Numerical Simulation Analysis of Cavitation Performance of Tandem Propeller

Abstract

The steady non cavitation hydrodynamic characteristics of CLB4-55-1 tandem propeller and the steady cavitation flows of NACA66 hydrofoil are numerically studied firstly based on the RANS equations of homogeneous multiphase using CFD theory, combined with the SST k-ω turbulent model and Z-G-B cavitation model. Numerical simulation results are in good agreement with the experimental results, which indicates that the numerical method is reliable and accurate. Then, the cavitation performance of the tandem propeller are numerical simulated and analyzed. The results show that the computational model can predict the cavitation performance of tandem propeller accurately. The cavitation performance of tandem propeller is nearly the same as single propeller, however, the cavitation phenomenon of back propeller is greater than the head propeller at certain advance coefficient and cavitation number. The cavitation phenomenon will disappear with the increase of the advance coefficient or the cavitation number.