Numerical research on hydrodynamic performance of toroidal propeller under the influence of geometric parameters

Abstract

Recent advancements in high-efficiency, low-noise toroidal propellers have garnered significant interest due to their potential to revolutionize maritime propulsion. This study addresses this gap by leveraging established geometrical modeling methods for toroidal propellers to design a novel variant, and assesses its hydrodynamic performance using the Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) method coupled with the Shear Stress Transport (SST) k-ω turbulence model. First, the paper introduces the toroidal propeller concept and modeling method before analyzing the impact of grid size on numerical simulations. The correspondence between numerical results and experimental data is then established to validate the computational model's accuracy. Following this, the study explores the hydrodynamic performance of the toroidal propeller, including pressure distribution on the blade surface and the flow field dynamics in the propeller's wake across varying advance coefficients. Subsequently, it examines the influence of geometric parameters such as axis span ratios, lateral angles, roll angles, and vertical angles, on the hydrodynamic performance, elucidating their effects on the pressure distribution profiles at radial sections, thrust coefficient, and open water efficiency. The findings provide substantial guidance for the geometric parameter selection in the optimal design of future toroidal propellers.