Numerical Analysis Of Aerofoil Shape Propeller Boss Cap Fin (PBCF) To Improve Propeller Efficiency

Abstract

Scarcity in fossil fuel and other environmental issues forced researchers to search ways to improve in the efficiency of the marine vehicle which is considered the most efficient and economic transport medium now a day. Energy saving device (ESD) is such an implementation to keep dominant impact in this aspect. This paper investigates the effect of aerofoil shape propeller boss cap fin (PBCF) as ESD computationally. Based on Reynolds- averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations, numerical simulations have been performed to increase propeller efficiency with aerofoil shape propeller boss cap fin in computational fluid dynamic (CFD) approach. In this study, four separate aerofoil shape PBCF with different NACA profile (NACA4412, NACA0012, NACA1412, NACA2412) has been used to find a suitable profile for PBCF. Numerical results shows aerofoil shape PBCF with NACA4412 effectively improves propeller performance by improving the efficiency by approximately 3.52% than parent propeller. The pressure distribution elaborate PBCF (NACA4412) creates a high pressure difference between the pressure side and suction of the propeller as well as high thrust generation. Besides that velocity filed, swirl strength are also studied to get and understand the details of involved flow phenomenon.