scholarly journals Design of Propeller Series Optimizing Fuel Consumption and Propeller Efficiency

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 1226
Author(s):  
Mina Tadros ◽  
Manuel Ventura ◽  
Carlos Guedes Soares

This paper presents a comparison between different types of propellers operated in calm water to evaluate their performance behind hulls and in open-water conditions. A bulk carrier is chosen as a case study to perform the simulation and to evaluate the performance of several propeller series, namely the Wagengein B-series, Kaplan 19A, and MAU. Firstly, optimization procedures are performed by coupling a propeller design tool and a nonlinear optimizer to find the optimum design parameters of a fixed-pitch propeller. This optimization model aims to design the propeller behind the hull at the engine operating point with minimum fuel consumption and maximum propeller efficiency. The two main objectives of this study and the constraints are defined in a single fitness function to find the optimum values of the propeller geometry and the gearbox ratio. By considering the benefits of the single-objective over the multi-objective optimization problem, this model helps to find the optimum propeller for both defined objectives instead of only considering one of them, as in previous studies. Then, based on the optimized parameters, the propeller performance is calculated in open-water conditions. From the computed results, one can observe the importance of considering the hull–propulsor interaction in propeller selection.

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 9516-9521

The global price of oil, which is both finite and limited in quantity, has been rising steadily because of the increasing requirements for energy in both developing and developed countries. Furthermore, regulations have been strengthened across all industries to address global warming. Many studies of hull resistance, propulsion and operation of ships have been performed to reduce fuel consumption and emissions. The present study examined the design parameters of the propeller boss cap fin (PBCF) and hub cap in improving the propeller efficiency. PBCF is the kind of hydrodynamic energy saving device which aims to reduce energy losses associated with propeller hub vortex by fitting fins to the cap of a propeller. The main principles of PBCF is breaking up hub vortex to straighten propeller wake, thus recovering the negative pressure on the cap. This reduces propeller’s rotational losses and produces negative torque to reduce propeller shaft torque and generating thrust. The study focuses on the size of the blades on boss cap and optimizing its geometry using CFD technique. Open Water Test has been modelled using dynamic meshing technology known as overset meshing. Seven variations of PBCF are modelled and tested to estimate the efficiency of the propeller. The obtained results are then compared with the simulation result with the propeller without PBCF arrangements. The propeller characteristics (without PBCF) has been initially validated using overset meshing strategy with the available experimental results. Overset mesh has been used to perform this analysis to give better control over the fluid flow. It has been observed that, the propeller with PBCF, one among seven variations is giving nearly 2.0% more efficient than the propeller without PBCF.


1979 ◽  
Vol 16 (04) ◽  
pp. 381-391
Author(s):  
Michael S. Triantafyllou

Preliminary propeller design is formulated by considering the interactions of the engine, the hull, the wake and the propeller, while the fuel consumption is established as the optimization criterion. The purpose of this study is to formulate the problem in a clear manner, illustrated by examples, in order to develop an efficient design tool which will be used to deal with the complex problem of evaluating the performance of a ship on a specific sea route, given the weather statistics. The optimization procedure is developed in a mathematical form for fuel consumption minimization and then applied in conjunction with the B-Series, whose value is generally recognized. A critical analysis of the B-Series data showed the need for a laminar flow correction. A method has been implemented and the corrected data have shown excellent agreement with experimental data. Finally, a simplified example is worked out to demonstrate the optimization of the performance of a vessel on a specific sea route.


2019 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 219-234
Author(s):  
João Baltazar ◽  
José A. C. Falcão de Campos ◽  
Johan Bosschers ◽  
Douwe Rijpkema

This article presents an overview of the recent developments at Instituto Superior Técnico and Maritime Research Institute Netherlands in applying computational methods for the hydrodynamic analysis of ducted propellers. The developments focus on the propeller performance prediction in open water conditions using boundary element methods and Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes solvers. The article starts with an estimation of the numerical errors involved in both methods. Then, the different viscous mechanisms involved in the ducted propeller flow are discussed and numerical procedures for the potential flow solution proposed. Finally, the numerical predictions are compared with experimental measurements.


