The effect of the PSS configuration on the hydrodynamic performance of the KP505 propeller behind the KCS

Abstract

The presented paper has numerically investigated a new pre-swirl stator (PSS) configuration on a ship propulsion performance. The KP505 propeller and the KRISO container ship (KCS) are used, and the PSS is installed before the propeller to adjust wake inflow and increase the performance of the propeller. To simulate PSS in front of the propeller, the STAR-CCM + solver (computational fluid dynamics) is used. First, the hydrodynamic characteristics of the model propeller KP505 results are compared with the available measurements and experimental data with relatively good agreement. Then, the flow over the KCS is simulated, and its wake flow is captured. This wake flow is entered into the propeller with and without PSS. The present paper introduces a new PSS configuration with eight blades, and the angle of attack of 15° is modelled and mounted in front of the propeller. The thrust and torque coefficients at four advance coefficients (between 0.24–0.91) are presented and discussed. The numerical results indicate that the PSS with these parameters works well in the low ship speed and increases efficiency and decreases delivered power. Also, the PSS's effect reduces the pressure fluctuation by 16.48% in the backside of the propeller blade.