The Research of Hydrodynamic Performance for Ducted Propeller with PBCF

Abstract

The Propeller Boss Cap Fins (PBCF) is often used to ordinary propeller, a good energy-saving effect being obtained. In order to study the energy-saving mechanism of ducted propeller with PBCF, in this paper, the FLUENT has been taken to simulate the distribution of thrust coefficient, torque coefficient, blade pressure and velocity vector of hub surface at different advance coefficients. By contrasting the results of numerical simulation of hydrodynamic performance of ducted propeller between with fins and without fins, we know that at the low advance coefficient, the ducted propeller with fins will increase the thrust coefficient and decrease the torque coefficient; rising the open water propeller efficiency, improving the efficiency under the premise of the efficiency increase by duct. The existence of fins has changed velocity distribution of water around the hub and made the water that flowed around the propeller hub with propeller rotation direction flow to propeller tail along the fins not gather in the cub, so it weakened the hub vortex.