CFD Analysis on the Development of Pre-Duct Shape to Improve Propeller Performance

Abstract

Energy saving contributions of Energy Saving Device (ESD) Pre-Duct are reducing energy losses and separation at the stern, increasing the ideal propeller efficiency, increasing the capture of viscous wake that passes through the propeller disk, and increasing the interaction of the propeller and ship hull. The effect of ESD Pre-Duct in front of the propeller on saving of energy is influenced by the accuracy and suitability of the geometry, position, and shape of pre-duct. In this study, the shape of the asymmetric un-circular pre-duct was develop and analysis conducted by compared the effect of the shape of pre-duct on the performance of propeller, the shape of pre-duct: circular (conventional), un-circular, and asymmetric un-circular. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modelling results using the ANSYS CFX software package with Propeller Open Water (POW) test simulations show that the installation of pre-ducts with several shape developments in general has a significant effect on increasing propeller performance at low propeller rotation speeds, whereas on high propeller rotation even though there is an increase in propeller performance but not significant.