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Model and full scale CFD analysis of propeller boss cap fins (PBCF)

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Abstract

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analyses of propeller boss cap fins (PBCF) were carried out for two different propellers at model and full scale Reynolds numbers with two different inflow conditions. Computations corresponding to the reverse propeller open test (POT) experiment were confirmed to be in a good agreement with the measurement. The results of computations at different conditions have shown that increased Reynolds number and presence of hull wake both positively influence the effects of PBCF. Due to the combined effect of the Reynolds number and the wake, the gain in the propeller efficiency at the full scale condition was found to be significantly larger than that at the model test condition. The detailed investigation of the results suggested that the fin drag becomes smaller and the reduction of the boss drag becomes larger at the full scale condition. However, the predicted gain is still smaller than the values reported in the sea trial and logbook analysis. The remaining gap may be attributed to the difference in the estimated and actual wake distribution or to other factors such as interactions with hull and rudder, surface roughness, unsteadiness and hub vortex cavitation.

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Abbreviations

\( D \) :

Propeller diameter

\( J \) :

Advance coefficient

\( n \) :

Rotation speed

\( K_{\text{T}} \) :

Thrust coefficient \( K_{\text{T}} = \frac{\text{Thrust}}{{\rho n^{2} D^{4} }} \)

\( K_{\text{Q}} \) :

Torque coefficient \( K_{\text{Q}} = \frac{\text{Torque}}{{\rho n^{2} D^{5} }} \)

\( R_{nD} \) :

Propeller Reynolds number \( R_{nD} = \frac{{nD^{2} }}{\nu } \)

\( C_{pn} \) :

Pressure coefficient \( C_{pn} = \frac{\text{Pressure}}{{\rho n^{2} D^{2} }} \)

\( \eta \) :

Propeller efficiency \( \eta = \frac{{J \cdot K_{\text{T}} }}{{2\pi K_{\text{Q}} }} \)

\( V_{0} \) :

Velocity of the uniform flow

\( \rho \) :

Density

\( \nu \) :

Kinematic viscosity

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Computational Fluid Dynamics Consulting Inc., Namiki 2-1-1-1111, Tokorozawa-shi, Saitama, 359-0042, Japan

    Takafumi Kawamura

  2. Faculty of Systems Innovation, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan

    Kazuyuki Ouchi

  3. PBCF Department, MOL Techno-Trade, Ltd., Tokyo, Japan

    Takeo Nojiri

Authors
  1. Takafumi Kawamura
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  2. Kazuyuki Ouchi
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  3. Takeo Nojiri
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Takafumi Kawamura.

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Kawamura, T., Ouchi, K. & Nojiri, T. Model and full scale CFD analysis of propeller boss cap fins (PBCF). J Mar Sci Technol 17, 469–480 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00773-012-0181-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00773-012-0181-2

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