Author(s):  
Irsalan Arif ◽  
Hassan Iftikhar ◽  
Ali Javed

In this article design and optimization scheme of a three-dimensional bump surface for a supersonic aircraft is presented. A baseline bump and inlet duct with forward cowl lip is initially modeled in accordance with an existing bump configuration on a supersonic jet aircraft. Various design parameters for bump surface of diverterless supersonic inlet systems are identified, and design space is established using sensitivity analysis to identify the uncertainty associated with each design parameter by the one-factor-at-a-time approach. Subsequently, the designed configurations are selected by performing a three-level design of experiments using the Box–Behnken method and the numerical simulations. Surrogate modeling is carried out by the least square regression method to identify the fitness function, and optimization is performed using genetic algorithm based on pressure recovery as the objective function. The resultant optimized bump configuration demonstrates significant improvement in pressure recovery and flow characteristics as compared to baseline configuration at both supersonic and subsonic flow conditions and at design and off-design conditions. The proposed design and optimization methodology can be applied for optimizing the bump surface design of any diverterless supersonic inlet system for maximizing the intake performance.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 59
Author(s):  
Mina Tadros ◽  
Roberto Vettor ◽  
Manuel Ventura ◽  
Carlos Guedes Soares

This study presents a practical optimization procedure that couples the NavCad power prediction tool and a nonlinear optimizer integrated into the Matlab environment. This developed model aims at selecting a propeller at the engine operating point with minimum fuel consumption for different ship speeds in calm water condition. The procedure takes into account both the efficiency of the propeller and the specific fuel consumption of the engine. It is focused on reducing fuel consumption for the expected operational profile of the ship, contributing to energy efficiency in a complementary way as ship routing does. This model assists the ship and propeller designers in selecting the main parameters of the geometry, the operating point of a fixed-pitch propeller from Wageningen B-series and to define the gearbox ratio by minimizing the fuel consumption of a container ship, rather than only maximizing the propeller efficiency. Optimized results of the performance of several marine propellers with different number of blades working at different cruising speeds are also presented for comparison, while verifying the strength, cavitation and noise issues for each simulated case.


2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammed Islam ◽  
Fatima Jahra ◽  
Michael Doucet

Mesh and domain optimization strategies for a RANS solver to accurately estimate the open water propulsive characteristics of fixed pitch propellers are proposed based on examining the effect of different mesh and computation domain parameters. The optimized mesh and domain size parameters were selected using Design of Experiments (DoE) methods enabling simulations to be carried out in a limited memory environment, and in a timely manner; without compromising the accuracy of results. A Reynolds-Averaged Navier Stokes solver is used to predict the propulsive performance of a fixed pitch propeller. The predicted thrust and torque for the propeller were compared to the corresponding measurements. A total of six meshing parameters were selected that could affect the computational results of propeller open water performance. A two-level fractional factorial design was used to screen out parameters that do not significantly contribute to explaining the dependent parameters: namely simulation time, propeller thrust and propeller torque. A total of 32 simulations were carried out only to find out that the selected six meshing parameters were significant in defining the response parameters. Optimum values of each of the input parameters were obtained for the DOE technique and additional simulations were run with those parameters. The simulation results were validated using open water experimental results of the same propeller. It was found that with the optimized meshing arrangement, the propeller opens simulation time was reduced by at least a factor of 6 as compared to the generally popular meshing arrangement. Also, the accuracy of propulsive characteristics was improved by up to 50% as compared to published simulation results. The methodologies presented in this paper can be similarly applied to other simulations such as calm water ship resistance, ship propulsion to systematically derive the optimized meshing arrangement for simulations with minimal simulation time and maximum accuracy. This investigation was carried out using STAR-CCM+, a commercial CFD package; however the findings can be applied to any RANS solver.


