In this study, the free surface effects on the propulsion performance of a conventional screw propeller operating near the free surface were experimentally investigated. Propeller open water tests were conducted at the Seoul National University towing...
In this study, the free surface effects on the propulsion performance of a conventional screw propeller operating near the free surface were experimentally investigated. Propeller open water tests were conducted at the Seoul National University towing tank. A measurement system capable of simultaneously observing the flow around the propeller above the free surface and from underwater was established to analyze the free surface effects.
At the bollard-pull condition, the ventilation inception, the initial formation location and movement of the vortex funnel, and the free surface effects on thrust and shaft excitation forces were examined. The ventilation phenomenon was observed using high speed cameras. The dynamic process from the initial growth of the vortex funnel to its collapse and reformation was analyzed. Air was preferentially entrained toward the propeller’s suction side. After reaching the suction side, the air dispersed either downstream or along the rotation direction of the propeller. For the intermittent ventilation initiated by a weak vortex funnel, the center location of the vortex funnel on the free surface exhibited large fluctuations. In contrast, for the intermittent ventilation initiated by a strong vortex funnel, the vortex funnel center location was concentrated near the azimuthal position where the uppermost blade passed closest to the free surface. The free surface effects on thrust and shaft excitation forces were analyzed as time-series data by synchronizing dynamometer signals with high speed images. At shallow submergence ratios, the ventilation phenomenon through the vortex funnel reduced thrust by up to approximately 30% compared to those at deep submergence conditions, while shaft excitation forces increased by up to 250%.
To minimize free surface disturbances, the rotation direction of the vortex funnel, the impact of free surface effects on propulsion performance, and the inception conditions of the ventilation phenomenon were investigated at low advance coefficients with advance speeds close to zero. The rotation direction of the vortex funnel coincided with the rotation direction of the tip vortex. The free surface effects increased shaft excitation forces by up to 290% compared to those at deep submergence ratios. To estimate ventilation inception conditions, an estimation model was developed based on observations and Bernoulli’s equation. Exceedance of a critical line below the free surface by the tip of the vortex funnel was adopted as the criterion for determining the occurrence of the ventilation phenomenon. The predicted ventilation inception conditions were compared with experimental observations.
At high advance coefficients, the propulsion performance of the propeller was analyzed with respect to the various nondimensionalized parameters related to the free surface. The boundary-layer thickness and the contribution ratio of the frictional component to thrust and torque were calculated with respect to the Reynolds number. Thrust coefficients and high speed images were analyzed with respect to the Froude number. For the Weber number, the advance coefficients immediately before the ventilation phenomenon and the advance coefficients immediately before a decrease in thrust were distinguished and analyzed. Based on these results, recommended ranges of test conditions applicable to propeller open-water tests near the free surface were proposed.
The experimental methodology and results presented in this study can be used to quantitatively evaluate free surface effects for propellers operating near the free surface. The model test results can serve as fundamental data for estimating the inception conditions of the ventilation phenomenon for full scale propellers, and be expected to contribute to establishing safe operational guidelines for ships.