Three different principal approaches in NavCad will allow contemporary propellers to be properly modelled based on traditional series, yielding a better understanding of system performance, writes HydroComp technical director Donald MacPherson
Successful vessel performance outcomes do not happen by accident. They start with the analysis of a complete Vessel-Propulsor-Drive system model, and specifically one that faithfully reflects the ‘in-the-water’ function of the system’s components. And given that the Propulsor is the central element that connects the potential of the Drive with the demand of the Vessel, properly modelling a propeller is critical to a proper understanding of overall system performance, determining efficiency and engine load, analysing cavitation and blade area requirements, as well as predicting the environmental impacts of fuel consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and even underwater noise.
While propeller performance can be predicted using many different approaches, for system-level studies the ‘heavy lifting’ is still conducted with parametric propeller performance calculations such as those found in NavCad. These are often referred to as 1D calculations, reflecting their use of individual ‘whole propeller’ parameters, such as a parent blade style, diameter, pitch, blade area, and blade count. Higher order calculations that take into account local shape characteristics include 2D wake-adapted calculations such as PropElements, as well as 3D RANSE CFD calculations or other specialist propeller codes. Parametric methods are based on the dimensional analysis of the thrust and torque coefficients (KT-KQ) from model tests, and are collected, of course, into what we call propeller ‘series’.
“Most published series were actually developed decades ago, which presents the conundrum – how can we use these series to faithfully model today’s contemporary propellers?”
Each series has a single common parent blade style, with ducted propellers also having a shared nozzle style. There are many published series, but a few of the more popular are B Series, Gawn AEW/KCA, AU/MAU, and the Kaplan Ka/Kc ducted propeller series. Most published series were actually developed decades ago, which presents the conundrum – how can we use these series to faithfully model today’s contemporary propellers?
There are a number of strategies that can be applied to ensure that the relationships between speed, rpm, thrust, and power are properly represented in the Vessel-Propulsor-Drive system analysis. Let’s first discuss how contemporary propellers differ from traditional propeller series, using the well-known B Series for reference (Figure 1).
Pitch distribution
Many series were developed and tested using constant pitch. The four-blade B Series is an exception, with a slight reduction of pitch into the root. Contemporary propellers are largely of variable pitch so that they are adapted into the inflow. It is therefore necessary to determine a hydrodynamically significant mean effective pitch for the blade. This is found through a chord-radius integration of pitch. Utilities to calculate mean pitch can be found in all of HydroComp’s propeller design and analysis tools.
Blade section foil shape
Contemporary propellers utilise a different foil section than traditional series. These section shapes are often designed for uniform chordwise pressure distributions, so that they can carry greater thrust loading without cavitation. This change in pressure distribution also leads to differences in lift and drag characteristics, which then make the propeller’s thrust, torque, and efficiency different from series propellers. This means that series KT-KQ curves need to be modified to suit.
Section curvature
Section curvature is an important characteristic of new propeller designs. Traditional propellers often are based on ‘flat-faced’ designs, whereby the pressure ‘face’ flatly sits on the defined helix. This can be seen, for example, in the outer radii of the B Series. If thrust loading is pushed to the point of excessive cavitation, one design response can be to modify its pressure distribution by adding curvature to the trailing edge (cupping) or more broadly to the entire section (camber, illustrated in Figure 2). This also adds lift to the section and changes drag. Added cup or camber therefore shifts the KT-KQ curve for the same pitch value, so this would also require modification to the series KT-KQ values.
So, how do we respond to these differences between contemporary and series propellers? How can we continue to use traditional series appropriately? Well, there are three principal approaches utilised in NavCad to achieve this objective: 1. analytical corrections; 2. rudimentary KT-KQ correction factors; and 3. alignment to model test data or computations from higher order codes.
Analytical corrections
NavCad provides explicit analytical predictions for the addition of cupping or camber to the traditional series. This is particularly useful for commercially available motor yacht and work boat propellers that are based on the flat-faced Gawn series. Many commercial variants have added camber (also called ’progressive pitch’), characterised in NavCad by an added ‘face camber ratio’. Analytical corrections are also available for differences in blade thickness.
KT-KQ factors
KT-KQ factors are just what they seem – user-entered multipliers and shifts to the series KT-KQ curves. Some correction factors are universal, such as a small reduction in KT for large CPP hubs, or a small increase in KQ for thick edges. Other factors can be estimated from a comparison to model tests or other references, such as factors to approximate the influence of differences in blade section foil shape.
Series alignment
NavCad’s ‘Aligned Series’ option offers the most reliable and comprehensive way to predict the performance of contemporary propellers. That said, it does require one source of KT-KQ data from a model test or higher-order computation. Through the use of appropriate internal non-dimensional scaling functions for speed (including the effect of induced velocities) and KT-KQ, very accurate predictions can be achieved even when the number of blades, blade area, and pitch are different.
In summary, ensuring the highest fidelity in Vessel-Propulsor-Design system analysis requires proper modelling of the propulsor. For marine propellers, traditional propeller series can be effectively used when appropriate attributes, correction factors, or series alignment is applied.
Mr MacPherson is technical director of HydroComp, Inc, a research consultancy specialising in applied hydrodynamic and propulsion system simulation. Widely regarded as one of the industry’s foremost experts in analytical prediction methods for the performance of marine vehicles and propulsors, Mr MacPherson oversees all software product development and is principal investigator for engineering services. A graduate of Webb Institute, Mr MacPherson is a Fellow of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, and member of its Propeller Hydrodynamics and Underwater Noise panels.
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