Author(s):  
Adel Ghenaiet

This paper presents an evolutionary approach as the optimization framework to design for the optimal performance of a high-bypass unmixed turbofan to match with the power requirements of a commercial aircraft. The parametric analysis had the objective to highlight the effects of the principal design parameters on the propulsive performance in terms of specific fuel consumption and specific thrust. The design optimization procedure based on the genetic algorithm PIKAIA coupled to the developed engine performance analyzer (on-design and off-design) aimed at finding the propulsion cycle parameters minimizing the specific fuel consumption, while meeting the required thrusts in cruise and takeoff and the restrictions of temperatures limits, engine size and weight as well as pollutants emissions. This methodology does not use engine components’ maps and operates on simplifying assumptions which are satisfying the conceptual or early design stages. The predefined requirements and design constraints have resulted in an engine with high mass flow rate, bypass ratio and overall pressure ratio and a moderate turbine inlet temperature. In general, the optimized engine is fairly comparable with available engines of equivalent power range.


1989 ◽  
Vol 26 (03) ◽  
pp. 192-201 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neil Bose ◽  
Peter S. K. Lai

Open-water experiments were done on a model of a cycloidal-type propeller with a trochoidal blade motion. This propeller had three blades with an aspect ratio of 10. These experiments included the measurement of thrust and torque of the propeller over a range of advance ratios. Tests were done for forward and reverse operation, and at zero speed (the bollard pull condition). Results from these tests are presented and compared with: a multiple stream-tube theoretical prediction of the performance of the propeller; and a prediction of the performance of a single blade of the propeller, oscillating in heave and pitch, using unsteady small-amplitude hydrofoil theory with corrections for finite amplitude motion, finite span, and frictional drag. At present, neither of these theories gives a completely accurate prediction of propeller performance over the whole range of advance ratios, but a combination of these approaches, with an allowance for dynamic stall of the blades, should lead to a reliable simple theory for overall performance prediction. Application of a propeller of this type to a small ship is discussed. The aim of the design is to produce a lightly loaded propeller with a high efficiency of propulsion.


Author(s):  
Rajeevalochanam Prathapanayaka ◽  
Nanjundaiah Vinod Kumar ◽  
Krishnamurthy Settisara Janney ◽  
Hari Krishna Nagishetty

Recent interest in the field of micro and nano scale air vehicles attracted the attention of many researchers all over the world. The challenge associated with these classes of vehicles is to develop efficient miniaturized components. There are different types of micro and nano air vehicles out of which fixed wing micro air vehicle is one of them. Propulsion system for most of the fixed wing MAVs is propeller driven by an electric motor powered by a battery. The endurance of the MAV mainly depends on the performance of these two components. Hence there is a scope to improve the performance of the propeller and motor. Efficient propeller design and its performance analysis are an iterative process and time consuming. In the present study, to ease the process of propeller design and analysis NALPROPELLER code has been developed using MATLAB. This code is based on minimum induced loss theory presented by E.E.Larrabee to generate planform, blade element momentum theory along with Prandtl hub-tip loss model for overall performance analysis and the performance plots could be viewed in the GUI windows. The code consists of three modules namely single airfoil design, multi airfoil design and analysis module. This code is compared with one of the propeller design and analysis code available in the internet JavaProp by Martin Hepperle, which is also based on minimum induced loss method. From literature Eppler 193 airfoil show high lift to drag ratios at low Reynolds numbers [16]. Eppler-193 airfoil is used in the evaluation of propeller performance. A four inch diameter, two bladed, fixed pitch propeller is designed and analysed using this code. The design is compared with one of the design software JavaProp available online as an open source. A poly urethane casting propeller is fabricated based on the design. The performance comparison of the NALPROPELLER code, JavaProp and 3D CFD analysis is presented and discussed.


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