Design of Fixed Pitch Propeller and Water Jet Propulsion System for A Frigate

Abstract

The application of waterjets is rapidly growing and they are increasingly being chosen for propulsion in high-speed crafts. In this paper we intend to design an integrated propulsion system which incorporates both the screw propeller and the waterjet propulsion. Disregarding the possibility of paddlewheels or sail, the only practical alternatives for putting thrust to the water are propellers and waterjets. Each has their own inherent strengths and weaknesses. Generally, waterjet drives have found the most applications on semi planing or planing boats intended to go over 25 knots. Propellers are more often applied to slower speed vessels with displacement or semi planing hulls. The parameters governing the design of the screw propeller are 1. pitch distribution, 2. chamber distribution, 3. rake distribution, 4. skew distribution, 5. thickness distribution. The parameters influencing the design of the waterjet are 1. Inlet, 2. Nozzle, 3. Pump. The design process will be completed once we optimize these parameters for the desired thrust and power requirements. However, our design method is purely numerical, and to be supported by experimental studies.