Computational analysis on B-series propeller performance in open water

This paper presents a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation to predict thrust coefficient (KT), torque coefficient (KQ) and efficiency (η) in open-water condition, whilst a hydrodynamic description around the propeller’s blade underlying the rationale behind the results is explained. The effects of propeller revolution (RPM) and number of blades (Z) on the type of B-series have been appropriately taken into account within the range of advance ratio 0.1≤ J≤ 1.0. The preliminary CFD results for the values of KT, KQ and η showed a good agreement with the open-water test results, in which the percentage of the average discrepancy error is adequately acceptable. In general, the results revealed that the increase of advance ratio was proportional with the values of KT, KQ and η. Inversely, the propeller’s efficiency decreases particularly at J > 0.8. Regardless of the propeller’s RPM, the propeller with Z = 3 provides the highest efficiency. The current CFD result is very useful for acquiring an insight related to the fundamental understanding of the propeller properties in open-water condition. © 2020, Sociedade Brasileira de Engenharia Naval.