may be divided into five main categories, which are described in detail. The influence of these five categories of scale effects on the different aspects of cavitation performance of marine propellers is discussed

Numerical Analysis of the Unsteady Propeller Performance in the Ship Wake Modified By Different Wake Improvement Devices

The paper presents the summary of results of the numerical analysis of the unsteady propeller performance in the non-uniform ship wake modified by the different wake improvement devices. This analysis is performed using the lifting surface program DUNCAN for unsteady propeller analysis. Te object of the analysis is a 7000 ton chemical tanker, for which four different types of the wake improvement devices have been designed: two vortex generators, a pre-swirl stator, and a boundary layer alignment device. These produced five different cases of the ship wake structure: the original hull and hull equipped alternatively with four wake improvement devices. Two different propellers were analyzed in these five wake fields, one being the original reference propeller P0 and the other - a specially designed, optimized propeller P3. Te analyzed parameters were the pictures of unsteady cavitation on propeller blades, harmonics of pressure pulses generated by the cavitating propellers in the selected points and the fluctuating bearing forces on the propeller shaft. Some of the calculated cavitation phenomena were confronted with the experimental. Te objective of the calculations was to demonstrate the differences in the calculated unsteady propeller performance resulting from the application of different wake improvement devices. Te analysis and discussion of the results, together with the appropriate conclusions, are included in the paper

Comparative analysis of the theoretical models of ideal propulsor, ideal fluid brake, ideal screw propeller and ideal axial wind turbine

The article presents a detailed discussion of the theoretical models of four different fluid dynamic devices: an ideal propulsor, an ideal fluid brake, an ideal screw propeller and an ideal turbine. The four models are presented with all relevant mathematical formulae regarding the forces, the power and the efficiency. It is demonstrated that the application of the model of an ideal optimum fluid brake according to the Betz theorem for determination of the maximum effectiveness coefficient of an axial wind turbine is not correct. In the case of a turbine the inclusion of important rotational flow losses may increase the maximum value of the turbine effectiveness coefficient above the level defined by Betz. Therefore the model of an ideal turbine should be an inversion of the model of an ideal screw propeller. This conclusion is supported by numerical calculations. It may influence the design procedures of wind turbines and may lead to increase in their efficiency

Critical review of propeller performance scaling methods, based on model experiments and numerical calculations

The article presents the results of experimental and numerical investigation of propeller scale effects, undertaken in co-operation of the Hamburg Ship Model Basin (HSVA), Germany, and Ship Design and Research Centre (CTO SA), Poland. The objective of the investigation was to test the adequacy of the methods currently used to account for the propeller scale effect and to develop possible improvement of the methods. HSVA has conducted model experiments in the large cavitation tunnel together with panel method and CFD calculations. CTO SA has performed model experiments in the towing tank, together with lifting surface and CFD calculations. Both institutions have suggested different new approaches to the problem and different new procedures to account for the propeller scale effects. In the article the procedures are presented together with the description of the underlying experimental and theoretical research

Numerical prediction of steady and unsteady tip vortex cavitation on hydrofoils

The article presents the numerical method for prediction of tip vortex cavitation generated on hydrofoils. This method has been developed in the course of numerical and experimental research described in earlier publications. The objective of the research was to design the optimum discrete grid structure for this specific computational task and to select the best turbulence model for such an application The article includes a short description of the method and a computational example demonstrating its performance. In this example the results of numerical prediction of the cavitating tip vortex obtained from two commercial CFD codes are compared with experimental photographs taken in the cavitation tunnel in the corresponding flow conditions. Altogether nine different flow conditions are tested and analyzed, but only selected results are included. The accuracy of the numerical predictions is discussed and the reasons for minor existing discrepancies are identified. The unsteady tip vortex calculations are also presented, showing the fluctuations of the transverse velocity components predicted for three cross-sections of the cavitating vortex kernel

A method for the accurate numerical prediction of the tip vortices shed from hydrofoils

The possibly accurate numerical prediction of the detailed structure of vortices shed from the tips of hydrofoils is an important element of the design process of marine propellers. The concentrated tip vortices are responsible for the propeller cavitation erosion and acoustic emission. The purpose of the project described in this paper was to develop the numerical method for prediction of the tip vortex structure. In the course of the project the numerical calculations were confronted with the results of experimental measurements. This led to creation of the specific method of construction of the computational grid and to selection of the optimum turbulence model. As a result the reliable method for the accurate numerical prediction of the concentrated tip vortices for different hydrofoil geometry and flow conditions has been developed and validated. This method enables elimination of the unfavourable phenomena related to the tip vortices in the course of the propeller design calculations

An Experimental and Numerical Study of Tip Vortex Cavitation

The article presents the results of the research project concerning tip vortex cavitation. This form of cavitation is very important in operation of many types of rotary hydraulic machines, including pumps, turbines and marine propellers. Tip vortex cavitation generates noise, vibration and erosion. It should be eliminated or significantly limited during the design of these types of machines. The objective of the project was to develop an accurate and reliable method for numerical prediction of tip vortex cavitation, which could serve this purpose. The project consisted of the laboratory experiments and numerical calculations. Inthe laboratory experiments tip vortex cavitation was generated behind a hydrofoil in the cavitation tunneland the velocity field around the cavitating kernel was measured using the Particle Image Velocimetry method. Measurements were conducted in three cross-sections of the cavitating tip vortex for a number ofangles of attack of the hydrofoil and for several values of the cavitation index. In the course of numerical calculations two commercial CFD codes were used: Fluent and CFX. Several available approaches to numerical modeling of tip vortex cavitation were applied and tested, attempting to reproduce the experimental conditions. The results of calculations were compared with the collected experimental data. The most promising computational approach was identified. Keywords