General information
Ship propellers need to be very efficient. This implies that the energy supplied to the propeller is to be converted to thrust with only a minimum of losses. Moreover, a propeller should not generate unwanted vibration and inboard noise. Finally, the propeller should not suffer from erosion damage due to propeller cavitation. Finding the right balance between these demands is a major task of the designer. The next design step is to actually define the blade geometry which satisfies all these requirements. The hydrodynamic performance is evaluated by computational analyses and often followed by model experiments.
Ship propellers need to be very efficient. This implies that the energy supplied to the propeller is to be converted to thrust with only a minimum of losses. Moreover, a propeller should not generate unwanted vibration and inboard noise. Finally, the propeller should not suffer from erosion damage due to propeller cavitation. Finding the right balance between these demands is a major task of the designer. The next design step is to actually define the blade geometry which satisfies all these requirements. The hydrodynamic performance is evaluated by computational analyses and often followed by model experiments.
Services & Activities
The Propulsors and Cavitation Knowledge Team tests, analyses and designs marine propellers. Many of those propellers are special ones, e.g. “low-noise” naval propellers, propellers for low vibration-excitation and for special purpose units. Throughout the years, several computational tools have been developed for the design and hydrodynamic analysis. A most famous MARIN achievement is the development and testing of the B-series propellers. The first propellers of this systematic series date from the 1930s. Similar systematic series have been developed for propellers in nozzles. MARIN is pleased to offer its services in advising, designing analysing and testing to ship yards, operators, propeller manufacturers and suppliers of marine propulsion components.
The Propulsors and Cavitation Knowledge Team tests, analyses and designs marine propellers. Many of those propellers are special ones, e.g. “low-noise” naval propellers, propellers for low vibration-excitation and for special purpose units. Throughout the years, several computational tools have been developed for the design and hydrodynamic analysis. A most famous MARIN achievement is the development and testing of the B-series propellers. The first propellers of this systematic series date from the 1930s. Similar systematic series have been developed for propellers in nozzles. MARIN is pleased to offer its services in advising, designing analysing and testing to ship yards, operators, propeller manufacturers and suppliers of marine propulsion components.
Facilities & Tools
Experimental evaluation of the hydrodynamic performance of marine propellers is carried out in the following facilities
Experimental evaluation of the hydrodynamic performance of marine propellers is carried out in the following facilities
- Deep Water Towing Tank: Propeller efficiency measurements
- Depressurized Towing Tank: Propeller cavitation and hull-pressure measurements
- Cavitation Tunnel: Same type of testing using so-called “dummy” models with realistic afterbody geometry
The design and analysis of marine propellers employs several computational tools of a variety of accuracy and complexity
- PSP, SCREW: B-series design
- INDFACT, DESPRO: Lifting-line design method
- PROCAL, PROF: Panel code for propeller design
Software Sales
Some software tools are available for commercial use outside MARIN. A complete overview of these software tools for sale can be found under Software Sales.
Some software tools are available for commercial use outside MARIN. A complete overview of these software tools for sale can be found under Software Sales.
Experience
The list below gives a review of some propeller design work carried out at MARIN:
The list below gives a review of some propeller design work carried out at MARIN:
- The design of the propellers of the ships of the Royal Netherlands Navy
- The design of propellers of some of the largest container ships
- The design of low-noise propellers for bow thrusters
The following Joint Industry Projects (JIPs) were focussed on designing propellers:
- TIP-VOR (Designing naval propellers with a delayed inception of tip-vortex cavitation)
Most recent propeller design related papers presented by MARIN
(complete overview of papers can be found under Publications)
(complete overview of papers can be found under Publications)
The partial cavity on a 2D foil revisited
Hoekstra, M. and Vaz, G., CAV2009, 2009
Modeling and analysis of a cavitating vortex in 2D unsteady viscous flow
Bosschers, J. , CAV2009 7th International Symposium on Cavitation, 2009
Similarity solutions for viscous cavitating vortices
Bosschers, J., Janssen, B. and Hoeijmakers, H., Journal of Hydrodynamics, 2008
Influence of the reduced frequency on the 2-D partial sheet cavitation behaviour for a foil in a gust
Falcão de Campos, J.A.C., Vaz, G. and Bosschers, J., Sixth International Symposium on Cavitation CAV2006, Wageningen, The Netherlands, 2006
Modelling of three dimensional sheet cavitation on marine propellers using a boundary element method
Vaz, G. and Bosschers J., Sixth International Symposium on Cavitation CAV2006, Wageningen, The Netherlands, 2006
Hoekstra, M. and Vaz, G., CAV2009, 2009
Modeling and analysis of a cavitating vortex in 2D unsteady viscous flow
Bosschers, J. , CAV2009 7th International Symposium on Cavitation, 2009
Similarity solutions for viscous cavitating vortices
Bosschers, J., Janssen, B. and Hoeijmakers, H., Journal of Hydrodynamics, 2008
Influence of the reduced frequency on the 2-D partial sheet cavitation behaviour for a foil in a gust
Falcão de Campos, J.A.C., Vaz, G. and Bosschers, J., Sixth International Symposium on Cavitation CAV2006, Wageningen, The Netherlands, 2006
Modelling of three dimensional sheet cavitation on marine propellers using a boundary element method
Vaz, G. and Bosschers J., Sixth International Symposium on Cavitation CAV2006, Wageningen, The Netherlands, 2006
Most recent cavitation related articles written for MARIN Report:
(complete overview of articles can be found under Publications)
(complete overview of articles can be found under Publications)
CFD versus PIV
Christian Veldhuis, MARIN Report, 2010
Measuring success
MARIN Report, 2009
Oasis of the Seas
Giedo Loeff, Jaap van Heerd & Reint Dallinga, MARIN report, 2009
New borescope technology
Ivo van der Hout, MARIN report, 2009
New stereo-PIV system proves a valuable tool for flow measurements Report gives an overview of stereoscopic-PIV
Michiel Verhulst, Serge Toxopeus & Rink Hallmann, MARIN report, 2009
Christian Veldhuis, MARIN Report, 2010
Measuring success
MARIN Report, 2009
Oasis of the Seas
Giedo Loeff, Jaap van Heerd & Reint Dallinga, MARIN report, 2009
New borescope technology
Ivo van der Hout, MARIN report, 2009
New stereo-PIV system proves a valuable tool for flow measurements Report gives an overview of stereoscopic-PIV
Michiel Verhulst, Serge Toxopeus & Rink Hallmann, MARIN report, 2009
Contact
For more information on how MARIN can help your organisation with the issue of the design of propellers, please contact the Propulsors and Cavitation Knowledge Team at: propulsors@marin.nl
For more information on how MARIN can help your organisation with the issue of the design of propellers, please contact the Propulsors and Cavitation Knowledge Team at: propulsors@marin.nl