Numerical and experimental investigation of the quasi-cavitation effect on a ducted Propeller for ROV

To control precisely and investigate maneuverability of an underwater vehicle in a nuclear power pool this article presents a study on the mathematical model and the thrust characteristics of a ducted propeller under the quasi-cavitation effect by a numerical method. Firstly, a mathematical model of a ducted propeller including the quasi-cavitation effect term which is often ignored, is established based on the thrust performance under different quasi-cavitation distances and the revolution speed by CFD. Then the pressure field near the suction and pressure surface of blades are analyzed, which reveals that the thrust increases with a decrease of the quasi-cavitation distance. Finally, the thrust performances under different conditions are experimentally measured in an open-water pool, which can verify the reliability of the mathematical model below the error of 10%. The results demonstrates that the presented method can be used to evaluate the dynamic mechanism of a propeller, and hold a potential to improve the control strategy.