Abstract
The Rim-Driven Thruster (RDT) is an extraordinary innovation in marine propulsion applications. The structure of an RDT resembles a Ducted Propeller (DP), as both contain several propeller blades and a duct shroud. However, unlike the DP, there is no tip clearance in the RDT as the propeller is directly connected to the rim. Instead, a gap clearance exists in the RDT between the rim and the duct. The distinctive difference in structure between the DP and the RDT causes significant discrepancy in the performance and flow features. The present work compares the hydrodynamic performance of a DP and an RDT by means of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) equations are solved in combination with an SST k-ω turbulence model. Validation and verification of the CFD model is conducted to ensure the numerical accuracy. Steady-state simulations are carried out for a wide range of advance coefficients with the Moving Reference Frame (MRF) approach. The results show that the gap flow in the RDT plays an important role in affecting the performance. Compared to the DP, the RDT produces less thrust on the propeller and duct, and, because of the existence of the rim, the overall efficiency of the RDT is significantly lower than the one of the ducted propeller.
Highlights
Propulsion systems play an indispensable role in marine vessels
The results show that the gap flow in the Rim-Driven Thruster (RDT) plays an important role in affecting the performance
Wanga[11], which open water tests a coarse to a fine mesh with cell numbers increasing by a certain growth ratio in each were performed for a Ka47 ducted propeller under a wide range of advance coefficients
Summary
Propulsion systems play an indispensable role in marine vessels. There are various designs applied to present ship propulsors, such as the open propeller, the ducted propeller, podded and azimuthing propulsors, etc. Experimental tests were conducted to widely employed because of their high reliability and accuracy It is often quite investigate the influence of the duct and propeller profiles on the overall performance of costly to build an experimental setup and sometimes even impractical. Sci. 2021, 11, 4919 propeller with existing experimental data From their results, rim-driven thruster propellers could produce a larger thrust by absorbing a higher torque from the motor compared to conventional shaft-driven propellers, but this resulted in a lower efficiency. Rim-driven thruster propellers could produce a larger thrust by absorbing a higher torque from the motor compared to conventional shaft-driven propellers, but this resulted in a lower efficiency This situation can be alleviated by applying thinner propeller blades.
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